Downhole wet gas compressor processor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017306734-A1
Application number	US-201515517067-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 24, 2015
Priority date	Feb 24, 2014
Publication date	Oct 26, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fluid processor for use in a downhole pumping operation includes a fluid processing stag, a nozzle stage and a gas compressor stage. The nozzle chamber is configured as a convergent-divergent nozzle and the variable metering member is configured for axial displacement within the convergent section to adjust the open cross-sectional area of the nozzle. A method for producing fluid hydrocarbons from a subterranean wellbore with a pumping system includes the steps of measuring a first gas-to-liquid ratio of the fluid hydrocarbons and operating a motor within the pumping system to operate at a first rotational speed. The method continues with the steps of measuring a second gas-to-liquid ration of the fluid hydrocarbons with the sensor module, where the second gas-to-liquid ratio is greater than the first gas-to-liquid ratio, and operating the motor at a second rotational speed that is faster than the first rotational speed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A fluid processor for use in a downhole pumping operation, the fluid processor comprising:
a fluid processing stage; a nozzle stage; and a gas compressor stage.

2 . The fluid processor of claim 1 , wherein the fluid processing stage comprises:
an impeller; and a diffuser.

3 . The fluid processor of claim 2 , wherein the impeller is a helical-axial impeller that comprises:
a plurality of helical vanes; and a plurality of axial vanes.

4 . The fluid processor of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle stage comprises:
a nozzle chamber; and a variable metering member.

5 . The fluid processor of claim 4 , wherein the nozzle chamber comprises:
a convergent section; a throat; and a divergent section.

6 . The fluid processor of claim 5 , wherein the nozzle chamber comprises a de Laval nozzle.

7 . The fluid processor of claim 5 , wherein the nozzle chamber comprises a de Laval nozzle configured for reverse-direction flow.

8 . The fluid processor of claim 5 , wherein the variable metering member comprises:
a frustoconical outer surface; and an interior bowl.

9 . The fluid processor of claim 8 , wherein the variable metering member is configured for axial displacement within the nozzle chamber.

10 . The fluid processor of claim 1 , wherein the gas compressor stage comprises a gas compressor turbine.

11 . The fluid processor of claim 10 , wherein the gas compressor turbine comprises:
a hub; a series of upstream compressor vanes connected to the hub; a series of downstream compressor vanes connected to the hub; and a series of ports passing through the hub.

12 . A downhole pumping system comprising:
a motor; a seal section connected to the motor; and a fluid processor driven by the motor and connected to the seal section, wherein the fluid processor comprises:
a fluid processing stage;
a nozzle stage; and
a gas compressor stage.

13 . The downhole pumping system of claim 12 , wherein the fluid processing stage comprises:
an impeller; and a diffuser.

14 . The downhole pumping system of claim 12 , wherein the nozzle stage comprises:
a nozzle chamber; and a variable metering member.

15 . The downhole pumping system of claim 14 , wherein the variable metering member is configured for axial displacement within the nozzle chamber.

16 . The downhole pumping system of claim 12 , wherein the gas compressor stage comprises a gas compressor turbine.

17 . A method for producing fluid hydrocarbons from a subterranean wellbore, wherein the fluid hydrocarbons have a variable gas-to-liquid ratio, the method comprising the steps of:
installing a downhole pumping system within the wellbore, wherein the downhole pumping system comprises:
a motor;
a fluid processor driven by the motor; and
a sensor module;
connecting the motor to a variable speed drive on the surface; measuring a first gas-to-liquid ratio of the fluid hydrocarbons with the sensor module; outputting a signal representative of the first gas-to-liquid ratio of the fluid hydrocarbons to the variable speed drive; applying an electric current from the variable speed drive to the motor to cause the motor to operate at a first rotational speed; measuring a second gas-to-liquid ration of the fluid hydrocarbons with the sensor module, wherein the second gas-to-liquid ratio is greater than the first gas-to-liquid ratio; outputting a signal representative of the second gas-to-liquid ratio of the fluid hydrocarbons to the variable speed drive; and applying an electric current from the variable speed drive to the motor to cause the motor to operate at a second rotational speed that is faster than the first rotational speed.

Assignees

• Ge Oil & Gas Esp Inc

Inventors

• Hughes Michael Franklin
• Van Dam Jeremy Daniel
• Michelassi Vittorio
• Harban Scott Alan
• Du Cauze De Nazelle Rene

Classifications

• F04D31/00

  Pumping liquids and elastic fluids at the same time · CPC title

• F04D29/321

  for axial flow compressors · CPC title

• F05D2220/20

  within closed fluid conduits, e.g. pipes · CPC title

• F04D29/464

  adjusting flow cross-section, otherwise than by using adjustable stator blades · CPC title

• F01D5/023

  of the screw type · CPC title