US 6,454,010 B1Granted

Well production apparatus and method

AssigneePan Canadian Petroleum Limited

InventorsWayne Thomas, Gary Morcom

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A well production apparatus includes a down-hole gear pump and a transport assembly to which the gear pump is attached. The transport assembly is formed from a string of modular pipe assemblies having one or more passages for carrying production fluid from the bottom of the well to the surface. The passages can be arranged in a side-by-side configuration, and include pressure and return lines for driving the gear pump. The gear pump includes a hydraulically driven motor that is ganged with a positive displacement gear set. Both the motor and the pumping section have ceramic wear surfaces, the ceramic being chosen to have coefficients of thermal expansion corresponding to the coefficients of thermal expansion of the gear sets. The pumps and rotors have ceramic bushings rather than ball or journal bearings, and are operable under abrasive conditions.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A fluid displacement apparatus comprising:

a motor unit having
a first gearset having an output shaft, said output shaft having an axis of rotation defining an axial direction;
an inlet by which fluid can flow to said first gearset;
and
an outlet by which fluid can flow away from said first gearset;
a gear pump unit mounted axially with respect to said motor unit, said pump unit having
a second gearset connected to be driven by said output shaft of said first gearset;
an inlet by which production fluid can flow to said second gearset;
and
an outlet by which the production fluid can flow away from said second gearset;
and
a transport apparatus having a first end and a second end, said second end being connected axially relative to said motor unit and said pump unit;
and
said transport apparatus having
a first passageway defined therein in fluid communication with said inlet of said motor unit by which fluid under pressure can be directed to said first gearset to turn said output shaft;
and
at least a second passageway defined therein in fluid communication with said outlet of said gear pump unit by which the production fluid from said second gearset can be conveyed to said first end of said transport apparatus.

14 more elements

A method of moving production fluid from a well to a wellhead said method comprising the steps of:

providing a transport apparatus having a first end for introduction into the well, and a second end for location outside the well;
providing a hydraulic motor having a gearset in a housing, the motor having an inlet, and an outlet, and an output shaft;
providing a gear pump having a gearset in a housing, the gear pump having an input shaft, an inlet, and an outlet;
mounting the hydraulic motor to the first end of the transport apparatus;
mounting the gear pump to the hydraulic motor and connecting the output shaft of the hydraulic motor to the input shaft of the gear pump;
providing a first passageway in the transport apparatus for carrying production fluid from the production region to the wellhead;
establishing the output of the gear pump in fluid communication with the first passageway in the transport apparatus;
providing a second passageway in the transport apparatus for carrying hydraulic fluid from outside the well to the inlet of the hydraulic motor;
introducing the first end of the transport apparatus into the well and locating the gear pump in a production region of the well;
supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure through the second passageway to operate the hydraulic motor;
and thereby driving the gear pump to urge production fluid from the production region to the wellhead.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/584,368Filed 1 Jun 2000
Granted: 24 Sep 2002
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

F04C 13/008
Adaptations of machines or pumps for special use, e.g. for extremely high pressures: pumps for submersible use, i.e. down-hole pumping
E21B 17/18
Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings: pipes provided with plural fluid…
E21B 43/129
Lifting well fluids: adaptations of down-hole pump systems powered by fluid supplied from outside the borehole
F04C 11/003
Of similar working principle: having complementary function