Downhole Ram Pump Vibration Mechanism for Debris-Resistant Pressure Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing downhole well tools face malfunctions due to debris in well fluids and unpredictable pressure fluctuations, and the installation and maintenance of control lines are costly and prone to damage.
Innovation Solution
A downhole pump system that generates hydraulic pressure by using a flow restricting device to alternately increase and decrease fluid flow through a tubular string, creating a differential pressure to operate well tools without relying on well fluid pressure or long control lines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If well fluid pressure is used to operate downhole tools, then hydraulic pressure is available, but the well fluid contains debris which causes malfunction and pressure fluctuates unpredictably
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the hydraulic pressure generation function from the well fluid system and places it in a separate downhole pump device. This separates the pressure generation function from the contaminated well fluid, allowing the pump to generate clean hydraulic pressure while the well fluid continues its production function without causing malfunctions.
Solution Approach 2:
The downhole pump acts as an intermediary device between the well fluid flow and the hydraulic pressure system. It converts the kinetic energy of well fluid flow into hydraulic pressure through its pump mechanism, providing a mediated connection that eliminates direct exposure of control systems to debris-containing well fluid.
2Ease of operation
If control lines are extended large distances from surface to operate well tools, then hydraulic pressure can be transmitted, but installation is expensive, time-consuming and control lines are subject to damage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the hydraulic pressure generation function from the surface control system and relocates it to a downhole pump device positioned near the well tool. This eliminates the need for long control lines extending from surface, removing the associated installation complexity, cost, and vulnerability to damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The downhole pump device is self-contained and generates its own hydraulic pressure using the kinetic energy of well fluid flow passing through it. This self-service capability eliminates dependence on external control lines from surface, allowing the system to operate autonomously using locally available resources.
3Stress or pressure
If well fluid pressure is used to operate downhole tools, then hydraulic pressure is available, but pressure fluctuates and is difficult to predict and control
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the passive reliance on fluctuating well fluid pressure with an active mechanical pump system. The downhole pump uses a mechanically controlled reciprocating piston mechanism driven by a motor, providing predictable and controllable hydraulic pressure generation independent of well fluid pressure fluctuations.
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 eliminates the need for well fluid pressure and reduces the complexity and cost of control line installation by generating hydraulic pressure locally, enhancing the reliability and efficiency of downhole operations.
Implementation Method 1
The restricting device vibrates in response to the fluid flow. The restricting device thereby alternately increases and decreases the fluid flow through the opening.
Implementation Method 2
A pump device generates differential pressure in response to vibration of the restricting device.
Data Source
AI summary
A downhole ram pump. A downhole pump system includes a flow restricting device which variably restricts fluid flow through an opening, the restricting device vibrating in response to the fluid flow, thereby alternately increasing and decreasing the fluid flow through the opening; and a pump device which generates a pressure differential in response to vibration of the restricting device. Another downhole pump system includes a flow restricting device which vibrates in response to fluid flow through an opening, thereby alternately increasing and decreasing the fluid flow through the opening, a pressure differential across the restricting device variably biasing the restricting device to increasingly restrict the fluid flow through the opening, and the pressure differential alternately increasing and decreasing in response to respective alternate increasing and decreasing flow through the opening; and a pump device which generates differential pressure in response to vibration of the restricting device.