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US 10,900,489 B2Granted
Automatic pumping system commissioning
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsDudi Abdullah Rendusara, Roderick Ian MacKay
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A technique facilitates automatic commissioning operations on pumping systems, e.g. electric submersible pumping systems. The automatic commissioning technique employs closed-loop monitoring and control processes which may include monitoring of pump shaft direction and speed measurements. In many applications, the technique reduces the time and manual effort otherwise involved in commissioning pumping systems in well completions. Embodiments also may be employed in automated decision-making related to commissioning and in determining operational settings based on sensed environmental and/or well performance conditions.
Claims18
A method for use in a well, comprising:
- deploying an electric submersible pumping system downhole in a wellbore;
- powering the electric submersible pumping system to rotate a motor of the electric submersible pumping system in a first direction;
- controlling operation of the motor of the electric submersible pumping system with control signals from a control module to a variable speed drive system;
- determining via a downhole sensor whether the first direction of motor rotation is proper, wherein determining whether the first direction of motor rotation is proper occurs while rotating the motor in the first direction, and determining whether the first direction of motor rotation is proper occurs before any change in control signals from the control module to the variable speed drive system;
- and
- using the control module to automatically change the direction of motor rotation to a second, opposite direction by sending a reverse direction command to the variable speed drive system from the control module in response to determining that the first direction of motor rotation is improper.
3 more elements
A method, comprising:
- deploying an electric submersible pumping system downhole in a wellbore;
- powering the electric submersible pumping system;
- automatically performing a commissioning operation on the electric submersible pumping system via a control module disposed at a downhole location within the wellbore, wherein automatically performing the commissioning operation comprises:
- sending control signals from the control module to a motor of the electric submersible pumping system to rotate the motor in a first direction of rotation;
- receiving, at the control module, sensor data from a downhole sensor;
- determining, at the control module while rotating the motor in the first direction of rotation without any change in the control signals sent to the motor to rotate the motor in the first direction, whether the first direction of rotation of the motor is a desired direction of rotation based on the sensor data;
- and
- sending a reverse direction command from the control module to the motor to reverse the first direction of rotation of the motor to the desired direction of rotation in response to determining that the first direction of rotation is not the desired direction of rotation;
- and
- upon successful completion of the commissioning operation, using the electric submersible pumping system in a production application to produce oil.
7 more elements
A system for use in a well, comprising:
- an electric submersible pumping system positioned in a wellbore for pumping a fluid;
- a variable speed drive system coupled with a motor of the electric submersible pumping system to control a motor speed;
- at least one sensor for sensing a parameter related to pumping the fluid;
- and
- a downhole control module coupled with the at least one sensor and with the variable speed drive system in a closed-loop control, wherein the downhole control module is disposed at a downhole location within the wellbore, the downhole control module is configured to receive data from the at least one sensor indicating a direction of motor rotation, the downhole control module is configured to determine if an initial direction of motor rotation upon start up is proper while the motor is rotating in the initial direction before any change in operation of the variable speed drive system, and the downhole control module is configured to automatically output a reverse direction command to the variable speed drive system to reverse the direction of motor rotation in response to determining that the direction of motor rotation is improper.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.