Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to sucker rod
pumps, and more particularly, to an apparatus for
enhancing fluid production during pumping operations of a
sucker rod pump.
Background of the Invention
[0002] Pumping units are used in oil field industries to pump out hydrocarbons from oil wells. A sucker rod pump, also known as positive displacement pump, typically comprises a vertical rod string connected to a downhole pump assembly. The downhole pump assembly comprises a plunger with a valve retained in a cylinder. The cylinder is further submerged inside the oil well or the wellbore and has a valve at the bottom. The plunger is connected to the lower end of a sucker rod string. The upper end of the sucker rod string is connected to a walking beam. The walking beam creates reciprocating motion in the sucker rod string that moves the plunger within the cylinder and due to the opening and closing of the valves on the plunger and the cylinder, the fluid in the tubing is pushed upwards, thereby facilitating in fluid extraction from the well.
[0003] Some wellbores also contain gas quantities which interfere with the operation of the sucker rod pump by causing gas lock due to release of some amount of gas at the wellbore. The released gas gradually accumulates and fills up the annulus of the wellbore. The accumulated gas builds up a back-pressure upon the well fluid being

produced from the formation. This causes interference with the pumping operation of the pumping unit. Therefore, it is required that the gas released during the pumping operation, is bled off in order to avoid any interference in the pumping operation. However, bleeding off the released gas into the environment can be hazardous. Thus, in a normal sucker rod pump operation, it is required that the pressure inside the wellbore is maintained effectively without causing any environmental issues.
[0004] In light of the above, there is a need for an apparatus for preventing formation of pressure inside the wellbore during the pumping operation. Further, there is a need for an apparatus for diverting the gas to a dedicated flow line thereby facilitating in maintaining the required pressure in the annulus. In addition, there is a need for an apparatus for enhancing the production of a sucker rod pump.
Summary
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for preventing formation of pressure inside the wellbore during the pumping operation. Another object of the present invention is to divert the gas to a dedicated flow line thereby facilitating in maintaining the required pressure in the annulus. Yet another object of the present invention is to enhance the production of fluids during the operation of a sucker rod pump.
[0006] In accordance with the objects of the invention, an apparatus a production enhancement apparatus for a

sucker rod pump is disclosed herein. In one embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus comprises a cylinder configured to receive gas from annulus of the wellbore. The apparatus further comprises a first hose and a second hose connected to the cylinder for delivering the received gas to a dedicated flowline. The first hose and the second hose are connected to the cylinder through non-return valves that cause a double action on the built-up pressure of the annulus of the wellbore. The double action of the cylinder causes the cylinder to receive suction from the annulus of the wellbore and transfer any built-up pressure to the flowline. This operation of receiving and releasing annulus gas subsequently reduces the built-up pressure of the annulus of the wellbore and thereby enhancing production of the oil being pumped out by the sucker rod pump.
[0007] In one embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus is used for a sucker rod pump installed at a wellbore site and is mounted on a walking beam assembly using a clamp. The walking beam assembly comprises a walking beam and a horse head mounted on a Samson post.
[0008] In various embodiments of the present invention, the cylinder is manufactured using a pipe having a double acting piston, wherein the piston is extended to the inner walls of the cylinder, and wherein the apparatus is a non-lubricated apparatus.
[0009] Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent in the following description, claims and accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Accompanying Drawings
[0010] The present invention is described by way of embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates schematic of a walking beam assembly using the apparatus for enhancing the production of a sucker rod pump, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates schematic of the apparatus for enhancing the production of a sucker rod pump, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Detailed description of the invention
[0013] An apparatus for enhancing fluid production during pumping operations of a sucker rod pump is disclosed. The invention provides an apparatus for preventing formation of pressure inside the wellbore during the pumping operation. Further, the invention provides an apparatus for diverting the gas to a dedicated flow line thereby facilitating in maintaining the required pressure in the annulus.
[0014] The following disclosure is provided in order to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention. Exemplary embodiments are provided only for illustrative purposes and various modifications will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art. The general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without

departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Also, the terminology and phraseology used is for the purpose of describing exemplary embodiments and should not be considered limiting. Thus, the present invention is to be accorded with the widest scope encompassing numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalents consistent with the principles and features disclosed. For purpose of clarity, details relating to technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the invention have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention.
[0015] The present invention would now be discussed in context of embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates schematic of a walking beam assembly using the apparatus 102 for enhancing the production of a sucker rod pump 118, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus 102 is mounted along with a walking beam assembly. The walking beam assembly comprises a walking beam 106 and a horse head 108 mounted on a Samson post 110. The apparatus 102 is mounted on the walking beam 106 with the help of a clamp 112.
[0017] The pumping unit 116 comprises a sucker rod pump 118 and is suspended from the horsehead 108. The suspended pumping unit 116 is submerged in the oil well or wellbore 122 to pump out the fluids during its pumping operation. In order to maintain the required pressure in

the annulus of the wellbore 122, a pipe 12 0 is provided and connected to a dedicated flowline for diverting the gas being accumulated within the wellbore 122 during the pumping operation of the pumping unit 116 and thereby maintaining the required pressure in the annulus. Further, two hoses 104 (a) and 104 (b) are connected to the apparatus 102. The hose 104(a) in two sections takes gas out from the annulus. Hose 104(b) in two sections, deliver the compressed gas to the flowline. The two hoses 104 (a) and 104 (b) are connected to the apparatus 102 through non-return valves that cause a pressure built up during upstroke and down stroke of the piston operation. In the upstroke operation of the cylinder, the gas enters from the lower part of the piston. The gas in the cylinder above the piston is compressed and sent to the annulus. In the down stroke operation of the cylinder, another hose section is provided that takes gas from the annulus to the section above the piston and gas in the piston is compressed and sent to the annulus through the another hose section.
[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates schematic of the apparatus for enhancing the production of a sucker rod pump, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 200 comprises a cylinder 202, a rod 204 and a double acting piston 206. The cylinder 202 is a double acting cylinder that has two ports which are supplied with gas from the annulus of the wellbore for both operations of piston retraction and piston extension. The cylinder 2 02 may be manufactured using the pipe containing the double acting piston 206. The piston 206 may be fabricated out of old sucker rods to save the manufacturing cost.

[0019] The rod 2 04 is connected to the clamp through swivel joint pin. The pin arrangement at the top allows movement of the rod 2 04 in the direction of the walking beam. The rod 204 is a polish rod that is connected with the piston 206. In various embodiments of the invention, the piston 206 is extended to the inner walls of the cylinder 202. The cylinder 202 is provided with a pair of tie rods 2 08 that connect a base 210 and a top cover 212 respectively to the bottom and top end of the cylinder 202. The base 210 and the top cover 212 of the cylinder are provided with non-return valves (NRVs) that facilitates gas outflow from the cylinder in the movement of the piston 2 08 in upward and downward direction.
[0020] In various embodiments of the present invention, the apparatus 200 is a non-lubricated apparatus that is designed to deliver up to 10kg/cm2 pressure. The design of the apparatus may be customized based on the diameter size of the cylinder 2 02 and can be assembled on the field itself. As explained above, the apparatus 200 is mounted on the walking beam of the sucker rod pump suspended downwards with a to-and-fro adjustment clamp.
[0021] In various embodiments of the present invention, the apparatus 2 00 takes suction from the annulus of the wellbore and built-up pressure to the flow line pressure of the hose. This facilitates in a reduction of the pressure built in the wellbore annulus. Once the pressure of the annulus decreases, the pressure difference between the reservoir and the wellbore increases. This allows production of fluids in larger volumes which is otherwise constrained due to the pressure on the reservoir face.

The cost effective apparatus enhances the production of the fluids at the oil fields during the pumping operation of the sucker rod pump for fluid extraction.
[0022] Further, the continuous depressurization of the annulus using a tandem cylinder compressor whereby gases released in the wellbore, below the sucker rod plunger unit find an alternative way out of the well. This facilitates in allowing liquid to be lifted from the sucker rod pump. To maintain continuity of gas withdrawal and compression, both upstroke and down stroke cylinder operations are used to compress the gas and deliver it to the flow line. The cylinder is designed in such a manner that in every stroke, one portion of the cylinder compresses the gas and pushes it to the flow line whereas, the other section sucks the gas in. The paths of the gas are maintained using the hose sections and the NRVs (Non-return valves).
[0023] While the exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described and illustrated herein, it will be appreciated that they are merely illustrative. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications in form and detail may be made therein without departing from or offending the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:
1. A production enhancement apparatus for a sucker
rod pump installed at a wellbore site, the apparatus
comprising:
a cylinder configured to receive gas from annulus of the wellbore;
a first hose and a second hose connected to the cylinder for delivering the received gas to a flowline; wherein the cylinder receives suction from the annulus of the wellbore and transfers any built-up pressure to the flowline, thereby reducing the built-up pressure of the annulus of the wellbore and enhancing production of the oil being pumped out by the sucker rod pump.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is mounted on a walking beam assembly using a clamp.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the walking beam assembly comprises a walking beam and a horse head mounted on a Samson post.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first hose and the second hose are connected to the cylinder through non-return valves that cause a double action on the built-up pressure of the annulus of the wellbore.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cylinder is manufactured using a pipe containing a double acting piston.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the piston is extended to the inner walls of the cylinder.
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a non-lubricated apparatus.