Contra rotating electric submersible pumping systems and methods
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsJoakim ALMQVIST, Aasmund VALLAND, Ola Hoeydal HELLE, Jean Francois NOEL
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A technique facilitates utilization of an electric submersible pumping system able to provide a desired production output with a reduced length. The electric submersible pumping system is sized for deployment in a borehole, e.g. within a borehole casing, and utilizes contra rotating impellers mounted on contra rotating shafts. To enable the contra rotation, the shafts may comprise a first shaft rotatably disposed within a hollow interior of a second shaft. This type of construction allows operation of the contra rotating impellers so as to enhance production without the length of sequential, traditional impellers.
Claims20
A system for pumping well fluids, comprising:
- an electric submersible pumping system having:
- an external pump housing;
- a pair of contra rotating shafts located within the external pump housing and comprising a first shaft rotatable within a hollow interior of a second shaft;
- an impeller section comprising:
- a first impeller mounted to the first shaft;
- and
- a second impeller mounted to the second shaft, the first impeller and the second impeller being rotatable in contra directions to move a well fluid through the external pump housing for production to a desired location;
- a first motor driving the first shaft;
- and
- a second motor driving the second shaft.
A system, comprising:
- an electric submersible pumping system sized for deployment in a borehole, the electric submersible pumping system having an external pump housing containing contra rotating impellers mounted on contra rotating shafts, the contra rotating shafts comprising a first shaft and a second shaft, the first shaft being rotatably disposed within a hollow interior of the second shaft.
A method for pumping fluid from a cased wellbore, comprising:
- providing an electric submersible pumping system sized for deployment in a borehole, the electric submersible pumping system having an external pump housing containing contra rotating impellers mounted on contra rotating shafts, the contra rotating shafts comprising a first shaft and a second shaft, the first shaft being rotatably disposed within a hollow interior of the second shaft;
- deploying the electric submersible pumping system downhole in the cased wellbore;
- and
- using at least one motor to rotate the first shaft and the second shaft in a contra rotating direction so as to pump well fluid comprising wet gas along the interior of the external pump housing via the contra rotating impellers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.