Lubricating downhole-type rotating machines

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10900285-B2
Application number	US-201916381930-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 11, 2019
Priority date	Apr 11, 2019
Publication date	Jan 26, 2021
Grant date	Jan 26, 2021

Abstract

A downhole-type device includes a fluid-end with a fluid rotor configured to move or be rotated by wellbore fluids. A fluid stator surrounds and supports the fluid rotor. A first bearing couples the fluid rotor to the fluid stator. A second bearing couples the fluid rotor to the fluid stator. An electric machine includes an electrical rotor rotably coupled to the fluid rotor. The electric rotor is configured to rotate in unison with the fluid rotor. An electrical stator surrounds and supports the electric rotor. A lubrication system is fluidically coupled to the downhole-type device. The lubrication system includes a topside pressure pump. A downhole-type distribution manifold is within a wellbore. The distribution manifold fluidically connects to the topside pressure pump, the first bearing, and the second bearing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A well system comprising:
a downhole-type device comprising:
a fluid-end comprising:
a fluid rotor configured to move or be rotated by wellbore fluids; and
a fluid stator surrounding and supporting the fluid rotor; and
a first bearing coupling the fluid rotor to the fluid stator; and
a second bearing coupling the fluid rotor to the fluid stator;

an electric machine comprising:
an electrical rotor rotably coupled to the fluid rotor, the electric rotor configured to rotate in unison with the fluid rotor; and
an electrical stator surrounding and supporting the electric rotor; and

a lubrication system fluidically coupled to the downhole-type device, the lubrication system comprising:
a topside pressure pump; and
a downhole-type distribution manifold within a wellbore, the distribution manifold fluidically connected to the topside pressure pump, the first bearing, and the second bearing.

2. The well system of claim 1 , wherein the first bearing comprises a radial ball bearing.

3. The well system of claim 1 , wherein the second bearing comprises a thrust bearing.

4. The well system of claim 1 , wherein the first bearing comprises a radial bearing and a thrust bearing.

5. The well system of claim 1 , wherein the distribution manifold comprises:
a first flow restriction between the topside pressure pump and the first bearing; and
a second flow restriction, different from the first flow restriction, between the topside pressure pump and the second bearing.

6. The well system of claim 5 , wherein the first flow restriction or the second flow restriction comprise a restriction orifice.

7. The well system of claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to:
measure a parameter of the downhole-type device; and
responsive to the measured parameter, change a rate of lubrication to the first bearing or the second bearing.

Assignees

• Upwing Energy Llc

Inventors

• Biddick David
• Mcmullen Patrick
• Artinian Herman

Classifications

• F05B2260/98

  Lubrication · CPC title

• E21B41/0085

  Adaptations of electric power generating means for use in boreholes · CPC title

• E21B43/121

  Lifting well fluids (monitoring of down-hole pump systems E21B47/008) · CPC title

• E21B43/128 Primary

  Adaptation of pump systems with down-hole electric drives · CPC title

• E21B4/003 Primary

  Bearing, sealing, lubricating details (for roller bits E21B10/22) · CPC title