Systems and methods for killing wells equipped with jet pumps
AssigneeHansen Downhole Pump Solutions A.S.
InventorHenning Hansen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wellbore pumping system (10) has at least one jet pump (18, 20) disposed in a tubular string (12) inserted into a subsurface wellbore (II). An intake of the jet pump is in fluid communication with a subsurface reservoir. A discharge of the jet pump is in fluid communication with an interior of a tubular string extending to the surface. A fluid bypass (24, 26) fluidly connects the inlet and discharge of the jet pump. The fluid bypass in some embodiments is operable to enable fluid flow when a differential pressure of fluid pumped into the tubular string from the surface exceeds a predetermined pressure. Another aspect includes a pump system having two separately operable jet pumps in tandem in a wellbore tubular string.
Claims25
A wellbore pump system, comprising:
- at least one jet pump disposed in a tubular string inserted into a subsurface wellbore, an inlet of the at least one jet pump in fluid communication with a subsurface reservoir, a discharge of the at least one jet pump in fluid communication with an interior of the tubular string;
- and
- a first fluid bypass fluidly connecting the inlet and discharge of the at least one jet pump, the fluid bypass operable to enable fluid flow when a differential pressure of fluid pumped into the tubular string from the surface exceeds a predetermined pressure, the first fluid bypass comprising a control valve operable to close fluid flow in a first direction and to open fluid flow in a direction opposed to the first direction when a pressure differential exceeds the predetermined pressure.
A method for operating a subsurface wellbore, comprising:
- operating at least one jet pump to lift a first fluid within a tubular string in the wellbore to the surface;
- introducing a second fluid from the surface into a subsurface reservoir by pumping the second fluid into the tubular string until a differential pressure across the at least one jet pump exceeds a predetermined pressure, whereby the second fluid bypasses the at least one jet pump;
- and
- operating a control valve operable to close fluid flow in one direction and to open fluid flow in a direction opposed to the first direction when the differential pressure exceeds the predetermined pressure.
A wellbore pump system, comprising:
- a first jet pump and a second jet pump disposed at longitudinally spaced apart locations along a tubular string in a wellbore;
- a flow divider disposed in the tubular string between the first jet pump and the second jet pump;
- a first flow bypass tube having one end in fluid communication with an interior of the tubular string below an inlet of the first jet pump and a discharge in fluid communication with an inlet of the second jet pump;
- and
- a second flow bypass tube having an inlet in fluid communication with a discharge of the first jet pump and a discharge in fluid communication with an interior of the tubular string above the second jet pump.
A method for operating a subsurface wellbore, comprising:
- supplying power fluid to a first jet pump and a second jet pump disposed above the first jet pump and at longitudinally spaced apart locations along a tubular string in a wellbore;
- first bypassing fluid flow below an inlet of the first jet pump to an inlet of the second jet pump;
- second bypassing fluid flow from a discharge of the first jet pump to an interior of the tubular string above a discharge of the second jet pump;
- and
- separating fluid flow between the discharge of the first jet pump and the inlet of the second jet pump to enable the first and second bypassing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.