Downhole Jet Pump Cable Guide for MPLT Logging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing downhole jet pump systems face operational challenges due to the handling of steel cables, which often result in production stoppages and equipment damage, particularly when navigating the cable through internal elements, leading to wear and deformation at inflection points.
Innovation Solution
A modified downhole jet pump design that allows the steel cable to pass coaxially through the pump, with reduced support points and the incorporation of a bypass valve, solid filters, and a redesigned discharge and suction flow path, ensuring safe operation and reducing frictional stresses, while enabling safe actuation of shut-off valves and efficient data logging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the steel cable is guided through multiple non-aligned support points inside the downhole jet pump, then the cable can be supported during operation, but the cable is forced at those points causing wear and deformation at inflection points
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the multiple internal support points for the cable from the pump structure. Instead of having the cable pass through multiple non-aligned points inside the pump, the cable now passes through a single central guide at the top and is supported only at the bottom by the logger string weight, eliminating the inflection points and forced bending that caused wear and deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the support strategy by moving from multiple internal support points to minimal external support points. The cable is supported at the very top by a central guide and at the very bottom by the logger string, rather than being supported at multiple intermediate points within the pump body, thereby eliminating the harmful inflection points.
2Ease of operation
If the steel cable is driven from the surface through the wireline to manipulate logging instruments, then data collection is enabled, but production stoppages occur due to cable handling problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cable guidance function from the internal pump elements and relocates it to a central guide at the top of the pump. This separation eliminates the interference between cable handling and pump operation, allowing cable-driven logging to proceed without causing production stoppages due to cable entanglement or deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a central guide at the top of the pump as an intermediary element that facilitates smooth cable passage. This guide acts as a mediator between the surface-driven cable and the internal pump operations, ensuring the cable can be manipulated for logging without interfering with production continuity.
3Ease of operation
If the cable is forced at multiple support points inside the pump, then the cable can be positioned for logging, but the support points wear out and the cable deforms at inflection points
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the multiple internal support points that caused wear and deformation. The cable positioning is achieved through the single central guide at the top and the bottom support from the logger string, eliminating the inflection points where the cable was forced and where support points wore out.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the positioning strategy by using minimal support points at the extremes (top guide and bottom logger support) rather than multiple support points in the middle of the cable path. This inversion eliminates the inflection points and the associated wear and deformation problems.
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 new design enhances operational safety and efficiency by minimizing cable deformation and wear, allowing for reliable data collection in both static and dynamic conditions without production interruptions, with improved handling and retrieval of logging tools.
Implementation Method 1
reducing frictional stresses
Implementation Method 2
incorporation of a bypass valve in this path
Implementation Method 3
incorporation of solids filters
Implementation Method 4
the purpose of the shut-off valve is to isolate the hydrostatic pressure above the downhole jet pump to obtain only the reservoir pressure
Implementation Method 5
redesign of the discharge and suction flow path
Data Source
AI summary
A jet pump for oil production involving extraction by hydraulic lift and consists of a jet pump integrally redesigned so that it is traversed by a cable for the control of the recorders of the production variables of the oil well. This control can be performed from the surface, enabling the collection of data related to measurements such as pressure, temperature and flow, both in static conditions of the well, i.e. when the well is not pumping, and in dynamic conditions, i.e. when the well is in production, and also have the security of the recovery of recorded data and measurement tools, known by its acronym MPLT (Memory Production Logging Tools), to determine the productive status of the well and make timely decisions in the management and administration of the same.