Electric motors and related systems for deployment in a downhole well environment

An electric motor configured for deployment in a downhole well environment, the electric motor comprising:

• a housing containing a plurality of aligned magnets, the plurality of magnets including at least two adjacent, axially-aligned stationary magnets having outer ends having the same polarity and inner ends having the same polarity;
• at least one movable magnet disposed adjacent to the stationary magnets, the movable magnet being movable axially between a first position proximate the outer end of one of the stationary magnets and a second position proximate the outer end of the other stationary magnet, wherein the movable magnet is configured for connection to an operable production device in the well;
• and
• a supply of alternating current coupled to the plurality of magnets so as to alternate the polarity of one of the movable and stationary magnets to thereby cause the movable magnet to reciprocate between the first and second positions, and to thereby provide reciprocating linear output to drive the operable production device.

A downhole well pumping system for artificial lift, the downhole well pumping system comprising:

• a production pump disposed in a downhole well environment;
• an electric motor coupled to the production pump and operable to provide reciprocating linear output to drive the production pump;
• wherein the electric motor comprises a housing containing a series of at least three magnets including two outer magnets and an inner magnet disposed between the two outer magnets, wherein the two outer magnets have inside faces with like poles and outside faces with like poles;
• one of the inner magnet and the two outer magnets being stationary and the other being
• (A) movable between a first position wherein the inner magnet is located proximate to one of the outer two magnets and a second position wherein the inner magnet is located proximate to the other of the outer two magnets and
• (B) configured for connection to the production pump;
• and
• a controller configured to control operation of the electric motor by selectively supplying alternating current to the electric motor so as to alternate the polarity of one of the inner magnet and the outer two magnets to thereby cause reciprocation between the first and second positions, and to thereby provide reciprocating linear output to drive the operable production device.

A downhole well pumping system for artificial lift comprising:

• a production pump disposed in a downhole well environment;
• an electric motor coupled to the production pump and operable to provide reciprocating linear output to drive the production pump;
• wherein the electric motor comprises a housing containing a plurality of coaxially aligned magnets, the plurality of coaxially aligned magnets including at least two adjacent, stationary magnets defining a through-going aperture, wherein the stationary magnets have outer ends having the same polarity and inner ends having the same polarity, and at least one movable magnet disposed in the through-going aperture, the movable magnet being movable axially between a first position proximate the outer end of one of the stationary magnets and a second position proximate the outer end of the other stationary magnet;
• and
• a controller configured to control operation of the electric motor by selectively supplying alternating current to the electric motor so as to alternate the polarity of one of the movable and stationary magnets to thereby cause the movable magnet to reciprocate between the first and second positions, and to thereby provide reciprocating linear output to drive the operable production device.