Systems and methods for adjusting operation of an ESP motor installed in a well
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorJohn M. Knapp
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for controlling an ESP installed in a well. The ESP is operated at a first voltage, and the current actually drawn by the ESP motor is monitored and compared to an expected current. If the actual current differs from the expected current, the actual horsepower load on the ESP motor is determined by multiplying an expected horsepower load by the ratio of the actual current to the expected current. A load saturation curve for the actual horsepower load is determined, and a voltage is identified on this curve at which the corresponding current is minimized. The ESP motor is then operated at this new voltage to optimize the efficiency of the motor.
Claims18
A method for adjusting the operation of an electric submersible pump (ESP) motor installed in a well, the method comprising:
- operating the motor, which is installed in the well, at a first frequency and a first voltage, wherein the first voltage is an optimum voltage for an expected shaft load of the motor;
- determining a first current that is drawn by the motor at the first voltage;
- comparing the first current to an expected current and determining a difference between the first current and the expected current;
- determining an actual shaft load based on the first current, the expected current and the expected shaft load;
- determining a second voltage based on the actual shaft load, wherein the second voltage is an optimum voltage for the actual shaft load of the motor;
- and operating the motor at the first frequency and the second voltage.
A system for adjusting the operation of an electric submersible pump (ESP) motor installed in a well, the system comprising:
- an electric drive that generates an output waveform which drives an ESP motor that has been installed in the well;
- and a controller coupled to the electric drive, wherein the controller controls a voltage of the output waveform;
- wherein the controller first controls the electric drive to produce the output waveform at a first frequency and a first voltage, wherein the first voltage is an optimum voltage for an expected shaft load of the motor, determines a first current that is drawn by the motor at the first voltage, compares the first current to an expected current and determines a difference between the first current and the expected current, determines an actual shaft load based on the first current, the expected current and the expected shaft load, determines a second voltage based on the actual shaft load, wherein the second voltage is an optimum voltage for the actual shaft load of the motor, and controls the electric drive to adjust the output waveform from the first voltage to the second voltage.
A system for adjusting the operation of an electric submersible pump (ESP) motor installed in a well, the system comprising:
- an electric drive that generates an output waveform which drives an ESP motor;
- and
- a controller coupled to the electric drive, wherein the controller controls a voltage of the output waveform;
- wherein the controller
- first controls the electric drive to produce the output waveform at a first frequency and a first voltage, wherein the first voltage is an optimum voltage for an expected shaft load of the motor,
- determines a first current that is drawn by the motor at the first voltage,
- compares the first current to an expected current and determines a difference between the first current and the expected current,
- determines an actual shaft load by determining a ratio of the first current to the expected current and multiplying the expected shaft load by the ratio to produce the actual shaft load,
- determines a second voltage based on the actual shaft load, wherein the second voltage is an optimum voltage for the actual shaft load of the motor, and
- controls the electric drive to adjust the output waveform from the first voltage to the second voltage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.