Patent ID: 6116341
Filing Date: 2000-09-12
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
An apparatus for multiplying a hydrostatic head of a column of liquid into a magnified injection pressure for injecting water, subsurface, in a subterranean well comprising:a casing having two spaced intervals and extending from a ground surface downwardly within the subterranean well such that a first of said two spaced intervals communicates with a producing zone and a second of said two spaced intervals communicates with a disposal zone;a pump, disposed in said casing, having an upper plunger and a lower plunger, said upper plunger coupled to said lower plunger and said upper plunger having a surface area larger than a surface area of said lower plunger, said pump reciprocable through an upstroke and a downstroke;a seal disposed within said casing between said first of said two spaced intervals and said second of said two spaced intervals, wherein said casing and said seal are configured to permit produced water to collect above said seal;an input disposed between said lower plunger and said seal, said input responsive to said upstroke of said pump to permit unidirectional flow of a portion of said produced water into said pump below said lower plunger to form a column of produced water; andan output in fluid flow communication with said input and said pump, said output responsive to said downstroke of said pump to permit unidirectional flow of said column of produced water at the magnified injection pressure into said casing below said seal.