Variable width sand bridge inducer
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsCasey Laine NEWPORT, Robert Charles DELONG
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A downhole tool for preventing pump blockage includes an outer conduit defining an outer flow path, an inner conduit located within the outer conduit defining an inner flow path and a space between the inner conduit and the outer conduit. The inner conduit includes one or more angled passageways to allow one-way debris flow. A pressure regulated valve is coupled to the upper end of the outer conduit and configured to open to expand an adjustable width angled passageway defined by the pressure regulated valve. An upper end of the inner conduit is configured to allow fluid bypass of the angled passageways of the inner conduit when the angled passageways are blocked with debris.
Claims20
A downhole tool for preventing pump blockage comprising:
- an outer conduit defining an outer flow path therethrough in an axial direction having a lower end and an upper end;
- an inner conduit located within the outer conduit defining an inner flow path therethrough in the axial direction and a space between the inner conduit and the outer conduit, wherein the inner conduit includes one or more angled passageways configured to allow one-way debris flow;
- and
- a pressure regulated valve coupled to the upper end of the outer conduit configured to open to expand an adjustable width angled passageway defined by the pressure regulated valve and an upper end of the inner conduit configured to allow fluid bypass of the angled passageways of the inner conduit when the angled passageways are blocked with debris.
A method of passing downhole fluid through a wellbore comprising:
- pumping fluid having debris particles therein from a lower section to a second section;
- pumping the fluid through to an upper section from the second section following a first path;
- shutting off a pump and allowing fluid to flow in reverse through the second section;
- collecting debris particles in the second section;
- and
- restarting the pump allow fluid from the lower section to the upper section.
A production string for an oil and gas well, comprising:
- production tubing extending along the oil and well;
- a downhole tool attached to the production tubing, and
- one or more electrical submersible pumps attached to the downhole tool;
- wherein the downhole tool is configured to prevent pump blockage in the one or more electrical submersible pumps, the downhole tool comprising:
- an outer conduit defining an outer flow path therethrough in an axial direction having a lower end and an upper end;
- an inner conduit located within the outer conduit defining an inner flow path therethrough in the axial direction and a space between the inner conduit and the outer conduit, wherein the inner conduit includes one or more angled passageways configured to allow one-way debris flow;
- and
- a pressure regulated valve coupled to the upper end of the outer conduit configured to open to expand an adjustable width angled passageway defined by the pressure regulated valve and an upper end of the inner conduit configured to allow fluid bypass of the angled passageways of the inner conduit when the angled passageways are blocked with debris.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.