Modular ESP Deployment Using Wet Connectors and Cable Segmentation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for deploying and retrieving electrical submersible fluid transducer systems in oil and gas wells are cumbersome and prone to damage, requiring large and specialized equipment due to the need to support the weight of the electrical power transmission cable, which can lead to stress cracks and premature failure from pressure differentials when retrieved.
Innovation Solution
A system where the electric submersible pump is installed with an electrical wet connector, and the power cable is deployed separately, carrying only its own weight and the upper half of the connector, with a strong tensile member and flexible design to reduce damage, and optionally includes a sub-surface safety valve for well safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the power cable is deployed with the electrical submersible pump using jointed tubing or coiled tubing, then the pump can be successfully deployed in the well, but the cable is prone to damage from bending stresses, impact loads, and crushing during deployment and retrieval
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the deployment process into two independent phases: first deploying the electrical submersible pump assembly with jointed tubing, then separately deploying the power cable using a wireline or coiled tubing system. This separation eliminates the harmful mechanical stresses that would occur if the cable were deployed simultaneously with the pump, as the cable would not be subjected to bending stresses, impact loads, or crushing during pump installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by first installing the electrical submersible pump assembly in the well before deploying the power cable. The pump assembly is positioned and secured first, then the power cable is deployed separately using a wireline or coiled tubing system. This sequential approach ensures the cable is not subjected to mechanical damage during the pump deployment process.
2Ease of operation
If the power cable is simultaneously deployed and retrieved with the electrical submersible pump, then the deployment process is simplified, but the cable is exposed to damage from pressure differentials and mechanical stresses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the deployment and retrieval operations into separate independent processes. The electrical submersible pump assembly is deployed and retrieved using jointed tubing, while the power cable is deployed and retrieved separately using a wireline or coiled tubing system. This segmentation allows each component to be handled by the appropriate deployment method, avoiding the cable damage that would result from simultaneous operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the power cable deployment from the pump assembly deployment process. Instead of simultaneously deploying both the pump and cable, the cable deployment is extracted as a separate operation that can be performed independently using wireline or coiled tubing methods, thereby protecting the cable from mechanical stresses and pressure differentials.
3Ease of operation
If large coiled tubing spool diameters are used to accommodate the continuous tubing, then the tubing can be properly deployed, but the surface spooling devices become cumbersome and require special equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the deployment systems into two independent parts: the electrical submersible pump assembly deployed with jointed tubing, and the power cable deployed separately with wireline or coiled tubing. This segmentation allows the use of standard wireline or coiled tubing equipment for cable deployment, avoiding the need for large cumbersome spooling devices while maintaining deployment capability.
Data Source
AI summary
An electric submersible pump system comprises an electric submersible pump body (50) having a first mating profile (53), an electric submersible pump motor (54) having a second mating profile (55), and an electrical wet connect point (61) at the top of the electric submersible pump. The electric submersible pump body (50) has a first mating drive shaft, and the electric submersible pump motor (54) has a second mating drive shaft, such that first and second mating drive shafts engage and can transmit torque from one drive shaft to the other.