Diversion plunger for reciprocating rod pump

1. A downhole apparatus comprising a diversion connector for a downhole pump, the downhole pump having a plunger reciprocated by a rod in a barrel, the plunger having an interior, the connector comprising:

one or more bodies having a rod end attaching to the rod and having a plunger end attaching to the plunger of the downhole pump, the one or more bodies having a first exterior surface and defining a fluid passage, the fluid passage having an inlet port toward the plunger end and having at least one first outlet port toward the rod end, the inlet port communicating the fluid passage with the interior of the plunger, the at least one first outlet port communicating the fluid passage outside the first exterior surface; and

a sleeve disposed on the first exterior surface between the at least one first outlet port and the plunger end of the one or more bodies and being radially movable on the first exterior surface relative to the barrel, the sleeve having an interior surface floating relative to the first exterior surface between the at least one first outlet port and the plunger end.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is composed of a different material than the one or more bodies.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the sleeve is composed of a ceramic material, and wherein the one or more bodies are composed of a metal material.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve defines a first shoulder at an uphole end of the sleeve facing toward the rod.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the sleeve further defines one or more external grooves defined about a second exterior surface thereof between the uphole end and a downhole end of the sleeve.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more bodies comprise a mandrel having the rod and plunger ends and having the first exterior surface.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the one or more bodies comprise at least one fixture attaching the mandrel to the plunger and permitting fluid communication between the fluid passage of the mandrel and the interior of the plunger.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the at least one fixture comprises a first ring disposed on the plunger end of the mandrel and engaged against a first shoulder on the mandrel adjacent a downhole end of the sleeve.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the at least one fixture further comprises a second ring disposed on the plunger end and holding the first ring against the first shoulder on the mandrel.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first and second rings thread onto the plunger end of the mandrel; and wherein the second ring threads onto the plunger.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the sleeve has an uphole end disposed adjacent a second shoulder on the mandrel.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve has a second exterior surface with an outer dimension configured to match that of the plunger.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising one or more biasing elements disposed between the interior surface of the sleeve and the first exterior surface of the one or more bodies.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the one or more biasing elements comprises one or more O-rings disposed between the interior surface of the sleeve and the first exterior surface of the one or more bodies.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the one or more O-rings are disposed in grooves in the first exterior surface or in the interior surface of the sleeve.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one more bodies comprise a perforated body having a screen, the perforated body connected to the plunger.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve has an uphole end adjacent the at least one fluid outlet port of the one or more bodies, the uphole end defining a conical surface angled inward.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more bodies define at least one second outlet port disposed between the at least one first outlet port and the plunger end, the at least one second outlet port communicating the fluid passage outside the first exterior surface; and wherein the one or more bodies comprise at least one sealing element disposed about the first exterior surface between the at least one second outlet port and the plunger end.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the at least one sealing element comprises at least one wiper seal.

20. A downhole apparatus operated by a rod, the apparatus comprising:

a barrel having a first one-way valve permitting fluid communication into the barrel and restricting fluid communication out of the barrel;

a plunger reciprocally disposed in the barrel and having a second one-way valve, the second one-way valve permitting fluid communication into an interior of the plunger from a variable volume defined between the first and second one-way valves, the second one-way valve restricting fluid communication out of the interior to the variable volume;

a connector having a rod end attaching the rod and having a plunger end attaching to the plunger, the connector having a first exterior surface and defining a fluid passage, the fluid passage having an inlet port toward the plunger end and having at least one outlet port toward the rod end, the inlet port communicating the fluid passage with the interior of the plunger, the at least one outlet port communicating the fluid passage outside the first exterior surface; and

a sleeve disposed on the connector between the at least one outlet port and the plunger end of the connector and being radially movable on the first exterior surface relative to the barrel, the sleeve having an interior surface floating relative to the first exterior surface of the connector between the at least one outlet port and the plunger end.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the first one-way valve comprises a check valve having a ball movable relative to a seat; and wherein the second one-way valve comprises a check valve having a ball movable relative to a seat.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein in a first stroke moving the barrel and the plunger relative to one another in a first direction, the variable volume decreases, the first one-way valve closes, and the second one-way valve opens; and wherein in a second stroke moving the barrel and the plunger relative to one another in a second direction, the variable volume increases, the first one-way valve opens, and the second one-way valve closes.

23. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the connector comprises a mandrel having the rod and plunger ends and having the first exterior surface; and wherein the sleeve is disposed on the mandrel.

24. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the plunger end of the connector attaches directly to an upper end of the plunger.

25. The apparatus of claim 20 , comprising an intermediate member attaching the plunger end of the connector to an upper end of the plunger.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the intermediate member comprises a perforated body having a screen, the perforated body connected between the plunger end of the connector and the upper end of the plunger.

27. The apparatus of claim 20 , comprising a surface drive reciprocating the rod.

28. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the sleeve has an outer dimension configured to match that of the plunger.

29. The apparatus of claim 20 , further comprising one or more biasing elements disposed between the interior surface of the sleeve and the first exterior surface of the connector.

30. A downhole apparatus operating with a rod, the apparatus comprising:

a barrel having a first one-way valve permitting fluid communication into the barrel and restricting fluid communication out of the barrel;

a plunger reciprocally disposed in the barrel and having a second one-way valve, the second one-way valve permitting fluid communication into an interior of the plunger from a variable volume defined between the first and second one-way valves, the second one-way valve restricting fluid communication out of the interior to the variable volume;

a first end portion of the plunger having a first exterior surface and defining a first fluid passage, the first fluid passage communicating with the interior of the plunger, the first end portion defining a first fluid port, the first fluid port communicating the first fluid passage outside the first end portion; and

a first sleeve disposed on the first end portion between the first fluid port and the plunger and being radially movable on the first exterior surface relative to the barrel, the first sleeve having a first interior surface floating relative to the first exterior surface of the first end portion between the first fluid port and the plunger; and

one or more first biasing elements disposed between the first interior surface of the first sleeve and the first exterior surface of the first end portion.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the first end portion is disposed on an uphole end of the plunger and connects to the rod, the first fluid port being in communication with an outlet for the plunger.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 , wherein the first end portion comprises a connector attaching the rod to the plunger; and wherein the first sleeve is disposed on the connector.

33. The apparatus of claim 31 , further comprising:

a second end portion disposed on a downhole end of the plunger, the second end portion having a second exterior surface and defining a second fluid passage, the second fluid passage communicating with the interior of the plunger, the second end portion defining a second fluid port, the second fluid port communicating the second fluid passage outside the second end portion; and

a second sleeve disposed on the second end portion between the second fluid port and the plunger and being radially movable on the second exterior surface relative to the barrel, the second sleeve having a second interior surface floating relative to the second exterior surface of the second end portion between the second fluid port and the plunger.

34. The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the first end portion is disposed on a downhole end of the plunger, the first fluid port being an inlet for the plunger.

35. The apparatus of claim 34 , wherein first fluid port of the first end portion communicates with the second one-way valve.

36. The apparatus of claim 33 , wherein the second fluid port of the second end portion communicates with the second one-way valve.

37. The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the first sleeve has an outer dimension configured to match that of the plunger.

38. The apparatus of claim 33 , further comprising one or more second biasing elements disposed between the second interior surface of the second sleeve and the second exterior surface of the second end portion.

39. A method of producing fluid in a sandy well, the method comprising:

reciprocating a plunger and a barrel relative to one another;

transferring a first volume of fluid and particulate trapped in a first interior of the barrel into a second interior of the plunger by reciprocating the plunger and the barrel relative to one another in a first direction;

lifting uphole a second volume of fluid and particulate trapped in the second interior of the plunger by reciprocating the plunger and the barrel relative to one another in a second direction; and

at least partially preventing particulate uphole of the plunger from passing in a gap between the plunger and the barrel by floating an interior surface of a first sleeve on a first exterior surface disposed between at least one outlet port and an uphole end of the plunger and radially moving the floating first sleeve on the first exterior surface relative to the barrel.

40. The method of claim 39 , further comprising floating a second sleeve on a downhole end of the plunger and radially moving the floating second sleeve on a second exterior surface of the downhole end of the plunger relative to the barrel.

41. The apparatus of claim 39 , wherein floating the interior surface of the first sleeve on the first exterior surface disposed between the at least one outlet port and the uphole end of the plunger comprises floating the first sleeve with one or more biasing elements disposed between the interior surface of the first sleeve and the first exterior surface.