1. Field of Invention
The present disclosure relates to a through tubing submersible pump having a mechanically locking seal for sealing flow between the pump and the tubing.
2. Description of Prior Art
Submersible pumping systems are often used in hydrocarbon producing wells for pumping fluids from within the well bore to the surface. These fluids are generally liquids and include produced liquid hydrocarbon as well as water. One type of system used in this application employs an electrical submersible pump (ESP). ESPs are typically disposed at the end of a length of production tubing and have an electrically powered motor. Often, electrical power may be supplied to the pump motor via cable strapped to the exterior of the production tubing. ESP's may comprise centrifugal pumps or progressing cavity pumps. Progressing cavity pumps (PCP) are positive displacement pumps that consist of a helical steel rotor inside a synthetic elastomer bonded to a steel tube (stator). As the rotor turns within the stator, fluid moves through the pump from cavity to cavity. The resulting pumping action increases the pressure of the fluid, allowing production to the surface.
a depicts a partial sectional view of a prior art submersible ESP system disposed in a wellbore. The ESP production system 2 shown comprises a pumping system 12 on production tubing 8; where the tubing 8 is suspended within a cased wellbore 4. The downhole pumping system 12 comprises a pump section 13, a seal section 14, and a motor 17. The seal section 14 equalizes fluid pressure in the motor 17 with pressure in the wellbore fluid. An electrical conduit 15 is strapped externally to the tubing 8, pump section 13, and seal section 14. Energizing the motor 17 drives a shaft (not shown) coupled between the motor 17 and the pump section 13.
Inlets 16 provided at the bottom of the pump section housing provide a passage for formation fluid to flow from the annulus between the casing 5 and system 12 into the pump section 13. Perforations 7 project into an adjacent formation 6 to provide a source for the formation fluid. As illustrated by the arrows, the formation fluid flows from the formation 6, through the perforations 7, up the annulus, and to the inlets 16. Fluid drawn into the inlets 16 is pressurized within the pump section 13, and then discharged into the tubing 8.
When installing an ESP through tubing, the pump assembly is lowered into and suspended within the production tubing. Typically the motor is mounted to the lower end of the production tubing, and the pump assembly stabs into engagement with the drive shaft of the motor. In this configuration the pump discharges into the production tubing.
c depicts a partial sectional view of an example of a through tubing conveyed ESP system having a pump installed. In
Energizing the motor 17 then drives shafts (not shown) variously coupled between the motor and the pump assembly 21. Inlets 16 are provided on the engaging receptacle 20 wherein formation fluid can be drawn into the inlets 16 then into the inlet section of the pump assembly 21 and up into the pump section. Formation fluid flow, represented by arrows, flows into the annulus from perforations 7 extending a surrounding hydrocarbon producing formation 6. The pump discharges the formation fluid through the packer 22 and the tubing anchor 23 into the tubing 8. Packer 22 provides sealing between the pump discharge and the inlets 16, thereby maintaining sufficient pressure in the tubing 8 to force the production fluid up the well bore 4 to the wellhead 9. Upon reaching the wellhead 9, the production fluid can be distributed via an attached production line 10.
The present disclosure includes a through tubing conveyed electrical submersible pumping system for use in a wellbore comprising, a tubing string, a seal ring protruding inward from the tubing string inner wall, a tubing deployed drive system having a pump motor, a pumping assembly insertable into the tubing deployed system, a seating cone on the pumping assembly that when engaged with the seal ring forms a seal in the space between the tubing string and the pumping assembly. Engaging the seal ring with the seating cone is accomplished by inserting the pumping assembly into the tubing string to contact the ring and cone.
An optional latch assembly is provided having corresponding latching components on the pumping assembly and the tubing string. The pumping assembly is selectively latchable within the tubing string by advancing the pumping assembly until the latching components engage. In one embodiment the latching components include locking fingers disposed on the pumping system and a shoulder within the tubing string. Latching may include sliding the fingers past the shoulder, wherein the fingers bend inwards when contacting the shoulder and spring outward when pushed past the shoulder. The fingers abut the shoulder lower surface to provide a retaining force for securing the pumping system within the tubing string. Optionally, the seal ring may comprise the shoulder.
Some of the features and benefits of the present invention having been stated, others will become apparent as the description proceeds when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
a is a partial cross sectional view of a prior art electric submersible pump.
b is a partial cross sectional view of a prior art tubing deployed drive system installation of a through tubing conveyed submersible pumping system.
c is a partial cross sectional view of a prior art completed installation through tubing conveyed submersible pump.
a and 3b provide side partial sectional views of adjacent sections of a portion of the pumping system of
a and 4b depict adjacent sections of a tubing installation with a seal assembly in a side partial sectional view.
a-5c provide side views of adjacent portions of a completed assembly.
While the invention will be described in connection with the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to that embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the illustrated embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
The pump section 38 of
a and 3b are side cross sectional views of a lower portion of the insertable pumping system 24 of
An annular base 51 circumscribes a portion of the mandrel 46. Corresponding threads on the mandrel 46 outer surface and base 51 inside are engaged to form a threaded connection 49 that couples the base 51 to the mandrel 46. The locking fingers 48 extend from the annular base 51 toward the upper flex shaft housing 36 shown aligned generally parallel with the housing axis 45. The fingers 48 terminate to form a free end 52 on the end of the locking fingers 48 opposite the base. The locking mandrel 46 outer diameter transitions outward to form a profile 53, where the profile 53 outer diameter is greater than the outer diameter of mandrel 46 portion circumscribed by the fingers 48. The space between the profile 53 and free ends 52 defines a void 57 circumscribing the mandrel 46.
The seating cone 50 is annularly disposed around the mandrel 46 and adjacent the upper portion of the profile 53. The seating cone 50 has a generally ring like structure, wherein its outer diameter is illustrated as increasing with distance away from the profile 53 then remaining constant. The seating cone 50 end opposite the profile 53 is adjacent the upper flex shaft housing 36. The profiled section of the seating cone 50 forms a leading edge 54 disposed at an angle to the axis 45 of the pumping system.
Provided in a side cross sectional view of
In the embodiment of
The upper seating nipple 70 includes two sections, where one of the sections has a smaller outer diameter and is threaded on its outer surface. The lower seating nipple 66 has an end with threads on its inner surface engaging the threaded surface on the upper seating nipple 70 to form a threaded connection 71. A profile 68 is provided on the lower seating nipple 66 inner circumference spaced inward from the threaded connection 71. A seating ring 74 is shown disposed between the profile 68 and an abutment 72 along end of the upper seating nipple 70 end. The combination of the abutment 72 and the profile 68 creates a generally rectangular space in which the seating ring 74 is disposed. Tightly coupling the lower seating nipple 66 to the upper seating nipple 70, the threaded connection 71 secures the seating ring 74 between these two members.
As shown, the seating ring 74 inner diameter is less than the lower and upper nipple 66, 70 inner diameters. The seating ring 74 smaller inner diameter forms a protrusion extending inside the tubing string 76 having coplanar upper and lower sides 73, 77 extending inward respectively from the upper seating nipple 70 and the lower seating nipple 66. The upper and lower sides 73, 77 are connected by an inner surface 79 to form an abutment shoulder protruding within the tubing string 76. Optionally, the seating ring inner surface 79 is profiled adjacent the upper side 73 to conform to the seating cone leading edge 54.
a-5c show in a side sectional view an embodiment of a completed assembly 78 of a pumping system 24 disposed within a tubing crossover 56. Forming the completed assembly 78 requires applying a latching force to squeeze the locking fingers 48 axially through the smaller diameter of the seating ring 74. Those skilled in the art can determine and apply a latching force without undue experimentation. As the locking fingers 48 engage the seating ring 74 they are pushed radially inward toward the axis 45 and snap radially outward when urged past the seating ring 74. A spring force inherent in the locking fingers 48 pushes the fingers 48 outward so they abut the seating ring 74 lower edge and create contacting engagement for latching the pumping system 24 to the tubing string 76.
With reference now to
The sealing engagement between the seating cone 50 and the seating ring 74 isolates the intake 32 of the pumping system 24 from the pump discharge. An advantage of the system disclosed herein is a pressure seal can be formed substantially concurrent with pump insertion into a tubular member, such as the production tubing 76. An additional advantage of the system disclosed is the combination of the seating cone 50 and the seating ring 74 can receive at least a portion of axial forces produced during pumping, such as the pump shaft thrust. The downward coupling of the pumping system 24 with the tubing installation 56 provides additional mechanical connectivity of the flex shaft 31 and coupling 28 (
It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction, operation, exact materials, or embodiments shown and described, as modifications and equivalents will be apparent to one skilled in the art. For example, embodiments exist where the downward facing shoulder engaged by the free ends of the fingers is a dedicated element apart from the seal ring. In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed illustrative embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purpose of limitation. Accordingly, the invention is therefore to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.
This application claims priority to and the benefit of co-pending U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/987,999, filed Nov. 14, 2007, the full disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60987999 | Nov 2007 | US |