Sleeve and Plug System for ESP Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of permanent magnet motors in electrical submersible pumps (ESP) poses safety hazards during installation or removal due to unintended rotation and power transmission to the surface when pressure equalization occurs, as technicians may not be aware of the spinning system.
Innovation Solution
An artificial lift assembly with a sleeve system that includes a sliding sleeve and a plug, such as a wellbore dart, which blocks fluid flow and prevents rotation of the permanent magnet motor by increasing fluid pressure above the plug to a predetermined level, allowing the sliding sleeve to move and enable fluid flow through ports for safe removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If pressure equalization is allowed through the pump during installation or removal, then the pump and motor can be freely installed and removed, but the permanent magnet rotor spins and generates power that transmits to the surface creating safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
A plug is inserted into the pump before installation or removal operations to block fluid flow through the impeller. This preliminary action prevents the rotor from spinning and generating power during operations when pressure equalization occurs, eliminating the safety hazard while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The plug acts as an intermediary element inserted into the pump flow path. It mediates between the need for free installation/removal operations and the need to prevent rotor rotation, blocking fluid flow through the impeller without affecting other pump functions
2Reliability
If a plug is inserted to block fluid flow and prevent rotation, then safety hazards are eliminated, but the device complexity increases with additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The plug is designed as a simple, inexpensive, disposable component that is inserted temporarily during installation or removal operations and then discarded. This eliminates the need for complex reusable mechanisms while maintaining safety, as the plug serves its protective function for only the brief duration needed
Solution Approach 2:
The safety function is segmented from the main pump system by using a separate, independent plug component rather than integrating complexity into the motor or pump housing. This segmentation allows the safety feature to be added without redesigning the core pump architecture
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
Prevents unwanted rotation and electrical energy transmission to the surface during ESP system installation or removal, ensuring safety by controlling fluid flow and pressure to lock the sliding sleeve in place, allowing for secure removal of the artificial lift assembly without power transmission.
Implementation Method 1
The sliding sleeve is restricted from movement relative to the ported case until a first predetermined pressure is applied to the sliding sleeve
Implementation Method 2
The foundation of a permanent magnet motor is that it utilizes rare earth magnets in the rotor to enable better synchronization with the electrical current flowing through the stator thereby increasing the efficiency and power factor
Implementation Method 3
The outer profile can be configured to mate with the sliding sleeve such that, when the wellbore dart is introduced into the sliding sleeve, the wellbore dart is held in place within the sliding sleeve and prevents fluid flow through the electrical submersible pumping system
Data Source
AI summary
An artificial lift assembly and method relating thereto where a sleeve system is disposed above an electrical submersible pump. The sleeve system has a sliding sleeve at least partially carried within a ported case. The sliding sleeve blocks fluid flow through ports in the ported case. The sliding sleeve is restricted from movement relative to the ported case until a first predetermined pressure is applied to the sliding sleeve. Subsequent to the operating the electrical submersible pump, a plug is introduced to the sliding sleeve so as to block fluid flow through the sliding sleeve, Subsequent to introducing the plug, fluid pressure above the plug is increased until the sliding sleeve moves relative to the ported case such that fluid flow is allowed through the ports. Thereafter removing the artificial lift assembly from the wellbore.