Dual electric submergible pumping systems for producing fluids from separate reservoirs

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6250390
  • Patent Number
    6,250,390
  • Date Filed
    Monday, January 4, 1999
    25 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, June 26, 2001
    23 years ago
Abstract
A dual submergible pumping system permits pumping of fluids from separate zones within a narrowly confined wellbore without commingling of fluids. The system includes a single deployment tubing from which a first and second submergible pumping system are suspended. The system further includes a fluid transport system having one fluid flow path defined by the hollow interior of the deployment tubing and a second fluid flow path isolated from the first flow path.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates generally to systems for raising fluids from wells, and particularly to a dual submergible pumping system for use in a narrowly confined wellbore to produce fluids from separate reservoirs without commingling of the fluids.




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 another zone or to a collection point above the surface of the earth.




In an exemplary submergible pumping system, the system includes several components, such as a submergible pump, a submergible electric motor and a motor protector. The submergible electric motor typically supplies power to the submergible pump by a drive shaft, and the motor protector serves to isolate the internal motor oil from the well fluids. A deployment system, such as deployment tubing in the form of coiled tubing or production tubing, is used to deploy the submergible pumping system within a wellbore. Generally, power is supplied to the submergible electric motor or motors by one or more power cables supported along the deployment system.




Some wells have the capability of producing from two or more zones or reservoirs. However, because of constraints such as incompatibility of fluids, differential pressures in the reservoirs, and other constraints, it is sometimes undesirable to commingle the fluids produced from separate production zones.




Production from the separate zones or reservoirs can be accomplished by running separate submergible pumping systems deployed on separate tubing strings. This can be problematic in certain applications, however, due to space constraints. In other words, the wellbore must be of substantial diameter to accommodate two separate systems. Many of the common or standard wellbore diameters do not readily accommodate the use of independently deployed submergible pumping systems.




Thus, it would be advantageous to have a dual submergible pumping system that could be deployed on a single tubing deployment system within a narrowly confined wellbore. It would also be advantageous to utilize separate fluid flow paths to prevent commingling of fluids pumped from the separate zones.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention features a pumping system for use in a wellbore. The system comprises a deployment tubing, a first submergible pumping system suspended from the deployment tubing and a second submergible pumping system suspended from the deployment tubing. Additionally, the system includes a fluid transport having a first fluid flow path and a second fluid flow path separated from the first fluid flow path. The first submergible pumping system is connected to the fluid transport such that fluid may be discharged into the first fluid flow path, and the second submergible pumping system is connected to the fluid transport such that fluid may be discharged into the second fluid flow path.




According to another aspect of the invention, a dual electric submergible pumping system is provided for interaction with at least two separate zones within a wellbore. The system includes a single deployment tubing having a hollow interior through which a fluid may be pumped. Additionally, a dual submergible pumping system is suspended from the single deployment tubing. The dual pumping system has a first submergible pump connected to a first pump intake disposed in a first zone as well as a second submergible pump connected to a second pump intake disposed in a second zone. The dual system also includes an alternate fluid transport. The first submergible pump is disposed in fluid communication with the hollow interior, while the second submergible pump is disposed in fluid communication with the alternate fluid transport.




According to another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for pumping fluids from a pair of zones within a narrowly confined wellbore without commingling the fluids pumped from the individual zones. The method includes separating a first wellbore zone from a second wellbore zone by a packer. The method further comprises suspending a first and a second pump from a deployment tubing having a hollow interior, and drawing fluid into the first pump from the first wellbore zone while drawing fluid into the second pump from the second wellbore zone. Additionally, the method includes pumping fluid from the first pump along a first fluid flow path within the hollow interior, and pumping fluid from the second pump along a second fluid flow path isolated from the first fluid path.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The invention will hereafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements, and:





FIG. 1

is a front elevational view of a dual submergible pumping system positioned in a wellbore, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 2

is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line


2





2


of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 3

is a front elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the dual submergible pumping system illustrated in

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 4

is a front elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the dual submergible pumping system illustrated in

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 5

is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line


5





5


of

FIG. 4

;





FIG. 6

is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line


6





6


of

FIG. 4

;





FIG. 7

is front elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the system illustrated in

FIG. 1

; and





FIG. 8

is another alternate embodiment of the dual submergible pumping system illustrated in FIG.


1


.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




Referring generally to

FIG. 1

, a dual submergible pumping system


10


is illustrated according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. System


10


may comprise a variety of components depending on the particular application or environment in which it is used. However, system


10


typically includes a first submergible pumping system


12


and a second submergible pumping system


14


. First submergible pumping system


12


and second submergible pumping system


14


are deployed from a single deployment system


16


, such as deployment tubing


18


, e.g. production tubing or coiled tubing.




System


10


is designed for deployment in a well


20


within a geological formation


22


containing desirable production fluids, such as petroleum. Typically, a wellbore


24


is drilled into geological formation


22


and lined with a wellbore casing


26


.




In the embodiment illustrated, system


10


is utilized to pump fluids from different zones, specifically a first zone or reservoir


28


and a second zone or reservoir


30


. In this exemplary embodiment, first zone


28


is vertically above second zone


30


along wellbore


24


. Furthermore, a first set of perforations


32


is disposed through wellbore casing


26


to permit a fluid to flow into wellbore


24


at first zone


28


. Similarly, a second set of perforations


34


is formed through wellbore casing


26


to permit a fluid to flow into wellbore


24


at second zone


30


. The overall system


10


is designed to transport or move the fluid flowing into wellbore


24


at first zone


28


without commingling that fluid with the fluid flowing into wellbore


24


at second zone


30


. Thus, fluid from first zone


28


and fluid from second zone


30


can be transported, e.g. pumped to the surface of the earth, independently of each other.




As illustrated, an upper Y-tool


36


is connected to the lower end of deployment tubing


18


. Upper Y-tool


36


splits into a first channel


38


from which first submergible pumping system


12


is suspended, and a second channel


40


from which second submergible pumping system


14


is suspended. Second channel


40


is routed along the side of first submergible pumping system


12


, through first zone


28


and into second zone


30


, where it is coupled to second submergible pumping system


14


. First channel


38


is plugged by a plug


44


and includes a perforated discharge joint


46


disposed between plug


44


and first submergible pumping system


12


.




In operation, second submergible pumping system


14


draws fluid from second zone


30


and discharges it into second channel


40


so that the fluid may be transported along a fluid flow path


48


defined by second channel


40


and deployment tubing


18


. Specifically, deployment tubing


18


includes a hollow interior


50


through which the fluid from second zone


30


is pumped.




Simultaneously, first submergible pumping system


12


draws a fluid from first zone


28


and discharges it through perforated discharge joint


46


into wellbore


24


and, specifically, into the annulus formed about deployment system


16


. Thus, the fluid from first zone


28


may be pumped along a fluid flow path


52


completely isolated from fluid flow path


48


.




Often, it is desirable to minimize the exposure of wellbore casing


26


to produced fluid. Accordingly, a flow liner


54


may be deployed along the interior of wellbore casing


26


to isolate at least a substantial portion of wellbore casing


26


from the produced fluid. Typically, flow liner


54


is held in place along wellbore casing


26


by a packer


56


having an appropriate opening


58


through which fluid may flow along fluid flow path


52


. In this arrangement, a fluid transport is formed in an annulus


60


disposed between flow liner


54


and deployment system


16


.




Submergible pumping systems


12


and


14


may include a variety of components, depending on the specific environment in which dual submergible pumping system


10


is deployed. However, an exemplary first submergible pumping system


12


includes an electric motor


62


, a motor protector


64


, a pump intake


66


, a submergible pump


68


and a connector


70


by which the pumping system is connected to first channel


38


. Similarly, an exemplary second submergible pumping system


14


includes a submergible electric motor


72


, a motor protector


74


, a pump intake


76


, a submergible pump


78


and a connector


80


by which the system is connected to second channel


40


. Additionally, a first power cable


82


supplies electric power to motor


62


and a second power cable


84


supplies electric power to motor


72


. It should be noted that the submergible pumping system components are diagrammatically illustrated in a compressed form.




Other exemplary features of dual submergible pumping system


10


include an intermediate multiple bore packer


86


that separates first zone


28


from second zone


30


. Packer


86


includes an opening


88


through which second channel


40


extends and an opening


90


through which power cable


84


extends to second submergible pumping system


14


.




Additionally, an upper packer


92


is disposed intermediate first submergible pumping system


12


and perforated discharge joint


46


to prevent fluid moving along fluid flow path


52


from settling back into first zone


28


. Upper packer


92


includes an opening


94


, through which first channel


38


extends, and an opening


96


, through which second channel


40


extends. Also, upper packer


92


preferably includes a collar


98


through which individual conductors


100


of power cables


82


and


84


extend, as best illustrated in the cross-sectional view of FIG.


2


. Collar


98


may also accommodate a fluid injection tube


101


, through which chemicals, such as corrosion inhibitors, may be injected.




Optionally, a permanent packer


102


may be used at a position beneath submergible pumping system


14


. If packer


102


is utilized, second channel


40


preferably includes second Y-tool


103


. Y-tool


103


comprises a first branch


104


coupled to second submergible pumping system


14


to complete fluid flow path


48


. Also, Y-tool


103


includes a second branch


106


that is used as a seating tube against permanent packer


102


. Second branch


106


is plugged by an appropriate plug


108


.




In the illustrated embodiment, first zone


28


is isolated between upper packer


92


and intermediate packer


86


. Similarly, second zone


30


is isolated between intermediate packer


86


and permanent packer


102


. With this arrangement, not only can fluids be independently pumped from first zone


28


and second zone


30


, but fluid also may be injected. For example, a fluid can be pumped from zone


28


while another fluid is injected into zone


30


and vice versa. Also, independent pressurized fluids could be injected into both zones


28


and


30


.




In the illustrated embodiment, first submergible pumping system


12


is generally axially aligned with second submergible pumping system


14


at a position vertically above second submergible pumping system


14


. The unique arrangement of dual system


10


permits this efficient use of space and allows the pumping of fluids from or into independent wellbore zones without commingling of the fluids moved into or out of the respective zones.




The design illustrated in

FIG. 1

potentially may be modified by extending first channel


38


downwardly and shortening second channel


40


, such that submergible pumping system


14


is disposed above submergible pumping system


12


within wellbore


24


. In this latter arrangement system


14


is positioned alongside first channel


38


and, typically, is not axially aligned with system


12


. Furthermore, packer


92


can be disposed above Y-tool


36


. In this embodiment, the fluids from channels


38


and


40


are discharged into concentric tubes. The discharge from channel


38


flows into the center tube while the discharge from channel


40


flows into the annulus formed between the center tube and the inside wall of the outer tube. With this arrangement, independent fluid flow paths are maintained through a single flow passage in upper packer


92


. Preferably, the flow from the center tube is diverted to the annulus


60


and the flow from the annulus, formed between the center tube and outer tube, is directed into tubing


18


by virtue of a discharge crossover head. In other words, the discharge crossover head is used in place of perforated discharge joint


46


.




Also, by placing submergible pumping system


14


above submergible pumping


12


, the fluid from first zone


28


is pumped through tubing


18


along flow path


48


. The fluid from second zone


30


, on the other hand, is pumped through the annulus formed around tubing


18


along fluid flow path


52


.




Referring now to

FIG. 3

, a modified embodiment of the dual submergible pumping system is illustrated. This embodiment is similar to that described with reference to

FIG. 1

, but it includes a single channel section


110


in place of second Y-tool


103


. Section


110


completes the portion of second channel


40


between intermediate packer


86


and second submergible pumping system


14


.




Additionally, permanent packer


102


is omitted, as is possible when simply pumping fluids from second wellbore zone


30


. Furthermore, flow liner


54


is removed to illustrate use of the present dual system in an environment where a produced fluid may be pumped upwardly between the deployment system


16


and the wellbore casing


26


.




Another embodiment of the dual submergible pumping system


10


is illustrated in

FIGS. 4-6

. In this embodiment, a dual submergible pumping system


120


is disposed in a wellbore


122


lined by a wellbore casing


124


.




Wellbore casing


124


includes a plurality of perforations


126


through which a fluid may enter wellbore


122


at a first zone


128


. Similarly, wellbore casing


124


includes an additional set of perforations


130


disposed through wellbore casing


124


at a second zone


132


. A packer


134


separates zone


128


from zone


132


.




In this embodiment, system


120


includes a single deployment tubing


136


, such as production tubing or coiled tubing. Deployment tubing


136


includes a hollow interior


138


that forms a fluid flow path


140


.




Deployment tubing


136


extends through a manifold


142


and is engaged with a connector


144


. Connector


144


is connected to an upper pump


146


, such as a submergible, centrifugal style pump used in pumping wellbore fluids. Upper pump


146


includes a pump intake


148


disposed in first zone


128


.




A submergible electric motor


150


is coupled to pump


146


to provide power to upper pump


146


. A motor protector


152


is disposed between pump


146


and submergible electric motor


150


. Also, a power cable


154


provides electric power to motor


150


.




Preferably, motor


150


also is coupled to a second or lower pump


156


to provide power thereto in addition to powering upper pump


146


. Power is transferred from the motor to the pumps by a drive shaft (not shown), as is known to those of ordinary skill in the art. If additional power is required to run both upper pump


146


and lower pump


156


, additional motors, such as optional motors


158


and


160


may be added. Preferably, a second motor protector


162


is attached to the lowermost motor


150


,


158


or


160


, to isolate the internal motor oil from the wellbore fluids.




In the illustrated embodiment, lower pump


156


is connected to lower protector


162


by a discharge head


164


. Additionally, lower pump


156


includes a pump intake


166


disposed in fluid communication with second zone


132


. By way of example, pump intake


166


may be disposed in an opening


168


formed through packer


134


.




At least one conduit and preferably a plurality of conduits


170


are connected between discharge head


164


and manifold


142


. Exemplary conduits


170


comprise one half or three quarter inch tubing. The conduits are placed in fluid communication with a larger fluid transport tube


172


, e.g. coiled tubing, at manifold


142


. Thus, conduits


170


, in combination with manifold


142


and fluid transport tube


172


, comprise an independent, alternate fluid transport that forms a fluid flow path


174


, wholly isolated from fluid flow path


140


.




In operation, motors


150


,


158


and


160


power upper pump


146


and lower pump


156


. Upper pump


146


draws a fluid from first zone


128


through pump intake


148


and discharges the fluid through hollow interior


138


of deployment tubing


136


along fluid flow path


140


. Similarly, lower pump


156


draws a fluid from second zone


132


and discharges it through discharge head


164


, shown in cross-section in FIG.


6


. The discharged fluid travels along fluid flow path


174


through conduits


170


and into manifold


142


, shown in cross-section in FIG.


5


. Within manifold


142


, the discharged fluid moves into fluid communication with fluid transport tube


172


and continues along fluid flow path


174


completely isolated from fluid flow path


140


.




In the illustrated embodiment, upper pump


146


typically has a higher flow rate than lower pump


156


. The conduits


170


, as well as fluid transport tube


172


, tend to be smaller in diameter than deployment tubing


136


, and therefore have less flow capacity than deployment tubing


136


. Thus, in some applications, it may be desirable to power lower pump


156


independently of upper pump


146


. In this event, at least one motor, such as motor


160


, is powered by a separate power cable (not shown) and run independently of the motors providing power to upper pump


146


.




The configuration of the various components of system


120


allow upper pump


146


and lower pump


156


to be disposed generally in axial alignment with one another within wellbore


122


. This configuration facilitates efficient use of the narrowly confined space within wellbore


122


, while permitting production of fluid from two separate zones. The use of independent conduits


170


, manifold


142


and fluid transport tube


172


ensures that fluids from separate zones in wellbore


122


are prevented from commingling during production.




Referring now to

FIG. 7

, another embodiment of the dual submergible pumping system is illustrated. In this embodiment, a dual submergible pumping system


180


is shown disposed within a wellbore


182


that is lined by a wellbore casing


184


. Wellbore casing


184


includes a first perforation region


186


that permits fluid to flow into wellbore


182


at a first zone


188


. Similarly, a second perforation region


190


permits fluid to flow into wellbore


182


at a second zone


192


. First zone


188


and second zone


192


are separated by a packer


194


.




In this embodiment, a deployment system


196


, such as tubing


198


, is connected to an expanded housing


200


. Expanded housing


200


is connected and sealed to a lower end of tubing


198


. At an opposite end from tubing


198


, expanded housing


200


joins a narrowed tubular section


202


that extends through an opening


204


of packer


194


.




Expanded housing


200


includes a hollow interior


206


sized to receive a submergible pumping system


208


. Submergible pumping system


208


is mounted to expanded housing


200


by a manifold


210


. Manifold


210


can be mounted to housing


200


by an appropriate mounting fixture or fasteners.




An exemplary submergible pumping system


208


includes a submergible pump


212


coupled to a submergible motor


214


. A motor protector


216


is disposed between submergible pump


212


and submergible motor


214


. Also, manifold


210


is located between pump


212


and protector


216


and serves as a pump intake. Manifold


210


includes a plurality of inlets


218


that cooperate with openings


220


through expanded housing


200


to draw fluid from first zone


188


. Additionally, manifold


210


includes at least one generally axial opening


222


through which fluid may flow along the interior of housing


200


, while avoiding commingling with the fluid intaken through inlets


218


from first zone


188


.




A second submergible pumping system


224


is connected to tubular section


202


. An exemplary submergible pumping system


224


includes a pump


226


connected to a pump intake


228


disposed in second zone


192


. Additionally, an electric motor


230


provides power to pump


226


, and a motor protector


232


isolates the interior of motor


230


from the wellbore fluids of second zone


192


. Each of the electric motors


214


and


230


receive electrical power via corresponding power cables


232


and


234


, respectively.




In operation, submergible pumping system


208


draws a fluid from first zone


188


through fluid inlets


218


and discharges the fluid into a conduit


236


coupled to submergible pump


212


. Conduit


236


defines a fluid flow path


238


along which fluid is produced from first zone


188


. Preferably, conduit


236


is sized to fit within a hollow interior


240


of tubing


198


. Conduit


236


may include a nipple


242


designed for insertion into a receiving structure


244


attached to submergible pump


212


. Thus, conduit


236


can be inserted or removed after deployment of the remainder of dual submergible pumping system


180


in wellbore


182


.




Second submergible pumping system


224


draws fluid from second zone


192


through pump intake


228


. Pump


226


discharges the fluid from second zone


192


into tubular section


202


along an independent fluid flow path


246


. The fluid from second zone


192


flows along fluid flow path


246


upwardly through the annulus formed between submergible pumping system


208


and expanded housing


200


. The fluid continues to flow upwardly through manifold


212


and ultimately into the annulus formed between conduit


236


and tubing


198


. Thus, the fluid produced from second zone


192


is isolated from the fluid produced from first zone


188


as the fluids flow upwardly to a desired location.




Certain modifications also may be made to system


180


. For example, if it becomes unnecessary to separate the fluids produced from the distinct zones, conduit


236


can be removed and both submergible pumping systems can produce fluid into the same hollow interior of tubing


198


. Additionally, one or more packers may be added above manifold


210


or below pump intake


228


to permit injection of fluid into a given zone rather than removal. The use of additional packers allows the subject zones to receive pressurized fluid, as is sometimes desirable in certain production applications.




Referring generally to

FIG. 8

, another embodiment of the dual submergible pumping system is illustrated according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a dual submergible pumping system


250


is shown disposed within a wellbore


252


that is lined with a wellbore casing


254


. Wellbore casing


254


includes a perforated region


256


that permits fluid to flow into wellbore


252


at a first zone


258


. Similarly, wellbore casing


254


includes a second perforated region


260


through which a fluid may flow into wellbore


252


at a second zone


262


. Zone


258


and zone


262


are separated by a packer


264


.




System


250


includes a first electric submergible pumping system


266


and a second electric submergible pumping system


268


. System


266


is disposed to intake a fluid from zone


258


, while system


268


is disposed to intake a fluid from zone


262


.




Both of the submergible pumping systems


266


and


268


are suspended from a deployment system


270


that comprises a deployment tubing


272


having a hollow interior


274


. Deployment system


270


also includes a parallel flow head


276


connected to a lower end of tubing


272


. Parallel flow head


276


comprises an opening


278


to which submergible pumping system


266


is engaged to provide fluid communication with hollow interior


274


via a conduit


280


.




Parallel flow head


276


also includes an additional opening


282


to which submergible pumping system


268


is engaged via an appropriate conduit


284


. Conduit


284


preferably comprises a tube that extends through packer


264


to submergible pumping system


268


. If space constraints require, conduit


284


may be designed with a narrowed section


286


along submergible pumping system


266


to provide adequate clearance.




Opposite conduit


284


, a tube


288


is sealed to parallel flow head


276


at opening


282


. Tube


288


is placed in fluid communication with conduit


284


for producing fluid from zone


262


. Preferably, tube


288


extends through hollow interior


274


of deployment tubing


272


. Also, tube


288


may include an engagement nipple


290


designed for selective engagement with parallel flow head


276


. Nipple


290


permits insertion and removal of tube


288


following deployment of the submergible pumping systems


266


and


268


in wellbore


252


.




Each submergible pumping system


266


and


268


may include a variety of components, but typically include submergible pumps, submergible motors, motor protectors and pump intakes, as disclosed with respect to the embodiments described above. Similarly, electrical power is supplied to submergible pumping systems


266


and


268


by appropriate power cables


292


and


294


, respectively.




In operation, submergible pumping system


268


draws fluid from zone


262


and discharges it through conduit


284


and tube


288


along a fluid flow path


296


. Simultaneously, submergible pumping system


266


draws fluid from zone


258


and discharges it through conduit


280


and into hollow interior


274


of deployment tubing


272


along a fluid flow path


298


. Thus, the fluid drawn from zone


258


is produced along an independent flow path relative to the fluid drawn from zone


262


.




Additional features of dual submergible pumping system


250


include an upper packer


300


having a plurality of bores


302


through which conduits


280


and


284


, power cables


292


and


294


and a plurality of optional injection lines


304


extend. Packer


300


allows pressurized fluid to be injected into zone


258


, in lieu of pumping fluid from zone


258


.




Injection lines


304


typically are used to inject fluids, such as corrosion inhibitors, into the fluids being produced from each of the respective zones. In any of the embodiments described above, injection lines, such as injection lines


304


, can be incorporated into the design either independently or in combination with the power cables, as is known to those of ordinary skill in the art.




It will be understood that the foregoing description is of preferred embodiments of this invention, and that the invention is not limited to the specific forms shown. For example, a variety of additional submergible pumping system components can be incorporated into the design; a variety of packers may be used if it is necessary to alternate between production from a zone and injection of fluid into that zone; a variety of control lines, such as fluid control lines, optical fibers and conductive control lines can be incorporated into the overall system; and different diameters and sizes of the tubing and other components can be selected as required or desired for a specific application. Additionally, use of the terms “first” and “second” throughout this disclosure is for aiding in description of the overall system, and should not be construed as requiring a specific orientation or arrangement of components. These and other modifications may be made in the design and arrangement of the elements without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.



Claims
  • 1. A pumping system for use in a wellbore, comprising:a deployment tubing; a first electric submergible pumping system suspended from the deployment tubing; a second electric submergible pumping system suspended from the deployment tubing; and a fluid transport system having a first fluid flow path and a second fluid flow path separated from the first fluid flow path, wherein the first submergible pumping system is connected to the fluid transport system such that a first fluid may be discharged into the first fluid flow path and the second submergible pumping system is connected to the fluid transport system such that a second fluid may be discharged into the second fluid flow path, wherein the first fluid flow path is defined by an annulus formed between the deployment tubing and a well casing liner and the second fluid flow path is defined by a hollow interior of the deployment tubing.
  • 2. The pumping system as recited in claim 1, wherein the deployment tubing comprises a coiled tubing.
  • 3. The pumping system as recited in claim 1, wherein the deployment tubing comprises a string of production tubing.
  • 4. The pumping system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first submergible pumping system is deployed above the second submergible pumping system when disposed within the wellbore.
  • 5. The pumping system as recited in claim 4, further comprising a packer disposed between the first submergible pumping system and the second submergible pumping system.
  • 6. The pumping system as recited in claim 5, further comprising a second packer disposed above the first submergible pumping system.
  • 7. The pumping system as recited in claim 6, further comprising a flow liner disposed along an inside surface of a wellbore casing to isolate the wellbore casing.
  • 8. A dual electric submergible pumping system for interaction with at least two separate zones within a wellbore, comprising:a single deployment tubing having a hollow interior through which a fluid may be pumped; a dual electric submergible pumping system suspended from the single deployment tubing, the dual submergible pumping system having a first submergible pump connected to a first pump intake disposed in a first zone and a second submergible pump connected to a second pump intake disposed in a second zone, wherein the first submergible pump is disposed in fluid communication with the hollow interior, and an alternate fluid transport, comprising an annulus formed around the single deployment tubing, wherein the second submergible pump is disposed in fluid communication with the alternate fluid transport.
  • 9. The dual electric submergible pumping system as recited in claim 8, wherein the alternate fluid transport comprises a tube.
  • 10. The dual electric submergible pumping system as recited in claim 9, wherein the tube is disposed within the hollow interior.
  • 11. The dual electric submergible pumping system as recited in claim 8, further comprising a first submergible motor coupled to the first submergible pump and a second submergible motor coupled to the second submergible pump.
  • 12. The dual electric submergible pumping system as recited in claim 8, wherein a packer is disposed between the first zone and the second zone.
  • 13. The dual electric submergible pumping system as recited in claim 8, further comprising a liner that defines the annulus.
  • 14. A method for pumping fluids from a pair of zones within a narrowly confined wellbore without commingling the fluids pumped from individual zones, comprising:separating a first wellbore zone from a second wellbore zone by a packer; suspending an electric submersible pumping system having a first pump and a second pump from a deployment tubing having a hollow interior; drawing fluid into the first pump from the first wellbore zone; drawing fluid into the second pump from the second wellbore zone; pumping fluid from the first pump along a first fluid flow path within the hollow interior; and pumping fluid from the second pump along a second fluid flow path isolated from the first fluid flow path, the second fluid flow path comprising an annulus formed between the deployment tubing and a well casing liner.
  • 15. The method as recited in claim 14, further comprising suspending the first pump in axial alignment with the second pump.
  • 16. The method as recited in claim 14, further comprising powering the first pump and the second pump with an electric motor.
  • 17. The method as recited in claim 14, further comprising powering the first pump with a first electric motor; powering the second pump with a second electric motor; and disposing the first electric motor in axial alignment with the second electric motor.
US Referenced Citations (14)
Number Name Date Kind
3765483 Vencil Oct 1973
4440221 Taylor et al. Apr 1984
4611656 Kendall, Jr. et al. Sep 1986
4621689 Brookbank, III Nov 1986
4682655 Rivas Jul 1987
5293931 Nichols et al. Mar 1994
5404943 Strawn Apr 1995
5611397 Wood Mar 1997
5875852 Floyd et al. Mar 1999
5881814 Mills Mar 1999
5934375 Peterson Aug 1999
5954136 McHugh et al. Sep 1999
5979559 Kennedy Nov 1999
6006837 Breit Dec 1999
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number Date Country
0 922 835 Jun 1999 EP
WO 9837307 Aug 1998 WO