Fluid level control for a downhole well pumping system
AssigneeCDX Gas, LLC
InventorsJoseph A. Zupanick, Monty H. Rial
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fluid level controlled pumping system includes a pumping unit disposed within a fluid cavity. The pumping unit includes an inlet operable to receive a fluid to be pumped from the fluid cavity. The system also includes a valve slidably coupled to the pumping unit. The valve includes a passage for receiving pumped fluid from an outlet of the pumping unit. In response to a decreasing fluid level within the fluid cavity, movement of the valve relative to the pumping unit aligns the passage with a port of the pumping unit to recirculate the pumped fluid from the outlet to the inlet.
Claims46
A fluid level controlled pumping system, comprising:
- a pumping unit disposed within a fluid cavity, the pumping unit having an inlet operable to receive a fluid to be pumped from the fluid cavity;
- and
- a valve slidably coupled to the pumping unit, the valve having a passage for receiving pumped fluid from an outlet of the pumping unit, and wherein, in response to a decreasing fluid level within the fluid cavity, movement of the valve relative to the pumping unit aligns the passage with a port of the pumping unit to recirculate the pumped fluid from the outlet to the inlet.
A fluid level controlled pumping system, comprising:
- a progressive cavity pump disposed within a fluid cavity, the pump having a stator/rotor portion for pumping a fluid in the fluid cavity from a first location to a second location, the stator/rotor portion having an inlet and an outlet;
- and
- a valve slidably coupled to the pump, wherein, in response to a decreasing fluid level within the fluid cavity, movement of the valve relative to the pump aligns a passage of the valve with a port of the pump to recirculate the fluid from the outlet to the inlet.
A fluid level controlled pumping system, comprising:
- a progressive cavity pump disposed within a fluid cavity, the pump having a stator/rotor portion for pumping a fluid in the fluid cavity from a first location to a second location, the stator/rotor portion having an inlet and an outlet;
- and
- a valve slidably coupled to the pump, the valve operable to align a passage of the valve with a port of the pump in response to a change in a level of the fluid within the fluid cavity, the passage operable to direct the fluid from the outlet to the inlet to substantially prevent a lack of fluid at the inlet.
A fluid level controlled pumping system, comprising:
- a progressive cavity pump disposed within a fluid cavity, the pump having a stator/rotor portion for pumping a fluid in the fluid cavity, the stator/rotor portion having an inlet and an outlet;
- and
- a valve coupled to the pump, the valve disposed in communication with the outlet, the valve operable to recirculate the fluid from the outlet to the inlet in response to a decrease in a fluid level in the fluid cavity.
A method for fluid level controlled pumping, comprising:
- providing a progressive cavity pump disposed within a fluid cavity, the pump having a stator/rotor portion for pumping fluid disposed in the fluid cavity, the stator/rotor portion having an inlet and an outlet;
- providing a valve coupled to the pump, the valve operable receive the fluid from the outlet of the stator/rotor portion;
- and
- recirculating the fluid from the outlet to the inlet via the valve in response to a decrease in a fluid level within the fluid cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.