Method and apparatus for removing liquid from a gas producing well
A method and apparatus is used for pumping fluid at a wellhead. The apparatus has a support structure that supports a pumping assembly and removes liquid from the well site through a small diameter pipeline as a continuous flow at a constant flow rate.
1. A method for pumping fluid at a wellhead comprising:
(a) preforming a well center unit comprising: a pumping assembly for pumping fluid from a well; a support structure supporting the assembly; a holding tank having an inflow port, directly connected to the pumping assembly, and an outflow port directly connected to a pipeline to remove liquid from a well site at which the well center unit is provided; and a holding tank pump, wherein the support structure defines a lower cavity and wherein the holding tank pump is positioned within the lower cavity; and,
(b) connecting the preformed well center unit to the wellhead and into the well.
2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the holding tank functions as a gas/liquid separation device and allows for depressurization.
3. A method as recited in claim 1 including a power source capable of operating both the pumping assembly and the holding tank pump.
4. A method as recited in claim 3 including warming the fluid in the holding tank so that the fluid will not freeze.
5. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein an exhaust heat from the power source is used to create the warming.
6. A method as recited in claim 3 including:
(a) allowing the fluid in the holding tank to separate to a liquid component, and if there is a gas component, a gas component; and
(b) removing the gas component from the holding tank through a gas outflow conduit and forcing the gas component to a gas pipeline.
7. A method as recited in claim 6 including removing the liquid component at a substantially constant flow rate from the holding tank through the out flow port, wherein the outflow port has a smaller cross-sectional area than the inflow port.
8. A method as recited in claim 7 including anchoring the well center to the wellhead.
9. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein the support structure has a removable gin pole to service the well when necessary.
10. A method as recited in claim 3 including a gas and water metering device housed underneath the support structure.
11. A method as recited in claim 3 including a gas conditioning device located underneath the support structure for preparing gas to be used as fuel for the power source.
12. A method as recited in claim 1 including anchoring the well center to the ground.
13. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the support structure has a removable gin pole to service the well center unit when necessary.
14. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the well center is enclosed with a guarding structure in order to prevent access from unwanted persons.
15. A well management center unit comprising:
(a) a pumping assembly for pumping fluid from a well;
(b) a support structure supporting the assembly;
(c) a holding tank having an inflow port, directly connected to the pumping assembly, and an outflow port directly connected to a pipeline to remove liquid from a well site at which the well management center unit is provided; and
(d) a holding tank pump, wherein the support structure defines a lower cavity and wherein the holding tank pump is positioned within the lower cavity.
16. A well management center unit as recited in claim 15 including a power source that operates both the pumping assembly and the holding tank pump.
17. A well management center unit as recited in claim 16 wherein an exhaust heat from power sources warms the liquid in the holding tank.
18. A well management center unit as recited in claim 15 including a removable gin pole.
19. A well management center unit as recited in claim 15 wherein the well management center is enclosed by a guarding structure.
20. A well management center as recited in claim 15 including water and gas metering apparatus within the support structure.
21. A well management center as recited in claim 15 , wherein the holding tank functions as a gas/liquid separation device.
22. A method for pumping fluid at a wellhead comprising:
(a) preforming a well center unit comprising: a pumping assembly for pumping fluid from a well; a support structure for supporting the assembly; a holding tank having an inflow port, directly connected to the pumping assembly, and an outflow port directly connected to a pipeline to remove liquid from a well site at which the well center unit is provided; and a holding tank pump, wherein the support structure defines a lower cavity and wherein the holding tank pump is positioned within the lower cavity; and,
(b) coupling the preformed well center unit to the wellhead and into the well.
23. A method for pumping fluid from a well using a single power source comprising:
(a) preforming a well center unit comprising: a pumping assembly for pumping fluid from a well; a support structure for supporting the assembly; a holding tank having an inflow port, directly connected to the pumping assembly, and an outflow port directly connected to a pipeline to remove liquid from a well site at which the well center unit is provided; a holding tank pump, wherein the support structure defines a lower cavity and wherein the holding tank pump is positioned within the lower cavity; and a power source capable of operating both the pumping assembly and the holding tank pump; and,
(b) anchoring the preformed well center unit to the ground.
24. An apparatus for elevating a pumping assembly comprising:
(a) a pumping assembly for drawing fluid from a well;
(b) a support structure supporting the pumping assembly and elevating the pumping assembly above a lower cavity defined by the support structure; and,
(c) a holding tank pump for forcing the fluid from an outflow port of a holding tank directly to a pipeline to remove liquid from a well site at which the pumping assembly is provided, wherein the holding tank pump is positioned within the lower cavity.
25. An apparatus for elevating a pumping assembly with a single power source comprising:
(a) a pumping assembly for drawing fluid from a well;
(b) a support structure supporting the pumping assembly and elevating the pumping assembly above a lower cavity defined by the support structure;
(c) a holding tank having an inflow port directly connected to the pumping assembly for receiving the fluid from the pumping assembly and an outflow port directly connected to a pipeline to remove liquid from a well site at which the pumping assembly is provided, wherein the holding tank separates the fluid into gas and liquid;
(d) a holding tank pump for forcing the liquid from the outflow port to a pipeline, wherein the holding tank pump is positioned within the lower cavity; and
(e) a power source operably connected to a well pump and the holding tank pump for driving both the well pump and the holding tank pump.