Paper: A Unitized, One-Well Hydraulic Pumping System

Diversified efforts are continually being made to reduce artificial lift operating costs and/or increase oil production. The intent of these efforts is to put more profit in producing operations and prolong the economic life of present oil properties. Also, a greater ultimate recovery means more efficient use of our natural resources. Fluid Packed Pump has become a part of an artificial lift revolution with the development of the Unidraulic-a unitized, one-well hydraulic pumping system which can economically compete across the board with rod pumping equipment particularly in the larger sizes and in addition can offer several operating advantages. Let's face it, large volume lift is on the increase due to expanded secondary recovery operations, higher allowables and the desire to produce wells at their maximum capability rather than at a lesser volume due to inadequate lift equipment. The Unidraulic concept was discussed briefly in a paper which was presented at the 1971 Southwestern Petroleum Short Course. 1 It began taking shape in April, 1969, following the approval of development money, engineering time, and a testing program. The first unit was actually installed on a 5100-ft well in South Texas on January 20, 1970. There are now in excess of 50 Unidraulic installations throughout the Mid-Continent, West Texas, California and Hocky Mountain areas. The heart of the Unidraulic hydraulic pumping system is the power fluid conditioning unit which has been designed and assembled to provide a solid-free fluid which can be used to transmit horsepower hydraulically. Other required items of equipment are those normally associated with a central-battery installation-the surface wellhead control, the subsurface production unit and the associated accessory items.