The present invention relates to submersible pumps, in more particular the invention relates to an electrical submersible pump employing a flow diverter to direct fluid past the pump motor for cooling.
Fluid in many producing wells is elevated to the surface by the action of a pumping unit or pumping apparatus installed in the lower portion of the well bore. In recent times there has been increased activity in the drilling of well bores to great depths. The use of water flooding as a means of secondary recovery of oil or other hydrocarbon fluids, after the production thereof has been somewhat depleted, is commonly practiced. Because water flooding produces a considerable quantity of fluid in the producing well bore it is preferable to provide a downhole pumping system capable of producing large quantities of fluid. Electrical submersible pump (ESP) systems have been found to meet this need. The electric motor that is typically used in such systems generates considerable heat. The motor is typically cooled by the transfer of heat to the surrounding annular fluids. In many cases, the pumping unit is set above perforations in the well casing so that the unit can make use of flowing well fluid to produce some convection cooling about the motor. Insufficient fluid velocity will cause the motor to overheat and may lead to early motor failure.
Fluid produced by the pumping unit consists of formation water, oil and quantities of gas. The presence of gas can be significant because gas inhibits the pump from producing liquid, which may result in gas blocking, or locking. Equipment failure may result if a unit is not shut down quickly after gas blocking. It is therefore desirable to place the pump below the well casing perforations to take advantage of the natural annular separation of the gas from the liquid. However, by placing the pump below casing perforations, the motor of the pumping unit is not exposed to flowing well fluid that normally provides cooling to the motor of the electrical submersible pump. As a result, a motor in a pumping unit placed below casing perforations tends to overheat and may experience a shortened operational life unless a means for circulating fluid over the surface of the motor is provided.
In some applications, fluid flow past the motor is achieved by drawing fluid through the annulus between the motor and the casing. Disadvantages associated with this arrangement include scale deposited by the fluid in proximity to the hot motor. The scaling problem is exacerbated by the pressure drop associated with drawing the fluid through the annular space surrounding the motor. Scale deposits can block fluid flow and may result in increased difficulties when attempting to remove the electrical submersible pump.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an electrical submersible pump (ESP) that circulates fluid past the motor of the pumping unit. By circulating fluid past the motor, the fluid provides forced convection cooling. Additionally, the motor cooler of the invention forces fluid through the annulus between the motor and the well casing, which results in decreased scaling as compared to pulling or drawing the fluid through the annulus.
A motor cooler is provided for an electrical submersible pump (ESP). The electrical submersible pump is typically deployed within well casing. An annular space is defined between the electrical submersible pump and the well casing. The electrical submersible pump includes a pump having an intake located below casing perforations, a motor cooler pump having an output port, a seal section below the motor cooler pump, and a motor located below the seal section. A flow director directs fluid downwardly from the output port of the motor cooler pump past the motor.
An example flow director is a shroud that sealingly engages the electrical submersible pump at an upper end of the shroud and directs fluid received from the motor cooler pump output port downwardly past the motor, i.e., the shroud configuration may be termed a “positive reverse flow shroud setup”. Fluid then flows upwardly outside of the shroud. Utilizing the motor cooler of the invention reduces the potential for scale deposits because the pressure drop normally associated with a typical shrouded ESP is eliminated. Advantages include maximization of production from oil, water, and gas wells, reduced potential for scale formation, and reduced gas entry into the pumping system.
Another example flow director is a downflow channel partially formed by longitudinal ribs in an annular space between the electrical submersible pump and the casing. This embodiment of the motor cooler of the invention is suited for use in small diameter casing, which may be too small to receive a shroud. Longitudinal ribs are located on the motor to form channels for well fluid to flow between the motor and the well casing. Some of the channels, e.g., half of the channels, receive fluid from output ports of the motor cooler pump and allow fluid to flow downward Thee channels may be referred to as “downflow channels”. The remaining channels, i.e., “upflow channels” allow fluid to flow back up and into the production pump. Centralizers may be used to center the motor in the casing. Preferably, ribs and centralizers are the same component. The ribs may be flexible or retractable, e.g., spring loaded rigid members, to allow the ribs to conform to the casing and not restrict installation of the electrical submersible pump system. However, forming a seal with the casing is not critical as pressures within the downflow channels and upflow channels are relatively low, and the flow rate within the channels will likely be high enough to compensate for any bypassed fluid.
Referring now to
Electrical submersible pumping unit 12 includes a production pump 30 for directing well fluid upwardly through production tubing 16. Production pump 30 has an intake 32 for receiving well fluids. Production pump 30 may be made up of one or more stages. Each stage includes a plurality of impellers 34 and diffusers 36 (
Electrical submersible pumping unit 12 additionally includes a motor cooler pump 40 which is preferably set below production pump 30. Motor cooler pump 40 is provided for directing motor cooling fluid flow downwardly. Motor cooler pump 40 has a motor cooler intake port 42 for receiving well fluids. In one embodiment (
Alternatively, in the embodiment of
Motor 50 is located below and operably connected to production pump 30 and motor cooler pump 40 for driving the impellers 34 of production pump 30 and impellers 46 of motor cooler pump 40. Motor 50 (
A flow director 70 is provided adjacent seal section 60 and motor 50 for directing the motor cooling fluid past motor 50. In one embodiment (
In another embodiment (
In use, a motor cooling system 10 utilizing a flow director 70 allows for placement of electrical submersible pumping unit 12 below casing perforations 20 while facilitating fluid flow past motor 50 for maintaining operating temperatures of motor 50 in an acceptable range. In one embodiment, to facilitate fluid flow past motor 50, a motor cooler pump 40 directs well fluid out output ports 44 and into an annular space defined by an inner surface of shroud 80 and outer surfaces of seal sections 60, motor 50, and an inner surface of wall 84. In the shrouded embodiment, the motor cooling fluid is forced outwardly and upwardly between an outer surface of shroud 80 and an inner surface of casing 18. Advantages associated with the cooling system of the invention include directing cooling fluid past motor 50 under positive pressure, which provides advantages associated with reduced scale deposits as compared to drawing cooling fluid past the motor with a low pressure intake.
In another embodiment, to facilitate fluid flow past motor 50, a motor cooler pump 40 directs well fluid out output ports 44 and into a channel in annular space 91 defined by an outer surface of clamping segment 92, an inner surface of casing 18, and adjacent ribs 90. As shown in
Thus, the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned above as well as those inherent therein. While presently preferred embodiments have been described for purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are encompassed within the spirit of this invention as defined by the appended claims.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20060081377 A1 | Apr 2006 | US |