Removable Hydraulic Motor for Submersible Pump Top Drive
Solution Overview
Problem
Hydrocarbon production from geologic formations with low reservoir pressure requires effective artificial lift systems, as existing downhole pumps or compressors may not efficiently manage pressure and require costly rig operations for deployment and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A modular submersible pump top drive system with a removable hydraulic motor driven by drive fluid from a topside facility, featuring a drive fluid inlet and outlet with separate tubing for isolating the drive fluid from production fluids, allowing for efficient and flexible operation without the need for a rig.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a downhole pump or compressor is deployed into the well to increase production, then production efficiency is improved, but device complexity and deployment cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies hydraulic principles by using a hydraulic motor to drive the downhole pump. Drive fluid is injected through the production tubing to power the pump mechanism, eliminating the need for complex electrical motors or mechanical drive shafts extending to the surface. This hydraulic drive system simplifies the overall device complexity while maintaining high production efficiency in low-pressure reservoirs.
2Productivity
If pumps or compressors are deployed into the well, then production is enhanced, but ease of operation deteriorates due to rig requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the drive mechanism from the traditional topside location and places it downhole as a compact hydraulic motor. This eliminates the need for complex rig operations to deploy and maintain the pump system. The hydraulic motor can be installed and serviced using standard well intervention equipment, dramatically improving ease of operation while maintaining enhanced production capabilities.
3Power
If drive fluid is used to power the hydraulic motor, then power transmission efficiency is improved, but loss of substance increases due to drive fluid consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed to efficiently utilize drive fluid that has passed through the hydraulic motor. The spent drive fluid is returned through a separate annulus to the surface where it can be recovered, filtered, and re-injected for reuse. This closed-loop approach minimizes drive fluid consumption and reduces operational costs while maintaining high power transmission efficiency to the downhole pump.
Data Source
AI summary
A drive fluid inlet is at an uphole end of the submersible pump top drive. A removable hydraulic motor is driven by drive fluid received by the drive fluid inlet. The removable hydraulic motor is separable from a downhole pump. A receiver is at a downhole end of the hydraulic motor. The receiver is configured to mate with the downhole pump. A drive fluid outlet is configured to expel the drive fluid after the drive fluid has flowed through the hydraulic motor. The drive fluid outlet is downhole of the drive fluid inlet.