Back to results
US 5,207,273 AGranted
Method and apparatus for pumping wells
AssigneeProduction Technologies International Inc.
InventorsGordon O. Cates, Ronald M. Bass, Kenneth J. Schmitt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for producing wells in which the tubing and casing are used as electrical conduits for a centrifugal pump in the well and single phase A. C. or D. C. current is supplied to the well and converted to three phase current at the pump motor.
Claims10
In a well having a casing containing formation fluid,
- an improved means for pumping the fluid to the surface, comprising in combination:
- a centrifugal pump located within the well;
- a submersible three-phase electrical motor located within the well and coupled to the pump for driving the pump;
- means having a conductor, said means having a lower end connected to the motor and an upper end extending to the surface, said means having sufficient strength to support the weight of the pump and motor, allowing the pump and motor to be lowered into and retrieved from the well on said means;
- means for supplying single-phase AC power from the surface down the conductor;
- and
- means located at the lower end of said means for converting the single phase AC power to three-phase electrical power to power the motor.
4 more elements
An improved method for pumping fluid from a well having a casing to the surface, comprising in combination:
- lowering into the well on an electrical conductor means a three-phase electrical motor and centrifugal pump assembly;
- providing single-phase electrical power down the conductor means, and
- converting at said assembly the single-phase electrical power to three-phase electrical power and powering the motor with the three-phase electrical power, causing the pump to rotate and pump the fluid to the surface.
In a well having a casing containing formation fluid,
- an improved means for pumping the fluid to the surface, comprising in combination:
- a centrifugal pump located within the well;
- a submersible three-phase electrical motor located within the well and coupled to the pump for driving the pump;
- means including a production tubing providing an electrical conductor and insulation rings spaced along the tubing to electrically insulate the tubing from the casing, said means having a lower end connected to the motor and an upper end extending to the surface;
- means for supplying a single electric current from the surface down the tubing;
- and
- means located at the lower end of said tubing for converting the single current to three-phase electrical current to power the motor including means connected to the casing which provides a ground.
4 more elements
In a well having a casing containing formation fluid,
- an improved means for pumping the fluid to the surface, comprising in combination:
- a centrifugal pump located within the well;
- a submersible three-phase electrical motor located within the well and coupled to the pump for driving the pump;
- means including a production tubing providing an electrical conductor and insulation means covering at least the lower section of the tubing to electrically insulate the tubing from the casing, said means having a lower end connected to the motor and an upper end extending to the surface;
- means for supplying a single electric current from the surface down the tubing;
- and
- means located at the lower end of said tubing for converting the single current to three-phase electrical current to power the motor including means connected to the casing which provides a ground.
4 more elements
An improved method for pumping fluid from a well having a casing to the surface, comprising in combination:
- lowering into the well on a tubing a three-phase electrical motor and centrifugal pump assembly;
- providing a single electric current down the tubing, and
- converting at said assembly the single electric current to three-phase electrical current and powering the motor with the three-phase electrical power, causing the pump to rotate and pump the fluid to the surface.
In a well having casing containing formation fluid,
- an improved means for pumping the fluid to the surface, comprising in combination:
- a centrifugal pump located within the well;
- a submersible three-phase electrical motor located within the well and coupled to the pump for driving the pump;
- means having a conductor, said means having a lower end connected to the motor and an upper end extending to the surface, said means having sufficient strength to support the weight of the pump and motor, allowing the pump and motor to be lowered into and retrieved from the well on said means;
- means for supplying single-phase AC power from the surface down the conductor with the casing serving as an electrical return;
- phase converter means located at the lower end of the means having a conductor for converting the single-phase AC power to three-phase electrical power to power the motor;
- and
- means for providing a conductive path from the phase converter means to the casing to enable the casing to serve as the electrical return for the single-phase AC power.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.