Wells – Processes – Producing the well
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-03
2001-10-09
Dang, Hoang (Department: 3672)
Wells
Processes
Producing the well
C166S065100, C166S105000, C166S242200, C166S385000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06298917
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to submergible pumping systems for raising fluids from wells and, particularly, to a coiled tubing system that integrates combined conductors for providing power to a submergible electric motor of the pump system and at least one other control line to provide other input to the system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In producing petroleum and other useful fluids from production walls, it is generally known to provide a submergible pumping system for raising the fluids collected in a well. Production fluids enter a wellbore via perforations formed in a well casing adjacent a production formation. Fluids contained in the formation collect in the wellbore and may be raised by the submergible pumping system to a collection point above the earth's surface.
In a conventional bottom intake electric submergible pumping system, the system includes several components, such as a submergible electrical motor that supplies energy to a submergible pump. The system may further include a motor protector for isolating the motor from well fluids. A motor connector may also be used to provide a connection between the electrical motor and an electrical power supply. These and other components may be combined in the overall submergible pumping system.
Conventional submergible pumping systems are suspended within a wellbore by support tubing or by a cable. Power is supplied to the submergible electric motor by a power cable that is banded to the cable or support tubing. The banding is required because otherwise the unsupported weight of the power cable can damage or break the power cable. Coiled tubing is also used to install electric submergible pumping systems into a well. Coiled tubing provides a relatively fast and uninterrupted method for installation and retrieval of the pumping system. With coiled tubing, the power cable is either banded to the outside of the coiled tubing or disposed internally within the hollow interior formed by the coiled tubing.
Existing power cables may contain conductors for powering the motor, typically three conductors. Any other inputs to the electric submergible pumping system must be provided by a separate line, typically banded to the outside of the tubing, support cable, or coiled tubing. This, of course, leaves the additional input or control line susceptible to damage due to its location external to the submergible pumping system and system support, e.g., coiled tubing. Consequently, it would be advantageous to combine coiled tubing with an internal power cable and additional control line or control lines disposed within the hollow interior of the coiled tubing. The control line could be used to supply hydraulic fluid for the control of devices, such as a hydraulically actuated integral packer. It also could be used to supply chemical treatments into the production fluid, such as corrosion control or scale inhibitor fluids, or to provide electrical or optical inputs to additional devices or sensors within the submergible pumping system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention features a coiled tubing system for use in deploying a submergible pump system. The submergible pump system includes a motor and a pump that are disposed within a wellbore of a well containing production fluids. The system comprises an outer coiled tubing having a longitudinal hollow interior. A power cable is disposed within the longitudinal hollow interior and includes a plurality of conductors. The conductors are disposed within an insulative core and an outer armor layer wrapped about the insulative core. The plurality of power conductors are adapted to provide power to the submergible motor. Additionally, a control line is disposed within the outer armor layer and runs along the length of the power cable to provide a desired control input to the submergible pump system.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a submergible pumping system is designed for deployment by coiled tubing within a wellbore. The submergible pumping system includes a connector assembly, a submergible motor, and a submergible pump. The connector assembly, submergible motor, and submergible pump are combined in a submergible pumping system for deployment in the wellbore. The pumping system also comprises a coiled tubing system that extends between the connector assembly and a position proximate a surface outlet of the wellbore. The coiled tubing system has outer coiled tubing forming a generally hollow interior. A plurality of conductors extend through the hollow interior and into the connector assembly for connection to the submergible motor. Additionally, a tubular member extends through the hollow interior to supply a desired fluid to the submergible pumping system.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for communicating various inputs to a submergible pumping system having at least a connector assembly, a submergible motor, and a submergible pump. The method includes connecting a coiled tubing to the connector assembly of the submergible pumping system and suspending the pumping system within a wellbore via the coiled tubing. The method also includes deploying a power cable, having a plurality of conductors, within an interior hollow region of the coiled tubing and connecting the plurality of conductors to the submergible motor. The method further includes deploying a control line, independent of the plurality of conductors, through the interior hollow region of the coiled tubing.
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Kobylinski Lee S.
Scarsdale Kevin T.
Camco International Inc.
Dang Hoang
Fletcher Yoder & Van Someren
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