# US 10,370,947 B1 · Artificial lift

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- Number: US 10,370,947 B1
- Document ID: US10370947B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 16/047,983
- Filed: 2018-07-27
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2018-07-27
- Assignees: Upwing Energy, LLC
- Applicants: Upwing Energy, LLC
- Inventors: Herman Artinian; Kuo-Chiang Chen; Patrick McMullen; David Biddick
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10370947B1

## CPC

- E21B 43/128: {Adaptation of pump systems with down-hole electric drives}
- E21B 17/023: {Arrangements for connecting cables or wirelines to downhole devices}
- E21B 41/02: in situ inhibition of corrosion in boreholes or wells
- E21B 17/02: Couplings; joints {(expandable couplings or joints E21B43/106)}
- E21B 33/1208: {characterised by the construction of the sealing or packing means (E21B33/1277 takes precedence)}
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

## Abstract

A retrievable string configured to be positioned in a well is described. The retrievable string includes a rotating portion and a non-rotating portion. The rotating portion includes a rotor configured to be positioned in and driven by a stator of a well completion. The rotating portion includes an impeller coupled to the rotor. The non-rotating portion is cooperatively configured with the impeller to induce fluid flow in the well in response to the stator driving the rotor. The non-rotating portion includes a coupling part configured to support the rotor positioned in the stator. The coupling part is configured to detachably couple to a corresponding coupling part of the well completion.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A retrievable string configured to be positioned in a well, the retrievable string comprising:
a rotating portion comprising:
a rotor configured to be positioned in and driven by a stator of a well completion;
an impeller coupled to the rotor and configured to be positioned uphole of the rotor when the retrievable string is positioned in the well; and
a bearing target configured to magnetically couple to an actuator installed as part of the stator of the well completion, the bearing target configured to counteract a mechanical load on the rotor in response to a first magnetic field generated by the actuator of the stator of the well completion;
a non-rotating portion surrounding at least part of the rotating portion, the non-rotating portion cooperatively configured with the impeller to induce fluid flow in the well in response to the stator driving the rotor, the non-rotating portion comprising a coupling part configured to support the rotor positioned in the stator, the coupling part configured to detachably couple to a corresponding coupling part of the well completion.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The retrievable string of claim 1, wherein the retrievable string is configured to be exposed to production fluid from the well.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The retrievable string of claim 2, wherein the retrievable string is configured to allow the production fluid from the well to flow over an outer surface of the rotor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The retrievable string of claim 2, wherein the retrievable string is configured to allow the production fluid from the well to flow through an inner bore of the rotor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The retrievable string of claim 1, further comprising a connecting point positioned at an uphole end of the retrievable string, the connecting point configured to be connected to a connection from a surface location, allowing the retrievable string to be retrieved from the well.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The retrievable string of claim 5, wherein the connecting point is configured to be connected to an electrical connection to transmit signals between the surface location and a sensor of the non-rotating portion.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The retrievable string of claim 5, wherein the rotor comprises a protective sleeve surrounding at least a portion of the rotor, the protective sleeve configured to isolate the portion of the rotor from production fluid.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The retrievable string of claim 7, wherein the protective sleeve is non-metallic.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The retrievable string of claim 7, wherein the protective sleeve is metallic.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The retrievable string of claim 7, further comprising an isolation sleeve defining an outer surface of the retrievable string, the isolation sleeve configured to isolate production fluid flowing through the retrievable string from the stator of the well completion.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The retrievable string of claim 10, wherein the isolation sleeve is non-metallic.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The retrievable string of claim 10, wherein the isolation sleeve is metallic.

### Claim 13 (depends on 7)

The retrievable string of claim 7, wherein the stator comprises an electromagnetic coil configured to generate a second magnetic field, and the retrievable string comprises a motor permanent magnet configured to cause the rotor to rotate in response to the second magnetic field generated by the electromagnetic coil.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The retrievable string of claim 13, wherein the stator is a first stator, and the well completion comprises a second stator independently configured to drive the rotor.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The retrievable string of claim 14, wherein the rotor is a first rotor, and the retrievable string further comprises a second rotor configured to be positioned in and driven by the second stator of the well completion.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The retrievable string of claim 13, wherein the bearing target comprises a permanent magnet configured to counteract a radial load on the rotor in response to the first magnetic field generated by the actuator.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The retrievable string of claim 13, wherein the bearing target comprises a permanent magnet configured to counteract an axial load on the rotor in response to the first magnetic field generated by the actuator.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The retrievable string of claim 13, further comprising at least one of an electric submersible pump, a compressor, or a blower.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The retrievable string of claim 13, further comprising a plug positioned at the uphole end of the retrievable string, the plug configured to allow the retrievable string to be pumped down into the well.

### Claim 20 (depends on 13)

The retrievable string of claim 13, further comprising a cable configured to connect to the connecting point, the cable configured to extend to lower the retrievable string into the well and configured to retract to retrieve the retrievable string from the well.

### Claim 21 (depends on 13)

The retrievable string of claim 13, further comprising a mechanical bearing configured to counteract a mechanical load of the rotor.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The retrievable string of claim 21, wherein the mechanical bearing is a mechanical thrust bearing configured to counteract an axial load of the rotor.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

The retrievable string of claim 21, wherein the mechanical bearing is a mechanical radial bearing configured to counteract a radial load of the rotor.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The retrievable string of claim 23, wherein the protector comprises:
lubrication fluid; and
seals at opposing ends of the protector, the seals configured to prevent fluid from entering and exiting the protector.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The retrievable string of claim 24, wherein the connecting point is configured to be connected to a lubrication fluid connection to receive lubrication fluid from the surface location and replenish lubrication fluid in the protector.

### Claim 26 (depends on 21)

The retrievable string of claim 21, wherein the mechanical bearing is exposed to production fluid from the well.

### Claim 27 (depends on 21)

The retrievable string of claim 21, further comprising a protector, wherein the mechanical bearing is positioned in the protector.