Patent Application
20220364558
Embodiments are related to devices for pumping and applying dense fluids such as grout and epoxy materials. Embodiments also relate to pumping devices and methods used in oil and gas applications, and in the construction industry. Embodiments further relate to a multi-pump apparatus.
Grouting applications are used in a variety of fields including but not limited to the oil and gas industries. In the process of applying grout and other types of dense fluids such an epoxy grout, it is important that correct and efficiently operating equipment is used to fill all gaps and penetrate the necessary vacant spaces to provide the finished job with the necessary strength and durability along with waterproofing qualities.
In the oil and gas industry in particular, well interventions are sometimes necessary to address a broad range of goals including, for example, the repair of a failed barrier in a well, which may be required to return the well to production. A well intervention may involve pumping and placing epoxy and other grout materials in critical and precise locations associated with the well requiring repair. In many intervention operations, flow paths may be restricted, which may make fluid placement difficult. This might be a function of working through completion tubing, small channels in annular spaces or permeable/unconsolidated formations.
The ability to efficiently pump and place grout or epoxy in multiple locations, for example, is a critical goal in well intervention applications in the oil and gas industries, and in other non oil and gas applications such as in the construction industry.
The following summary is provided to facilitate an understanding of some of the innovative features unique to the disclosed embodiments and is not intended to be a full description. A full appreciation of the various aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein can be gained by taking the entire specification, claims, drawings, and abstract as a whole.
It is, therefore, one aspect of the disclosed embodiments to provide for an improved apparatus for pumping and applying dense fluids such as grout and epoxy materials.
It is another aspect of the disclosed embodiments to provide for a multi-pump apparatus.
The aforementioned aspects and other objectives and advantages can now be achieved as described herein. In an embodiment, a multi-pump apparatus can include: a pump unit comprising at least two motorized pumps, wherein each of the at least two motorized pumps includes a stator and a stator exit; a plurality of stator exits including each stator exit of each stator of the at least two motorized pumps; and a plurality of adjustable hoses, wherein the at least two motorized pumps of the pump unit are operable to inject a dense fluid from the plurality of stator exits through the plurality of adjustable hoses.
In an embodiment of the multi-pump apparatus, the pump unit including the at least two motorized pumps can provide for a multiple discharge.
In an embodiment of the multi-pump apparatus, the pump unit including the at least two motorized pumps can provide for a placement of the dense fluid.
In an embodiment of the multi-pump apparatus, the pump unit including the at least two motorized pumps can provide for a multiple discharge and a placement of the dense fluid.
In an embodiment of the multi-pump apparatus, the at least two motorized pumps of the pump unit can be operable to inject the dense fluid from the plurality of stator exits through the plurality of adjustable hoses.
In an embodiment of the multi-pump apparatus, the dense fluid can be injected through the plurality of adjustable hoses into a cavity located between a base and the pump unit.
In an embodiment of the multi-pump apparatus, the at least two motorized pumps of the pump unit can be operable to inject the dense fluid from the plurality of stator exits through the plurality of adjustable hoses into a cavity located between a base and the pump unit.
In an embodiment of the multi-pump apparatus, the dense fluid can comprise an epoxy grout material.
In an embodiment of the multi-pump apparatus, the base can comprise a concrete base.
In another embodiment, a method of operating a multi-pump apparatus, can involve: providing at least two motorized pumps of a pump unit; and operating the at least two motorized pumps of the pump unit to inject a dense fluid from a plurality of stator exits through a plurality of adjustable hoses, the at least two motorized pumps including a stator and a stator exit, the plurality of stator exits including each stator exit of each stator of the at least two motorized pump.
In an embodiment of the method, the at least two motorized pumps can provide for a multiple discharge.
In an embodiment of the method, the at least two motorized pumps can provide for a placement of the dense fluid.
In an embodiment of the method, the pump unit including the at least two motorized pumps can provide for a multiple discharge and a placement of the dense fluid.
In an embodiment of the method, the at least two motorized pumps of the pump unit can be operable to inject the dense fluid from the plurality of stator exits through the plurality of adjustable hoses.
In an embodiment of the method, the dense fluid can be injected through the plurality of adjustable hoses into a cavity located between a base and the pump unit.
In an embodiment of the method, the at least two motorized pumps of the pump unit can be operable to inject the dense fluid from the plurality of stator exits through the plurality of adjustable hoses into a cavity located between a base and the pump unit.
In an embodiment of the method, the dense fluid can comprise an epoxy grout material.
In an embodiment of the method, the base comprises a concrete base.
In another embodiment, a multi-pump apparatus can include a pump unit comprising at least two motorized pumps, wherein each of the at least two motorized pumps includes a stator and a stator exit; a plurality of stator exits including each stator exit of each stator of the at least two motorized pumps; and a plurality of adjustable hoses, wherein: the at least two motorized pumps of the pump unit are operable to inject a dense fluid from the plurality of stator exits through the plurality of adjustable hoses; the pump unit including the at least two motorized pumps provides for a multiple discharge and a placement of the dense fluid; and the at least two motorized pumps of the pump unit are operable to inject the dense fluid from the plurality of stator exits through the plurality of adjustable hoses into a cavity located between a base and the pump unit.
The accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally-similar elements throughout the separate views and which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, further illustrate the present invention and, together with the detailed description of the invention, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.
The particular values and configurations discussed in these non-limiting examples can be varied and are cited merely to illustrate one or more embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope thereof.
Subject matter will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which show, by way of illustration, specific example embodiments. Subject matter may, however, be embodied in a variety of different forms and, therefore, covered or claimed subject matter is intended to be construed as not being limited to any example embodiments set forth herein; example embodiments are provided merely to be illustrative. Likewise, a reasonably broad scope for claimed or covered subject matter is intended. Among other things, for example, subject matter may be embodied as methods, devices, components, or systems. Accordingly, embodiments may, for example, take the form of hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof (other than software per se). The following detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be interpreted in a limiting sense.
Throughout the specification and claims, terms may have nuanced meanings suggested or implied in context beyond an explicitly stated meaning. Likewise, phrases such as “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” or “in an example embodiment” and variations thereof as utilized herein may not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, and the phrase “in another embodiment” or “in another example embodiment” or “in an alternative embodiment” and variations thereof as utilized herein may or may not necessarily refer to a different embodiment. It is intended, for example, that the claimed subject matter can include combinations of embodiments in whole or in part.
In general, terminology may be understood, at least in part, from usage in context. For example, terms such as “and,” “or,” or “and/or” as used herein may include a variety of meanings that may depend, at least in part, upon the context in which such terms are used. Typically, “or” if used to associate a list, such as A, B, or C, is intended to mean A, B, and C, here used in the inclusive sense, as well as A, B, or C, here used in the exclusive sense. In addition, the term “one or more” as used herein, depending at least in part upon context, may be used to describe any feature, structure, or characteristic in a singular sense or may be used to describe combinations of features, structures, or characteristics in a plural sense.
Similarly, terms such as “a,” “an,” or “the”, again, may be understood to convey a singular usage or to convey a plural usage, depending at least in part upon context. In addition, the term “based on” may be understood as not necessarily intended to convey an exclusive set of factors and may, instead, allow for existence of additional factors not necessarily expressly described, again, depending at least in part on context. Furthermore, the term “at least one” may refer or relate to the term “one or more” and the term “at least two” may refer to “two or more” and so on.
The multi-pump apparatus 100 can include a pump unit 103 that comprises the first motorized pump 142 and the second motorized pump 144. The first motorized pump 142 and the second motorized pump 144 can protrude from a bucket 102 that is also shown in the inset 90 and which forms a part of the pump unit 103. That is, the pump unit 103 can include the bucket 102 and the first motorized pump 142 and the second motorized pump 144.
The first motorized pump 142 can include a plurality of components including a bracket 104 and a bracket 106. The bracket 104 can abut against the bucket 102 and can engage with a group of components such as a rod 105, a stator 109, a screw 107, a rod 111, bolt(s) 113, a rod 127, a stator 117, a screw 115, and a rod 119, which in turn can interface with the bracket 106 and other components including a cylindrical portion 108, a cylindrical portion 110, a stator exit 112, and a stator exit 114. Other components can include a T-shaped bracket 123 and a T-shaped bracket 110. The cylindrical portion 110 can surround the stator 109. Similarly, the cylindrical portion 110 can surround the stator 117. The cylindrical portion 110 can engage with the stator exit 112 and the cylindrical portion 110 can engage with the stator exit 114. One or more adjustable hoses such as a hose 152 and a hose 154 may respectively engage with the stator exit 112 and the stator exit 114 as shown in the inset 90.
The multi-pump apparatus 100 can thus include a plurality of adjustable hoses including hoses 152 and 154 shown in the inset 90, wherein the two or more motorized pumps 142 and 144 of the pump unit 103 are operable to inject a dense fluid (e.g., a grout, epoxy, etc.) from the stator exits 112 and 114 through the plurality of adjustable hoses 152 and 154.
The multi-pump apparatus 100 can further include a C-shaped bracket 134 that engages with a U-shaped bracket 132 and a plurality of gears including a first gear 120, a second gear 124 and a third gear 126, which in turn can engage with a bracket 122 that abuts against the bucket 102 of the pump unit 103. The gears 120124, and 126 can engage with one or more rotors such a rotor 128, 130 and so on. The pump unit 103 can further include one or more stators such as a stator 116 and a stator 118 located toward the bottom of the bucket 102. One or more wheel(s) 140 can also connect to the bucket 102 to assist in the portability of the multi-pump apparatus 100.
The multi-pump apparatus 100 can be used to improve the process of pumping and/or placing of epoxy and other grout materials. The multi-pump apparatus 100 can pump and flow material such epoxy and/or other grout materials through multiple stator exits such as the stator exit 112 and the stator exit 114 into adjustable hoses such as the hoses 152 and 154, which can facilitate increased material placement by 50% to 100%. This minimizes time and effort while maximizing productivity, opportunity and advantages. The multi-pump apparatus 100 can allow for pumping and operating on two separate units or areas, thereby eliminating the use of two pump and or manual applications.
The multi-pump apparatus 100 can be used to grout pump skids for multiple grout pours that fill the skid. The multi-pump apparatus 100 can also be used to grout compressor skids and/or fixed compressors. Furthermore, the multi-pump apparatus 100 can allow for the filling of multiple areas segregated by expansion joints. The multi-pump apparatus 100 additionally allows for large continuous pours without productivity or time limitations.
Based on the foregoing, it can be appreciated that a number of embodiments including both preferred and alternative embodiments, are disclosed herein. For example, in a preferred embodiment, a multi-pump apparatus can include: a pump unit comprising at least two motorized pumps, wherein each of the at least two motorized pumps includes a stator and a stator exit; a plurality of stator exits including each stator exit of each stator of the at least two motorized pumps; and a plurality of adjustable hoses, wherein the at least two motorized pumps of the pump unit are operable to inject a dense fluid from the plurality of stator exits through the plurality of adjustable hoses.
In another embodiment of the multi-pump apparatus, the pump unit including the at least two motorized pumps can provide for a multiple discharge.
In another embodiment of the multi-pump apparatus, the pump unit including the at least two motorized pumps can provide for a placement of the dense fluid.
In another embodiment of the multi-pump apparatus, the pump unit including the at least two motorized pumps can provide for a multiple discharge and a placement of the dense fluid.
In another embodiment of the multi-pump apparatus, the at least two motorized pumps of the pump unit can be operable to inject the dense fluid from the plurality of stator exits through the plurality of adjustable hoses.
In another embodiment of the multi-pump apparatus, the dense fluid can be injected through the plurality of adjustable hoses into a cavity located between a base and the pump unit.
In another embodiment of the multi-pump apparatus, the at least two motorized pumps of the pump unit can be operable to inject the dense fluid from the plurality of stator exits through the plurality of adjustable hoses into a cavity located between a base and the pump unit.
In another embodiment of the multi-pump apparatus, the dense fluid can comprise an epoxy grout material.
In another embodiment of the multi-pump apparatus, the base can comprise a concrete base.
In still another embodiment, a method of operating a multi-pump apparatus, can involve: providing at least two motorized pumps of a pump unit; and operating the at least two motorized pumps of the pump unit to inject a dense fluid from a plurality of stator exits through a plurality of adjustable hoses, the at least two motorized pumps including a stator and a stator exit, the plurality of stator exits including each stator exit of each stator of the at least two motorized pump.
In an embodiment of the method, the at least two motorized pumps can provide for a multiple discharge.
In an embodiment of the method, the at least two motorized pumps can provide for a placement of the dense fluid.
In an embodiment of the method, the pump unit including the at least two motorized pumps can provide for a multiple discharge and a placement of the dense fluid.
In an embodiment of the method, the at least two motorized pumps of the pump unit can be operable to inject the dense fluid from the plurality of stator exits through the plurality of adjustable hoses.
In an embodiment of the method, the dense fluid can be injected through the plurality of adjustable hoses into a cavity located between a base and the pump unit.
In an embodiment of the method, the at least two motorized pumps of the pump unit can be operable to inject the dense fluid from the plurality of stator exits through the plurality of adjustable hoses into a cavity located between a base and the pump unit.
In an embodiment of the method, the dense fluid can comprise an epoxy grout material.
In an embodiment of the method, the base comprises a concrete base.
In another embodiment, a multi-pump apparatus can include a pump unit comprising at least two motorized pumps, wherein each of the at least two motorized pumps includes a stator and a stator exit; a plurality of stator exits including each stator exit of each stator of the at least two motorized pumps; and a plurality of adjustable hoses, wherein: the at least two motorized pumps of the pump unit are operable to inject a dense fluid from the plurality of stator exits through the plurality of adjustable hoses; the pump unit including the at least two motorized pumps provides for a multiple discharge and a placement of the dense fluid; and the at least two motorized pumps of the pump unit are operable to inject the dense fluid from the plurality of stator exits through the plurality of adjustable hoses into a cavity located between a base and the pump unit.
It will be appreciated that variations of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. It will also be appreciated that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.
