Downhole Pump Magnet Valve Gas Locking Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Sucker rod pumps face reduced efficiency due to gas locking conditions caused by free gas in the fluid being lifted, with existing solutions being expensive and compromising volumetric efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A downhole pump design featuring a magnetically controlled traveling valve that opens at the end of an upstroke to vent free gas, preventing gas locking and maintaining volumetric efficiency by allowing gas escape during the subsequent downstroke.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If free gas is present with the produced liquid in a sucker rod pump, then the pump can handle gas-liquid mixture, but the lifting efficiency of the sucker rod pump is severely reduced due to gas locking condition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful free gas from the pump chamber by providing a dedicated gas venting pathway. The gas venting port allows trapped gas to escape separately from the liquid pumping cycle, removing the gas locking condition that reduces lifting efficiency while maintaining the pump's ability to handle gas-liquid mixtures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by venting gas during the downstroke before the upstroke begins. The gas venting port is positioned and timed to release trapped gas during the downstroke, preventing gas accumulation that would cause locking during the subsequent upstroke, thereby maintaining pumping efficiency.
2Reliability
If conventional gas handling solutions are implemented, then gas locking is addressed, but the volumetric pumping efficiency is reduced and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gas venting port extracts gas from the pump chamber during the downstroke, separating gas handling from the liquid pumping function. This allows the pump to maintain high volumetric efficiency for liquid delivery while reliably preventing gas locking through dedicated gas removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas venting mechanism operates continuously during the downstroke without interrupting the pumping cycle. Gas is vented continuously as the plunger moves downward, ensuring reliable gas locking prevention while maintaining continuous liquid pumping action with no loss in volumetric efficiency.
3Device complexity
If gas is trapped below the plunger during upstroke, then the pump structure is simple, but a gas locking condition develops during subsequent downstroke
Solution Approach 1:
The pump chamber is segmented into liquid pumping zone and gas venting zone. The gas venting port provides a separate pathway for gas removal distinct from the liquid flow path, allowing simple structural modification while reliably preventing gas locking through dedicated gas management.
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
The solution effectively prevents gas locking, enhancing the operating window and efficiency of the downhole pump, especially in wells with high gas-to-liquid ratios, while being cost-effective compared to conventional gas handling systems.
Implementation Method 1
A magnet is disposed at an uphole end of the housing. The conducting shaft of the rod is located adjacent the magnet
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A downhole pump includes a housing, a plunger that is disposed within the housing, and a rod that is secured to the plunger. The housing includes a magnet that is disposed at an uphole end of the housing. The plunger includes a traveling valve that is disposed at a downhole end of the plunger. The rod includes a conducting shaft that is attached to an uphole end of the plunger. The conducting shaft is configured to extend a magnetic field generated by the magnet when the conducting shaft is positioned adjacent the magnet to magnetically force the traveling valve into an open state.