# US 10,309,209 B2 · Electric submersible pump suction debris removal assembly

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- Number: US 10,309,209 B2
- Document ID: US10309209B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/462,264
- Filed: 2017-03-17
- Published: 2018-09-20
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2017-03-17
- Assignees: Baker Hughes, A Ge Company, LLC
- Applicants: Baker Hughes, A Ge Company, LLC
- Inventors: John W. Caballero; Courtney J. Hartman; Paul L. Connell; Eric J. Gauthier; Steve Rosenblatt
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309209B2

## CPC

- E21B 43/38: in the well
- E21B 37/00: Methods or apparatus for cleaning boreholes or wells (E21B21/00 takes precedence)
- E21B 43/08: Screens or liners {(expandable screens or liners E21B43/108)}
- E21B 43/128: {Adaptation of pump systems with down-hole electric drives}
- E21B 43/35: {specially adapted for separating solids (down-hole drilling fluid separation systems E21B21/002; separating solids from drilling fluids E21B21/065)}
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

## Abstract

An electric submersible pump (ESP) is coupled with a spaced apart debris removal assembly that is independently supported from a retrievable packer. The debris removal assembly is modular and retains the captured debris for subsequent removal from the well with the retrievable packer. The ESP suction draws in well fluids through the debris retention device. The ESP can be pulled to allow removal of the retrievable packer with the debris removal assembly.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A borehole method, comprising:
protecting a tool positioned in a borehole with a selectively releasable and independently supported debris removal assembly, said tool being an electric submersible pump; and
removing at least some debris from fluid reaching the tool as said tool is operated.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, comprising:
drawing fluid through said debris removal assembly with said tool.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, comprising:
supporting said debris removal assembly at a spaced location from said tool without direct or indirect contact between said tool and said debris removal assembly.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, comprising:
supporting said debris removal assembly on a retrievable support spaced apart from said tool.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, comprising:
making said retrievable support a packer.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, comprising:
providing a plurality of modules connected in series as said debris removal assembly.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, comprising:
configuring each module with an inlet tube surround by a debris retention chamber;
deflecting flow exiting said inlet tube in each module toward said debris retention chamber so that debris can settle into said debris retention chamber.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, comprising:
filtering said flow in each module after said deflecting.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, comprising:
using filters with the same opening size in each said module.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, comprising:
using filters with progressively decreasing opening size in each said module in a direction approaching said tool.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, comprising:
connecting the modules together directly or indirectly with a threaded connection or a quick connect.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, comprising:
providing an ESP as said tool;
supporting said modules from a retrievable packer.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, comprising:
removing debris captured in said modules with said modules after release of said retrievable packer.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, comprising:
removing said modules and retrievable packer in the same trip as removing said ESP.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, comprising:
supporting said ESP on a tubular string;
manipulating said string to release and retrieve said retrievable packer and attached modules without using said ESP to support said retrievable packer.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, comprising:
drawing fluid through said modules with said tool.