Compact Cable-Suspended Pumping System for Gas Well Dewatering
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Solution Overview
Problem
As natural gas wells mature, water buildup in the annulus creates back pressure on the reservoir, reducing gas production, and existing solutions often require costly interventions like pulling the tubing string, which is economically inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A compact cable suspended pumping system is deployed into the wellbore, featuring a multi-section motor, isolation device, and pump, powered by a power signal transmitted through a cable with two or less conductors, allowing the system to mimic a multi-phase motor and effectively lower the liquid level in the tubular string, thereby reducing water buildup and enhancing gas production without the need for extensive intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional dewatering methods are used, then water removal is achieved, but costly intervention requiring tubing string removal is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The pumping system is nested within the existing tubing string without requiring its removal. The pump assembly, motor, and isolation device are deployed as a compact unit that fits inside the tubular string, allowing dewatering operations while the tubing remains in place, thus eliminating the need for costly workover interventions.
Solution Approach 2:
An isolation device acts as an intermediary between the pump and the tubing string. This device provides fluid isolation and rotational connection, enabling the pump to operate independently within the tubing while transferring power from the motor through the isolation device to the pump, without requiring tubing removal.
2Use of energy by moving object
If multi-phase motor is used, then efficient power transmission is achieved, but cable complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The motor is divided into multiple independent sections, each with its own stator and rotor components. This segmentation allows each section to be controlled independently through the cable, enabling multi-phase power transmission through a simplified two-conductor cable system rather than requiring complex multi-conductor cables.
Solution Approach 2:
The motor sections are operated in a sequential, periodic manner to simulate multi-phase operation. By cycling through different section combinations in a predetermined sequence, the system achieves the benefits of multi-phase power transmission (smooth torque, efficient energy use) while using a simple two-conductor cable.
3Reliability
If pump is deployed to reservoir location, then dewatering effectiveness is improved, but system deployment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump, motor, and isolation device are merged into a single integrated assembly that can be deployed together as one unit. This combination eliminates the need for separate deployment operations and simplifies the overall deployment process while positioning the pump at the optimal location near the reservoir for effective dewatering.
Solution Approach 2:
The isolation device provides dynamic rotational connection between the motor and pump, allowing the system to adapt to different deployment conditions and wellbore configurations. This dynamic connection enables easy deployment and retrieval while maintaining pump effectiveness at the reservoir location.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution allows for efficient dewatering of gas wells, reducing hydrostatic pressure and maintaining gas flow without the economic burden of traditional interventions, enabling rapid deployment and retrieval of the system, thus optimizing well production and reducing capital commitments.
Implementation Method 1
a submersible multi-section electric motor operable to rotate a drive shaft. Each section is incrementally oriented so that the sections are operable to mimic a multi-phase motor
Data Source
AI summary
A method of unloading liquid from a reservoir includes deploying a pumping system into a wellbore to a location proximate the reservoir using a cable. The pumping system includes a multi-section motor, an isolation device, and a pump. The method further includes supplying a power signal from the surface to the motor via the cable and sequentially operating each section of the motor to mimic a multi-phase motor, thereby driving the pump and lowering a liquid level in the tubular string to a level proximate the reservoir.