Sleeve and plug system and method

An artificial lift assembly deployed on a tubing string for use in a wellbore, the artificial lift assembly comprising:

• an electrical submersible pumping system having a permanent magnet motor;
• a sleeve system disposed above the electrical submersible pump, the sleeve system having a sliding sleeve at least partially carried within a ported case, wherein the sliding sleeve has a first position within the ported case in which the sliding sleeve blocks fluid flow through ports in the ported case, the sliding sleeve having a second position within the ported case in which fluid flow is allowed through the ports, the sliding sleeve being restricted from movement relative to the ported case until a first predetermined pressure is applied to the sliding sleeve, and wherein the sliding sleeve includes a latch system which engages with the ported case so as to prevent the sliding sleeve from moving uphole or downhole relative to the ported case when the sliding sleeve is in the second position, and
• a plug configured to engage with the sliding sleeve so as to block fluid flow through the sliding sleeve and thus enable an increase in fluid pressure above the plug in the wellbore to the first predetermined pressure so as to move the sliding sleeve relative to the ported case to the second position such that fluid flow is allowed through the ports, the plug comprising a wellbore dart having an outer profile defined on an outer surface of the wellbore dart, the outer profile configured to mate with the sliding sleeve such that, when the wellbore dart is introduced into the sliding sleeve, the wellbore dart is held in place within the sliding sleeve and prevents fluid flow through the electrical submersible pumping system to thus prevent rotation of the permanent magnet motor by the fluid flow.

An artificial lift assembly deployed on a tubing string for use in a wellbore, the artificial lift assembly comprising:

• an electrical submersible pumping system having a permanent magnet motor;
• a sleeve system disposed above the electrical submersible pump, the sleeve system having a sliding sleeve at least partially carried within a ported case, wherein the sliding sleeve is configured to engage with a plug and wherein the sliding sleeve has a first position within the ported case in which the sliding sleeve blocks fluid flow through ports in the ported case, the sliding sleeve has a second position within the ported case in which fluid flow is allowed through the ports, the sliding sleeve is restricted from movement relative to the ported case until a first predetermined pressure is applied to the sliding sleeve, and wherein the sliding sleeve includes a latch system which engages with the ported case so as to prevent the sliding sleeve from moving uphole or downhole relative to the ported case when the sliding sleeve is in the second position, and
• wherein the latch system includes a projecting ridge on the sliding sleeve and the projecting ridge engages with a first groove on an interior surface of the ported case to maintain the sliding sleeve in the first position prior to applying the first predetermined pressure, and the projecting ridge engages with a second groove on the interior surface of the ported case when the sliding sleeve has moved to the second position such that the sliding sleeve is maintained in the second position.

An artificial lift assembly deployed on a tubing string for use in a wellbore, the artificial lift assembly comprising:

• an electrical submersible pumping system having a permanent magnet motor;
• a sleeve system disposed above the electrical submersible pump, the sleeve system having a sliding sleeve at least partially carried within a ported case, wherein the sliding sleeve is configured to engage with a plug and wherein the sliding sleeve has a first position within the ported case in which the sliding sleeve blocks fluid flow through ports in the ported case, the sliding sleeve has a second position within the ported case in which fluid flow is allowed through the ports, the sliding sleeve is restricted from movement relative to the ported case until a first predetermined pressure is applied to the sliding sleeve, and wherein the sliding sleeve includes a latch system which engages with the ported case so as to prevent the sliding sleeve from moving uphole or downhole relative to the ported case when the sliding sleeve is in the second position, and
• wherein the latch system includes a lock ring positioned at least partially in a ring groove on the sliding sleeve, and wherein the lock ring engages with a first groove on an interior surface of the ported case to maintain the sliding sleeve in the first position prior to applying the first predetermined pressure, and upon application of the first predetermine pressure, the lock ring engages with a ramp to compress the lock ring into the ring groove, and subsequently once the sliding sleeve has moved to the second position, the lock ring engages with a second groove on the interior surface to maintain the sliding sleeve in the second position.