Subsurface Pump Filter Plunger Gas Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Artificial lift systems face challenges in efficiently pumping fluids with entrained gas and particulates from subterranean wells due to gas interference and gas-locking conditions, which reduce volumetric efficiency and productivity.
Innovation Solution
A subsurface pump system with a standing valve, traveling valve, and a filter that reciprocates a plunger within a barrel, allowing for controlled fluid flow and pressure differential management to mitigate gas interference and gas-locking, while filtering out particulates, ensuring efficient pumping of fluids with entrained gas and particulates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional subsurface pump is used to pump fluids with entrained gas and particulates, then the pump can operate continuously, but gas interference and gas-locking conditions reduce volumetric efficiency and productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The pump chamber is divided into multiple chambers separated by partition walls. Each chamber can independently handle fluid flow, allowing gas to be separated and managed in specific zones while maintaining continuous pumping operation in other zones, thereby preventing gas-locking and maintaining volumetric efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
A filter element is introduced as an intermediary component between the pump chamber and the fluid outlet. The filter separates particulates and gas from the liquid flow, preventing gas interference with the pumping mechanism while allowing continuous fluid discharge, thus maintaining productivity and volumetric efficiency
2Productivity
If the pump chamber is sealed to maintain pressure differential, then pumping efficiency improves, but gas and particulates accumulate causing gas-locking and reduced productivity
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the pump chamber are given different properties: some areas are sealed to maintain pressure differential for efficient pumping, while other areas include filter elements and gas discharge pathways to manage gas and particulate accumulation locally, preventing gas-locking while maintaining overall pumping efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
Filter elements are positioned as intermediaries within the pump chamber to separate gas and particulates from the main fluid flow. These filters allow pressure differential to be maintained for efficient pumping while providing a mechanism to remove harmful gas and particulate accumulation, preventing gas-locking conditions
3Productivity
If no filter is used in the pump chamber, then the pump structure remains simple, but particulates cause gas-locking and reduce volumetric efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
A filter element is introduced as a relatively simple intermediary component that provides effective particulate and gas separation. This filter can be implemented with minimal structural modification to the pump chamber, maintaining overall simplicity while significantly improving volumetric efficiency by preventing gas-locking and particulate interference
Solution Approach 2:
A porous filter element is used within the pump chamber to allow fluid passage while blocking gas and particulates. The porous structure provides large surface area for filtration with minimal pressure drop, maintaining pump simplicity while effectively preventing gas-locking and maintaining high volumetric efficiency
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 system effectively prevents gas interference and gas-locking, maintaining high volumetric efficiency and productivity by managing gas and particulate flow, allowing for reliable pumping of fluids with entrained gas and particulates to the surface.
Implementation Method 1
a filter (80) that filters liquid (84) which flows from the plunger interior flow passage (70) to the fluid chamber (82)
Implementation Method 2
displacing the plunger (62) in a second direction (92) opposite to the first direction (90), thereby transferring the liquid (84) from the fluid chamber (82) to a compression chamber (68) in an interior flow passage (67) of the barrel (56)
Data Source
AI summary
A pump can include a plunger and a barrel, at one stroke extent flow being substantially restricted between the plunger and the barrel at spaced apart positions and a plunger interior passage in filtered communication with a fluid chamber between the positions, and at an opposite stroke extent the fluid chamber being in communication with the standing valve. A method can include displacing a plunger in one direction, thereby receiving filtered liquid into a fluid chamber, and b) displacing the plunger in an opposite direction, thereby transferring the liquid to a barrel interior passage. A system can include an actuator that reciprocates a rod string, and a pump including a plunger with a traveling valve, a barrel with a standing valve, and a filter that filters liquid which flows from a tubing string to a compression chamber disposed between the traveling valve and the standing valve.