Pumps – Successive stages – Fluid motor for one stage supplied from another stage
Utility Patent
1999-01-21
2001-01-02
Walberg, Teresa (Department: 3742)
Pumps
Successive stages
Fluid motor for one stage supplied from another stage
C417S076000, C417S084000, C417S053000, C417S054000, C166S105000, C166S313000
Utility Patent
active
06168388
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to submergible pumping systems for raising fluids from wells and, particularly, to a dual pump system in which a first pump is powered by an electric motor, and a second pump is powered by the fluid discharge from the first pump.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In producing petroleum and other useful fluids from production wells, 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 an exemplary submergible pumping system, the system includes several components, such as a submergible electric motor that supplies energy to a submergible pump. The system may also include a variety of other components, such as motor protectors, pressure and temperature sensing instruments, gas separators and a variety of other components. A connector is used to connect the submergible pumping system to a deployment system. For example, a submergible pumping system may be deployed by production tubing through which production fluids, such as petroleum, are pumped to the surface of the earth. Other deployment systems include cable and coiled tubing.
Power is supplied to the submergible electric motor via a power cable that runs along the deployment system. For example, the power cable may be banded to the outside of the production tubing and directed to the submerged motor.
Generally conventional submergible pumping systems are used to pump fluids from a single location or zone within a wellbore. If fluid is to be pumped from another zone, an additional string of submergible pumping components must be deployed in that zone, either within the same wellbore or within another wellbore. This use of two separate submergible pumping systems, and possibly the requirement of two or more separate wellbores, is relatively complex and expensive.
It would be advantageous to have a dual pump, submergible pumping system, that could be utilized to draw fluids into separate intakes. The intakes could then be disposed in separate zones, e.g., above and beneath one another.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention features a method for pumping fluids from a pair of zones located in a subterranean environment. The method includes deploying a submergible pumping system of the type including a submergible pump and a submergible electric motor. The submergible pumping system is deployed at a first zone. The method further includes pumping a first fluid located in the first zone with the pump. The method also includes discharging the first fluid from the pump through a second, fluid-powered pump. This second pump is utilized to pump a second fluid from a second zone.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system is provided for pumping fluids from a wellbore. The system includes a submergible pumping system having a submergible electric motor connected to a submergible pump. The submergible pump has a pump intake and a pump outlet through which a fluid is discharged. The system further includes a second pump having a pump intake that may be disposed in a fluid within a wellbore. This second pump is powered by the fluid discharged by the submergible pump through its pump outlet.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for pumping fluids from at least two different zones in a subterranean environment. The method includes locating a first pump intake at a first subterranean zone, and locating a second pump intake at a second subterranean zone. The method further includes powering a first pump with an electric motor to intake a fluid from the first subterranean zone, and discharging the fluid through a second pump to power the second pump. The second pump is utilized to intake an additional fluid from the second zone.
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Anderson Graham
Hughes Anthony D
Russell W. Keith
Thompson Nathan
Camco International Inc.
Fletcher Yoder & Van Someren
Pwu Jeffrey
Walberg Teresa
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