Abstract:
A gas compressor, wherein the gas compressor can be used for compressing gas, vapor, or combinations thereof. The gas compressor includes a drive section, a lower section, and a rod connecting a drive cylinder with a piston. The gas compressor can be used in a system for compressing gas, vapor, or combinations thereof.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a Continuation in Part of co-pending International Application Serial No.: PCT/2013/042203 filed on May 22, 2013, entitled “GAS COMPRESSOR,” which claims priority to US Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 61/688,852 filed on May 22, 2012, entitled “Hydraulic Beam Gas Compressor.”These applications are incorporated in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present embodiments generally relate to a gas compressor. The gas compressor can be driven hydraulically, electrically, mechanically with a rack and pinion system, mechanical with a crank arm, or the like. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    A need exists for a gas compressor that compresses well head casing gas utilizing fluid from a hydraulic fluid system and/or hydraulic lift pumping unit or mechanically with a rack and pinion system, mechanically with a crank arm, a spindle drive gear assembly, or the like. 
         [0004]    A need exists for a gas compressor that can capture methane and other gases from a variety of locations, such as offshore oil wells, stock tanks, oil tank batteries, dairy farms, waste dumps, or other locations that generate gasses needing to be compressed. 
         [0005]    A need exists for a gas compressor that can be utilized as a low cost gathering system for multiple wells, sources of gas, emissions, vapors, and the like. A need exists for a gas compressor can evacuate gas from the casing of an oil and/or gas well and discharge it into a higher pressure flow or sales line utilizing the motor from an existing hydraulic fluid system, fluid from an existing hydraulic lift pumping unit system, a standalone hydraulic power unit, or the like. 
         [0006]    The present embodiments meet these needs 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The detailed description will be better understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings as follows: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  depicts a front view of gas compressor. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  depicts a schematic of the gas compressor. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  depicts the gas compressor configured to have a high pressure chamber and low pressure chamber. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  depicts a schematic of a system utilizing the gas compressor. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  depicts a schematic of a system having a hydraulic pumping unit driven by a hydraulic fluid system. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  depicts a schematic of a system having a hydraulic pumping unit driven by an independent motor. 
       
    
    
       [0014]    The present embodiments are detailed below with reference to the listed Figures. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    Before explaining the present system in detail, it is to be understood that the system is not limited to the particular embodiments and that it can be practiced or carried out in various ways. 
         [0016]    Specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis of the claims and as a representative basis for teaching persons having ordinary skill in the art to variously employ the present invention. 
         [0017]    The embodiments generally relate to a gas compressor. 
         [0018]    The gas compressor can be a BEAM GAS COMPRESSOR®, which is a registered trademark of Permian Production Equipment, Inc. and Charlie D. McCoy. The piston inside of the BEAM GAS COMPRESSOR® can be driven hydraulically, such as by a fluid drive system, driven mechanically, such as by a rack and pinion system or crank arm, a spindle drive gear assembly, or other similar driving mechanisms 
         [0019]    The gas compressor can use a dual acting compressor to evacuate gas from the casing of an oil and/or gas well and can simultaneously discharge the gas to a flow line or sales system. 
         [0020]    The gas compressor can be driven hydraulically, electrically, mechanically with a rack and pinion system, mechanically with a crank arm, a spindle drive gear assembly, or the like. 
         [0021]    The gas compressor can be driven using a crank arm and a gear box. A variable frequency drive can be used in conjunction with the crank arm to control the strokes per minute or the drive can be a simple start stop. A control system can be implemented to control the actual frequency of the drive, or to start and stop the drive. 
         [0022]    A rack and pinion system can be used to drive the gas compressor. The rack and pinion system can include a gear box including a reverse gear, which shifts at the end of the stroke. In other embodiments, a gear box with a shaft that extends through a housing can be used. The shaft can be operatively engaged with a first motor on one side of the gear box and a second motor on the other side of the housing. The motors can be cooperatively used in conjunction with one another, wherein one motor sends the piston up and the other sends the piston down. 
         [0023]    In one or more embodiments, the gas compressor can be driven hydraulically. The hydraulic drive can transfer energy from a hydraulic fluid system into a means that the gas compressor can use to compress gas in a lower section. Accordingly, the hydraulic fluid system provides the means for moving the piston and rod assembly in the drive section. The hydraulic fluid system can be a commercially available hydraulic fluid system. 
         [0024]    In embodiments, the gas compressor can make use of an existing hydraulic fluid system being used in conjunction with equipment in the same locality. In many situations, the hydraulic fluid system has excess capacity that is not being utilized. 
         [0025]    In these applications, the gas compressor can use little to no energy in addition to that already supplied to the hydraulic fluid system. By making use of an existing hydraulic fluid system, the gas compressor can add significant value to a user system by generating saleable product discharged into a sales line or high pressure flow with little to no cost to the user. 
         [0026]    Further, the larger compression chamber of the present invention can reduce the necessary cycles for the compression of gasses. This in turn allows for a significantly improved efficiency during the operation as well as a reduced energy requirement. The gas compressor disclosed herein can operate at less than 10 cycles per minute as opposed to the current art operating at 1500 cycles or more per minute. 
         [0027]    The novel design and cooperative application of the gas compressor can result in significant economic benefits to a user with minimal cost or additional necessary equipment. 
         [0028]    A hydraulic pumping unit can provide the means for moving fluid from the tubing of a natural gas or oil well. The hydraulic pumping unit can be any commercially available hydraulic pumping unit. The hydraulic pumping unit can be connected to use the energy in the fluid from the hydraulic fluid system or the prime mover of the hydraulic fluid system to actuate its own pump. 
         [0029]    The gas compressor can be connected via hydraulic hoses to the drive section with the hydraulic fluid system being used. 
         [0030]    The gas compressor can be used as a vapor extraction unit to remove vapor from a storage tank battery system or methane capture system in a land fill or similar systems. Almost anywhere vapor or gas is created it can be captured with this unit. 
         [0031]    The gas compressor can be used in conjunction with a rod pumping unit to lower back pressure in the casing. The gas compressor can be used to drive natural gas to other gas operated equipment, like a rod pumping unit or electric generators. 
         [0032]    The gas compressor can be made from materials that are capable of withstanding high temperatures. Accordingly, the gas compressor can be used in high temperature operations. The high temperatures can be due to high compression ratios because temperature is controlled by the ideal gas law. 
         [0033]    Turning now to the Figures,  FIG. 1  depicts a front view of a gas compressor. The gas compressor  100  can include a drive section  110  and a lower section  120 . 
         [0034]    The drive section  110  can have a drive cylinder  116  located within a drive chamber  117 . A first drive port  112   a  and a second drive port  112   b  can be in fluid communication with the drive chamber  117 , allowing fluid to be introduced or removed from the drive chamber  117 . 
         [0035]    The lower section  120  can include a piston  122  located within a compression chamber  121 . The piston  122  can be connected with the drive cylinder  116  via a rod  119 . A plurality of gas ports, such as a first gas port  126   a  and a second gas port  126   b , can be in communication with the compression chamber  121  to provide gas to and remove gas from the compression chamber  121 . 
         [0036]    A sensor  124  can be operatively located on the gas compressor, such as on the drive cylinder  116 , the rod  119 , the piston  122 , on or within the compression chamber  121 , or other suitable locations. The sensor can be used to determine the location of the piston  122  relative to its stroke, as well as provide other desired data as based upon the application of the gas compressor. 
         [0037]      FIG. 2  depicts a schematic of the gas compressor  100 . 
         [0038]    The lower section  120  can have an upper manifold  310   a.  The upper manifold can have the first gas port and the second gas port connected or formed therein. The upper manifold  310   a  can have an upper manifold opening  312  for fluidly communicating with the compression chamber. A first check valve  316   a  can be located in the manifold between the first gas port and the upper manifold opening  312 . A second check valve  316   b  can be located between the second gas port and the upper manifold opening  312 . The check valves can be used to allow flow in one direction between the gas ports and the upper manifold opening. 
         [0039]    The lower section  120  can also include a lower manifold  310   b.  The lower manifold  310   b  can include a lower manifold opening  313 . A third check valve  316   c  can be located between the lower manifold opening  313  and a third gas port in alternate embodiments, and a fourth check valve  316   d  can be located between the lower manifold opening  313  and a fourth gas port in alternate embodiments. The check valves can be used to allow flow in one direction between the gas ports and the lower manifold opening. 
         [0040]    One or more temperature transmitters, such as temperature transmitter  317 , and one or more pressure transmitters, such as pressure transmitters  319   a  and  319   b,  can be in communication with a control system and the gas compressor  100 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 3  depicts the gas compressor configured to have a high pressure chamber and low pressure chamber. 
         [0042]    The gas compressor  100  can be configured where the lower section  120  can have a low pressure chamber  321  and a high pressure chamber  322 . The check valves can be arranged to allow fluid flow into and out of the low pressure chamber  321  via gas ports  126   a  and  126   b.  The first gas port  126   a  can be in communication with the second gas port  126   b.    
         [0043]      FIG. 4  depicts a schematic of a system utilizing the gas compressor. 
         [0044]    The first system  500  can include a skid  510  that holds the gas compressor  100 , a pump and motor  540 , control valves  550 , a heat exchanger  560 , a fluid storage tank  570 , and a control panel  530 . The control panel can in communication with the control valve  550 . The control panel can also operate the pump. 
         [0045]    The control valves  550  can be in fluid communication with the drive chamber  117  via a first fluid line  551   a  and a second fluid line  55  lb. The control valves  550  can be controlled using the control panel  530  to provide fluid to the first drive port  112   a  and the second drive port  112   b.  For example, if the piston has reached a lower end of the compression chamber  121 , a signal can be sent to the control panel and the control panel can switch the control valves  550  to cause fluid to flow to the second flow line  551   b  to move the piston up. And when the piston has reached the top of the compression chamber  121  the control panel can receive a signal to switch the control valves and provide fluid to the first flow line  551   a  to move the piston down. Of course, other operation schemes can be used. The operation can be performed manually or automated using one or more sensors and one or more predetermined parameters stored in the control panel. 
         [0046]      FIG. 5  depicts a schematic of a system having a hydraulic pumping unit driven by a hydraulic fluid system. 
         [0047]    The second system  600  can include like parts to the first system and for brevity those like parts will not be discussed. In the second system  600  a hydraulic fluid system  610  can be operatively connected with the control valves  550  via supply lines  611   a  and  611   b.  The hydraulic fluid system  610  can provide the pump head for transferring fluid to the drive chamber  117 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 6  depicts a schematic of a system having a hydraulic pumping unit driven by an independent motor. 
         [0049]    The third system  700  can include like parts to the first system and for brevity those like parts will not be discussed. In the third system  700  the hydraulic fluid system  610  can be operatively connected with the fluid storage tank  570  via the supply lines  611   a  and  611   b.  The control valves  550  can be in communication with the fluid storage tank, and the pump and motor  540  can drive a drive pump  740 . The drive pump  740  can transfer fluid from the fluid storage tank  570  to the control valves and the drive chamber  117 . 
         [0050]    In operation, fluid can be selectively provided to the first drive port or the second drive port to move the drive cylinder up or down. The piston can move in the same direction as the drive cylinder. The piston can compress gas in the compression chamber and force the gas out of one of the gas ports, and the piston can simultaneously suck additional gas into the compression chamber via one or more gas ports. When the piston is moved in the other direction the additional gas can be compressed and formed out of the compression chamber via one or more of the gas ports. 
         [0051]    The gas compressor can also be used in conjunction with a rod pumping unit to lower back pressure in a casing. The gas compressor can be used to drive natural gas to other gas operated equipment, like a rod pumping unit or electric generators. Other uses for the gas compressor can include use as a vapor extraction unit to remove vapor from storage tank battery systems, as a gathering system to capture gas, vapors, emissions, or the like from multiple sources, to compress steam from steam flood oil units, methane capture systems in a land fill or similar systems, or other suitable uses. The gas compressor can be used to capture or compress vapor, gas, emissions, or the like from any source. Gasses can comprise natural gas, methane, steam, or other emissions that are desirable to compress. 
         [0052]    While these embodiments have been described with emphasis on the embodiments, it should be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the embodiments might be practiced other than as specifically described herein.