Wells – Processes – With indicating – testing – measuring or locating
Utility Patent
1999-02-08
2001-01-02
Neuder, William (Department: 3672)
Wells
Processes
With indicating, testing, measuring or locating
C166S265000, C166S053000, C166S105500, C166S106000, C417S014000, C417S018000
Utility Patent
active
06167965
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates in general to the completion and production of oil and gas wellbores, and in particular to the utilization of electrical submersible pumps to control the flow of fluids in the completion and production of oil and gas wellbores.
BACKGROUND ART
In the prior art, electrical submersible pumps have been entirely controlled from the surface, largely based upon conclusions reached about downhole operation and wellbore conditions from meager amounts of transmitted data. The electrical submersible pumps have been utilized primarily for lifting wellbore fluids to the surface or for injecting water into formations during water-flooding operations.
In general, the oil and gas industry is moving toward more complex wellbore geometrics, in offshore locations, where equipment failure can be extraordinarily expensive, so any improvement in the electrical submersible pumps is likely to be warmly received by the industry. The present application includes a number of significant improvements in electrical submersible pumps and their uses.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The main features of the present application can be summarized as follows:
1. An improved electrical submersible pump (ESP) which is extensively instrumented with sensors, local processors, and local memory (see FIGS.
1
L and
1
M).
2. Each portion of the improved ESP (electrical motor, rotary gas separator, and centrifugal pump) may be instrumented.
3. Signal processing, data analysis, communication operations, and control operations may be performed with the improved ESP.
4. A variety of monitoring and data processing operations are described, including:
a. local monitoring and control of the improved ESP;
b. the operating conditions of the improved ESP components may be monitored;
c. downhole separation operations can be controlled, utilizing the improved ESP;
d. pump efficiency for the improved ESP can be monitored and dangerous operating conditions for the improved ESP can be monitored and avoided; and
e. preprogrammed control or operating instructions can be recorded in memory and executed at appropriate times or events by the improved ESP;
5. Some particular control operations for the improved ESP which are depicted and described include:
FIG.
2
A: monitoring actual pump intake pressure and comparing it to required pump intake pressure, and providing local control or communication.
FIG.
2
B: monitoring actual pump flow rates and comparing them to desired pump flow rates and providing local control or communication.
FIG.
2
D & FIG.
2
E: monitoring actual pump efficiency and comparing it to desired pump efficiency, and providing local control or communication.
FIG.
2
F & FIG.
2
G: monitoring the ESP productivity index and providing local control or communication.
FIG.
2
J & FIG.
2
K: determining the inflow performance relationship and communicating it or a command.
FIG.
2
L & FIG.
2
M: monitoring electrical motor power factor and communicating it or a command.
FIG.
2
N & FIG.
2
O: determining electrical motor efficiency and communicating it or a command.
FIG.
2
P & FIG.
2
Q: monitoring vibration and communicating data or a command.
FIG.
2
V & FIG.
2
W: monitoring viscosity and specific gravity and communicating data or a command.
FIG.
2
X: monitoring bearing temperature.
FIG.
2
Y: monitoring motor temperature.
FIG.
2
Z: monitoring insulation resistance.
FIG.
2
AA: monitoring the electrical properties of the clean fluid in the electric motor.
FIG.
2
BB: monitoring the electrical properties of the wellbore fluid.
FIG.
2
CC: monitoring spectrometer data.
FIG.
2
DD: monitoring flow rates.
6. The use of the improved ESP in conventional uses is discussed, such as: shrouded configurations, booster pump configurations, subsurface water reinjections, use with a packer, use with a “Y” tool.
7. A variety of novel uses for the improved ESP are discussed, including:
a. use of the improved ESP as a downhole compressor;
b. use of the improved ESP as a subsurface waste water injector;
c. use of the improved ESP for the delivery of particulate matter and completion fluids, such as cement, fracturing fluid, emulsifiers, etc.;
d. use of the improved ESP in combination with local processors and clutches to dynamically alter compression operations; and
e. use of the improved ESP for subsurface waste disposal.
8. The use of the improved ESP in complex control during completion and production operations is discussed.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3929399 (1975-12-01), Aronson
patent: 4370098 (1983-01-01), McClain et al.
patent: 4718824 (1988-01-01), Cholet et al.
patent: 5201848 (1993-04-01), Powers
patent: 5293937 (1994-03-01), Schultz et al.
patent: 5314016 (1994-05-01), Dunham
patent: 5318409 (1994-06-01), London et al.
patent: 5605193 (1997-02-01), Bearden et al.
patent: 5823262 (1998-10-01), Dutton
patent: 5868201 (1999-02-01), Bussear et al.
Bearden John L.
Besser Gordon L.
Donovan Joseph F.
Harrell John W.
Henry J. V.
Baker Hughes Incorporated
Felsman Bradley Vaden Gunter & Dillon, LLP
Neuder William
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