Patent ID: 8235111

Claim:
An apparatus that controls a liquid level down-hole of a hydrocarbon producing well by monitoring the liquid level down-hole in the well comprising: a down-hole liquid level measurer that measures a vertical measurement of liquid in the well and is located in a well having a subterranean formation that produces hydrocarbons; a signal device connected to the liquid level measurer that causes a submersible pump located in a well having a subterranean formation that produces hydrocarbons to adjusting the submersible pump's current liquid output based on the liquid level down-hole as measured by the down-hole liquid level measurer; wherein the liquid level measurer comprises: a support structure; and a float connected to the support structure so that the float is able to move vertically up and down the support structure and the float's position is determined by the liquid level down-hole; wherein the signal device comprises: a top target connected to the float; a bottom target connected to the float; an upper sensing device connected to an upper support structure so that when the liquid level down-hole causes the float to rise vertically, the top target engages the upper sensing device thereby initiating an increase in the amount of liquid removed from the well; and a lower sensing device connected to a lower support structure so that when the liquid level down-hole causes the float to descend vertically, the lower target engages the lower sensing device thereby initiating a decrease in the amount of liquid removed from the well.