US 6,167,965 AGranted

Electrical submersible pump and methods for enhanced utilization of electrical submersible pumps in the completion and production of wellbores

AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated

InventorsJohn L. Bearden, John W. Harrell, Jerald R. Rider, Gordon L. Besser, Michael H. Johnson, Paulo S. Tubel, Larry A. Watkins, Daniel J. Turick, Joseph F. Donovan, J. V. Henry, Dick L. Knox

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

patentgrep

Loading patent…

Abstract

An improved electrical submersible pump is disclosed in which a processor downhole is utilized to monitor one or more subsurface conditions, to record data, and to alter at least one operating condition of the electrical submersible pump. Novel uses are described for downhole gas compression, the delivery of particulate matter to wellbore sites, and for the disposal of waste.

Claims35

Dependent claims

An improved pump for use in transporting fluids within a wellbore, comprising:

(a) a pump member, including an inlet for receiving fluid and an outlet for discharging fluid, disposed within said wellbore and including at least one moveable member for moving said fluids;
(b) an electrically-powered motor located in a remote downhole location within said wellbore mechanically coupled to said at least one moveable member of said pump member for selectively actuating said at least one moveable member;
(c) at least one sensor for detecting at least one of:
(1) an operating attribute of said improved pump;
(2) a subsurface condition;
(3) a fluid flow attribute;
and
(4) a fluid attribute;
(d) at least one programmable controller carried in a remote location within said wellbore and communicatively coupled to at least said at least one sensor;
and
(e) at least one program composed of instructions executable by said at least one programmable controller for:
(1) receiving data from said at least one sensor;
(2) monitoring at least one of:
(a) an operating attribute of said improved pump;
(b) a subsurface condition;
(c) a fluid flow attribute;
and
(d) a fluid attribute;
and
independent of communications with a surface control system, altering an operating condition of said improved electrical submersible pump based on measurements of said improved pump operating attribute, said subsurface condition;
said fluid flow attribute, or said fluid attribute.

18 more elements

An improved method of transporting fluids within a wellbore, comprising:

(a) providing a pump member, disposed in a remote wellbore location within said wellbore, including at least one moveable member for moving said fluids;
(b) providing an electrically-powered motor disposed in a remote wellbore location within said wellbore and mechanically coupled to said at least one moveable member of said pump member for selectively actuating said at least one moveable member;
(c) providing at least one sensor for detecting at least one of:
(1) an operating attribute of said improved pump;
(2) a subsurface condition;
(3) a fluid flow attribute;
and
(4) a fluid attribute;
(d) providing at least one programmable controller carried within said wellbore, and communicatively coupled to at least said at least one sensor;
(e) receiving data from said at least one sensor at said at least one programmable controller for executing at least one program which is composed of executable instructions;
(f) utilizing said at least one programmable controller for monitoring at least one of:
(1) an operating attribute of said improved pump;
(2) a subsurface condition;
(3) a fluid flow attribute;
and
(4) a fluid attribute;
independent of communications with a surface control system, altering an operating condition of said improved pump based on measurements of the improved pump operating attribute, the subsurface condition, the fluid flow attribute, and the fluid attribute.

14 more elements

An apparatus for handling gas and liquid produced by a well, comprising:

(a) a centrifugal gas compressor located within the well, the gas compressor having an intake for receiving gas in the well, compressing the gas and delivering the gas out a discharge to a selected gas delivery location;
(b) a downhole electric motor assembly connected to the gas compressor for rotating the gas compressor;
(c) a liquid pump located in the well for pumping liquid in the well to a selected liquid delivery location;
and
(d) a data processing system within the well for controlling operations, independent of communications with a surface control system, of at least one of (1) said centrifugal gas compressor, (2) said downhole electric motor assembly, and (3) said liquid pump.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/029,732Filed 8 Feb 1999 · us provisional application
Priority: 30 Aug 1995
Granted: 2 Jan 2001
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification22 codes

F04D 9/002
Preventing vapour lock: by means in the very pump
E21B 43/128
Lifting well fluids: adaptation of pump systems with down-hole electric drives
E21B 43/385
In the well: by reinjecting the separated materials into an earth formation in the same well
E21B 44/00
Automatic control systems specially adapted for drilling operations, i.e. self-operating systems which