Forward deployed sensing array for an electric submersible pump
AssigneeGE Oil & Gas ESP, Inc.
InventorsMichael Franklin Hughes, Scott Mordin Hoyte
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Abstract
An electric submersible pumping system has an electric motor, a pump assembly driven by the electric motor and a sensor module. The sensor module preferably includes a detachable sensor array that can be selectively released from the sensor module. In preferred embodiments, the detachable sensor array includes a self-propelled sensor array vehicle that has a drive motor, a drive mechanism driven by the drive motor and a sensor array. The detachable sensor array provides a wellbore condition signal that can be used to automatically adjust the performance of the electric submersible pumping system.
Claims25
An electric submersible pumping system comprising:
- an electric motor;
- a pump assembly driven by the electric motor;
- and
- a sensor module, wherein the sensor module comprises a detachable sensor array that can be selectively released from the sensor module.
A method for optimizing the performance of a pumping system, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a sensor module;
- installing the sensor module into a wellbore;
- deploying a detachable sensor array into the wellbore from the sensor module;
- measuring a wellbore condition with the detachable sensor array;
- and
- outputting a wellbore condition signal from the detachable sensor array.
A submersible pumping system for use in a deviated wellbore having a vertical section and a lateral section, the pumping system comprising:
- a pump assembly positioned in the vertical section;
- a motor assembly positioned in the vertical section;
- a sensor module positioned in the vertical section;
- and
- a detached sensor array positioned in the lateral section, wherein the detached sensor array provides a signal representative of a wellbore condition in the lateral section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.