Downhole sand screen with automatic flushing system
AssigneeBaker Hughes, A Ge Company, LLC
InventorsReda El-Mahbes, Jordan Kirk, Leslie Reid
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pump that is configured to lift fluids through a tubing string includes a gas mitigation system and a screen flush module. The gas mitigation system has a canister with an interior and an intake screen. The gas mitigation system further includes an intake tube that extends into the canister. The screen flush module is configured to flush solids particles trapped in the intake screen.
Claims12
An electric submersible pump configured to lift fluids through a tubing string contained in a well having a well casing, the electric submersible pump comprising:
- an electric motor;
- a centrifugal pump driven by the electric motor when the electric motor is energized, wherein the centrifugal pump includes an intake manifold;
- a gas mitigation system comprising:
- a canister having an interior;
- and
- an intake screen;
- a bottom intake pipe, wherein the bottom intake pipe extends from the interior of the canister to the intake manifold of the centrifugal pump;
- and
- a screen flush module, wherein the screen flush module comprises:
- a flush diverter connected to the tubing string above the centrifugal pump;
- a wash line extending from the flush diverter to the bottom intake pipe through the intake manifold of the centrifugal pump;
- and
- wherein the flush diverter is configured to release fluids under hydrostatic pressure within the tubing string above the centrifugal pump into the gas mitigation system to selectively backwash particles trapped by the intake screen of the gas mitigation system.
A pump configured to lift fluids through a tubing string contained in a well having a well casing, the pump comprising:
- an electric motor;
- a centrifugal pump driven by the electric motor when the electric motor is energized;
- a gas mitigation system comprising:
- a canister having an interior and an intake screen;
- and
- an intake tube, wherein the intake tube extends from inside the canister to the centrifugal pump;
- and
- a screen flush module, wherein the screen flush module comprises:
- a dump valve above the canister of the gas mitigation system;
- an inlet line, wherein the inlet line connects the tubing string to the dump valve;
- an outlet line, wherein the outlet line connects the dump valve to the intake tube below the centrifugal pump;
- and
- wherein the dump valve is configured to release fluids under hydrostatic pressure within the inlet line and tubing string above the dump valve into the gas mitigation system through the outlet line to selectively backwash particles trapped by the intake screen of the gas mitigation system.
A pump configured to lift fluid through a tubing string contained in a well having a well casing, the pump comprising:
- an electric motor;
- a centrifugal pump driven by the electric motor when the electric motor is energized;
- a gas mitigation system comprising:
- a canister having an interior;
- and
- an intake screen;
- a bottom intake pipe, wherein the bottom intake pipe extends from the interior of the canister to the centrifugal pump;
- and
- a screen flush module configured to selectively backwash particles trapped by the intake screen of the gas mitigation system, wherein the screen flush module comprises:
- a wash line connected to the gas mitigation system;
- and
- a flush diverter connected to the tubing string, wherein the flush diverter comprises:
- a flush discharge;
- and
- a shuttle valve that selectively opens the flush discharge to permit pressurized fluid to pass through the wash line into the interior of the canister during the flush mode of operation;
- and;
- wherein the screen flush module is configured to be automatically placed into a flush mode of operation by a hydrostatic pressure of the fluid in the tubing string when the electric motor is not energized.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.