Automatic bypass for ESP pump suction deployed in a PBR in tubing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9181785-B2
Application number	US-201113236188-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 19, 2011
Priority date	Nov 30, 2010
Publication date	Nov 10, 2015
Grant date	Nov 10, 2015

Abstract

A subterranean pump is delivered on coiled tubing with power and control cables running inside. The pump suction has a tubular inlet that seals in a polished bore in the surrounding tubular. A diverter opens a lateral port and closes entry to the pump suction when the pump is not running and the formation pressure is high enough to bring production to the surface. This configuration prevents the pump from turning while the formation pressure allows production to the surface. If the pump is started it reduces pressure ahead of a movable plug to draw it toward the pump against a spring bias. The lateral ports close and an inline flow path opens to allow the pump to draw through the diverter and discharge into the annular space around the coiled tubing on the way to the surface.

First claim

We claim:

1. A flow diversion assembly for an electric submersible pump (ESP) supported in a tubular string, comprising:
said ESP supported on a running string for delivery to a predetermined location in said tubular string, said ESP and running string defining an open annulus with said tubular string;
said ESP having an inlet selectively isolated from said annulus with said ESP not running while production flow from an adjacent formation bypasses said ESP and flows toward a surface location using pressure in the adjacent formation and said inlet is open to said annulus with said ESP running so that production flow is fully redirected to the ESP while closing off said bypassing of said ESP, said ESP further comprising an outlet in communication with said annulus.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
said selective isolation is controlled by a valve.

3. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein:
said valve comprises a sliding sleeve.

4. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein:
said inlet comprises housing having a wall port;
said housing sealingly engages the tubular string.

5. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein:
said sliding sleeve disposed in said housing and having a sleeve port in a wall thereof;
said sliding sleeve port selectively aligned with said wall port of said housing.

6. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein:
said sliding sleeve has a closed end adjacent said ESP and a projection located on an opposite side from said sliding sleeve port than said closed end.

7. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein:
said valve is operated by a biasing member and is selectively overcome by operation of said ESP.

8. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
particulates that settle in said annulus bypass said ESP with said ESP off.

9. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
said running string further comprises coiled tubing with power and control cable running therethrough.

10. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
said ESP does not rotate in an off position with flow bypassing said ESP.

11. A flow diversion assembly for an electric submersible pump (ESP) supported in a tubular string, comprising:
said ESP supported on a running string for delivery to a predetermined location in said tubular string, said ESP and running string defining an annulus with said tubular string;
said ESP having an inlet selectively isolated from said annulus depending on the operational condition of said ESP and an outlet in communication with said annulus;
said selective isolation is controlled by a valve;
said valve is operated by a biasing member and is selectively overcome by operation of said ESP;
said valve is open to bypass flow around said ESP from said inlets with said ESP off.

12. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein:
said annulus and said inlet are in pressure balance with said ESP off.

13. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein:
said housing has at least one external seal to engage a polished bore receptacle on said tubing string.

14. A flow diversion assembly for an electric submersible pump (ESP) supported in a tubular string, comprising:
said ESP supported on a running string for delivery to a predetermined location in said tubular string, said ESP and running string defining an annulus with said tubular string;
said ESP having an inlet selectively isolated from said annulus depending on the operational condition of said ESP and an outlet in communication with said annulus;
said selective isolation is controlled by a valve;
said valve comprises a sliding sleeve;
said inlet comprises housing having a wall port;
said housing sealingly engages the tubular string;
said sliding sleeve disposed in said housing and having a sleeve port in a wall thereof;
said sliding sleeve port selectively aligned with said wall port of said housing;
said sliding sleeve has a closed end adjacent said ESP and a projection located on an opposite side from said sliding sleeve port than said closed end;
said projection engaging a stop on said housing as said sliding sleeve port is misaligned with said wall port of said housing to direct flow through said sliding sleeve port and to said ESP while engagement of said projection to said stop minimizes flow between said housing and said annulus.

15. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein:
said sliding sleeve is biased off said housing in a direction that moves said projection away from said stop.

16. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein:
operation of said ESP draws said projection toward said stop as said bias is overcome.

17. The assembly of claim 16 , wherein:
said housing and said sleeve define an annular path to said ESP through said sliding sleeve port with said projection moved toward said stop.

Assignees

• Lawson Peter F
• Lauderdale Donald P
• Baker Hughes Inc

Inventors

• Lawson Peter F
• Lauderdale Donald P

Classifications

• E21B43/128 Primary

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

• F04B47/06

  having motor-pump units situated at great depth · CPC title

• E21B43/16

  Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons · CPC title

• E21B43/121

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

• E21B43/12

  Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells (E21B43/25 takes precedence; valve arrangements E21B34/00) · CPC title