Downhole Hydraulic Motor

Abstract

This relates to an improved downhole hydraulic motor powered by a surface pump unit. The improved submersible hydraulic motor can comprise an engine. The hydraulically driven engine can be operable in a downhole environment. The engine can comprise an inlet port and an outlet port. The inlet port can be operable to receive a fluid from a surface pump unit, while the outlet port can be operable to emit said fluid from said engine.

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001] This disclosure relates to an improved downhole hydraulic motor powered by surface pump unit.

[0002] Nowadays, electric motors are preferred device in powering a submersible pump system. Electric motor or artificial lift can be used to decrease the pressure at the bottom of a well. As such, this method can allow submersible pump system to increase liquid production. However, in some scenario where there is an excessive load, the load can cause electric motor to stop. In such scenario the electric conductor can burn, causing permanent damage to electric motor and wasting valuable time at a well site. Wherein when hydraulic motor is used, the motor can just stop without causing damage to hydraulic motor. Moreover in applications wherein submersible pump system can be exposed underwater, electric motor can be more expensive since electric motor needs to be sealed to operate in such condition. Furthermore, for other applications that can require extremely high torque, electric motors can be more bulky and costly because large number of windings can be needed for its operation. As such it would be useful to have an improved downhole hydraulic motor powered by surface pump unit.

SUMMARY

[0003] This relates to an improved downhole hydraulic motor powered by a surface pump unit. The improved submersible hydraulic motor can comprise an engine. The engine can be operable in a downhole environment. The engine can comprise an inlet port and an outlet port. The inlet port can be operable to receive a fluid from a surface pump unit, while the outlet port can be operable to emit said fluid from said engine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] FIG. 1 illustrates a submersible hydraulic motor.

[0005] FIG. 2 illustrates submersible hydraulic motor attached to a submersible pump unit.

[0006] FIG. 3 illustrates a surface pump unit.

[0007] FIG. 4 illustrates pressure system comprising a directional valve lever, a pressure gauge, a hydraulic motor and check valve, a temperature gauge, a vent valve, an ignition switch, an emergency actuator, and a screen.

[0008] FIG. 5 illustrates pumping unit connected to submersible pump unit.

[0009] FIG. 6 illustrates a submersible pump system comprising pumping unit, and submersible pump unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] Described herein is a system and method for improved downhole hydraulic motor powered by surface pump unit. The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention as claimed and is provided in the context of the particular examples discussed below, variations of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation (as in any development project), design decisions must be made to achieve the designers' specific goals (e.g., compliance with system- and business-related constraints), and that these goals will vary from one implementation to another. It will also be appreciated that such development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the field of the appropriate art having the benefit of this disclosure. Accordingly, the claims appended hereto are not intended to be limited by the disclosed embodiments, but are to be accorded their widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.

[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates a submersible hydraulic motor 100. Submersible hydraulic motor 100 can comprise an engine 101. Engine 101 can be an internal component of submersible hydraulic motor 100 that is capable of converting hydraulic pressure mechanical energy. In one embodiment, hydraulic motor 100 can be a Gerotor motor. Engine 101 can comprise an inlet port 103 and an outlet port 104. Inlet port 103 and outlet port 104 can be placed at the surface of submersible hydraulic motor 100. Inlet port 103 can be an opening that receives fluid from a pumping unit, while outlet port 104 can be an opening that transmits fluid from engine 101 to a pumping unit. In one embodiment, submersible hydraulic motor 100 can further comprise one or more sensors 102. In this embodiment, sensor 102 can be connected below hydraulic motor 100. Sensor 102 can be a device used for regulation and control of a hydraulic system. Sensor 102 can detect, measure or evaluate conditions of liquids, such as temperature, flow, or level. In such embodiment, sensor 102 can be connected to a power line or control line that can transmit the measurements and signal captured by sensor 102 to an operation center at the surface. Submersible hydraulic motor 100 can be designed to be compatible with different characteristics of a well such as dimensions, temperature, flow, and pressure.

[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates submersible hydraulic motor 100 attached to a submersible pump unit 200. Submersible pump unit 200 can be hermetically sealed. Submersible pump unit 200 can comprise a pipe 201, a pump 202, a gas separator 203, and a connector engine-pump 204. In one embodiment, pipe 201 can be a tree well head. In such embodiment, pipe 201 can comprise a tubing hanger 205, and a pair of feed troughs 206. Tubing hanger 205 can suspend a pair of production tubings 216 that connect to inlet port 103 and outlet port 104. Feed throughs 206 can be conductors that are used to carry a signal to production tubings 216. Pump 202 can be any kind of pump, which can include but is not limited to centrifugal pump, progressive cavity pump, or a gear pump. In a preferred embodiment, pump 202 can be a progressive cavity pump (PCP). Gas separator 203 can comprise a fluid inlet and flexible shaft 207. Fluid inlet and flexible shaft 207 can connect the shaft of gas separator 203 to pump 202. Further, pipe 201 can be connected to pump 202 through a coupling pipe 208. A protective pipe 209 can be attached outside the junction of pipe 201 and pump 202. Protective pipe 209 can protect the section where coupling pipe 208 is installed. Gas separator 203 can be capable of separating heavy liquids from the light gases. Gas separator 203 can be connected below pump 202. Gas separator 203 can be covered with a protective seal 210. Protective seal 210 can comprise a cushion chamber. Cushion chamber can be an internal component of protective seal 210 that can be installed in between hydraulic motor 100 and submersible pump unit 200. Cushion chamber can allow hydraulic motor 100 to withstand axial thrust of pump 202. Hydraulic motor 100 can be connected below submersible pump unit 200 through a mechanical coupling. Connector engine-pump 204 can connect hydraulic motor 100 with submersible pump unit 200. Inlet port 103 and outlet port 104 can be connected to a connector. Connector can be attached at the outer surface of hydraulic motor 100. Moreover, connector can connect hydraulic motor 100 and pipe 201 through a pair of pipings 213. In one embodiment, motor adapter seal can be used to cover and protect pipings 213. A plurality of steel clamps 215 can be used to secure pipings 213 across the surface of submersible pump unit 200. A pair of production tubings 216 can be connected to feed troughs 206 of tubing hanger 205.

[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates a surface pump unit 300. Main components of surface pump unit 300 can comprise a storage tank 301, a cooling system 302, a piston pump 303, and a pressure system 304. Storage tank 301 can be used to store fluid, which can be used to provide power to engine 101 of submersible hydraulic motor 100. Cooling system 302 can be capable of keeping the temperature of surface pump unit 300 from exceeding limits. Thus, cooling system 302 can prevent the overheating of surface pump unit 300. Piston pump 303 can be used to move liquids or compress gases. Piston pump 303 can be a positive displacement pump such as a radial piston pump, or an axial piston pump. Pressure system 304 can be used to regulate source production by maintaining adequate flow rates and water pressure.

[0014] FIG. 4 illustrates pressure system 304 comprising a directional valve lever 401, pressure gauge 402, a hydraulic motor and check valve 403, a temperature gauge 404, a vent valve 405, an ignition switch 406, an emergency actuator 407, and a screen 408.

[0015] FIG. 5 illustrates pumping unit 300 connected to submersible pump unit 200.

[0016] FIG. 6 illustrates a submersible pump system comprising pumping unit 300, and submersible pump unit 200. Surface pump unit 300 can be used to mechanically lift liquid out of the well. Surface pump unit 300 can be placed above the surface while submersible pump unit 300 can be fully submerged in the fluid that needs to be pumped. Submersible pump unit 200 can be vertically placed under the surface and within a wellbore. Furthermore, submersible pump unit 200 can be connected to surface pump unit 300 through inlet port 103 and outlet port 104. One end of inlet port 103 and outlet port 104 can be connected with engine 101 of submersible pump unit 200 while the other end of inlet port 103 and outlet port 104 can be connected to surface pump unit 300. Outlet port 104 can return fluid to surface pump unit 300, while inlet port 103 can transmit fluid to submersible hydraulic motor 100. Submersible hydraulic motor 100 can be driven by surface pump unit 300, which transmits fluid to engine 101 of submersible hydraulic motor 100 through pipe 201. Thus, surface pump unit 300 controls submersible hydraulic motor 100. Once turned on, submersible hydraulic motor 100 attached to submersible pump unit 200 can operate by pushing the liquid to the surface.

[0017] Various changes in the details of the illustrated operational methods are possible without departing from the scope of the following claims. Some embodiments may combine the activities described herein as being separate steps. Similarly, one or more of the described steps may be omitted, depending upon the specific operational environment the method is being implemented in. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments may be used in combination with each other. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms "including" and "in which" are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms "comprising" and "wherein."

Claims

1. An improved submersible hydraulic motor comprising a hydraulically driven engine operable in a downhole environment, said engine comprising an inlet port operable to receive a fluid from a surface pump unit; and an outlet port operable to emit said fluid from said engine.

2. The submersible hydraulic motor of claim 1 further comprising a sensor, said sensor connected below said submersible hydraulic motor.

3. The submersible hydraulic motor of claim 2 wherein said sensor capable of measuring temperature of liquid.

4. The submersible hydraulic motor of claim 2 wherein said sensor capable of measuring flow of liquid.

5. The submersible hydraulic motor of claim 2 wherein said sensor capable of measuring level of liquid.

6. The submersible hydraulic motor of claim 1 wherein said engine connects below a submersible pump unit, said submersible pump unit comprising a pipe comprising a pair of feed throughs, said pair of feed throughs connects said pipe with said surface pump unit; a pump connected below said pipe; a gas separator covered with a protective seal, said gas separator connects below said pump; and a connector engine pump that connects said gas separator and said engine.

7. The submersible hydraulic motor of claim 6 wherein said protective seal comprises a cushion chamber, said cushion chamber installed in between said submersible hydraulic motor and said submersible pump unit, further wherein said cushion chamber allows said submersible hydraulic motor to withstand axial thrust of said submersible pump unit.

8. The submersible hydraulic motor of claim 6 wherein said submersible hydraulic motor further comprising a pair of pipings, one end of said pair of pipings connects to each said inlet port and said outlet port while the other end of said pair of pipings connects to said pipe.

9. The submersible hydraulic motor of claim 8 further comprising a motor adapter seal, said motor adapter seal capable of protecting said pair of pipings.

10. The submersible hydraulic motor of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of steel clamps, said plurality of steel clamps secures said pair of pipings across the surface of said submersible pump unit.

11. The submersible hydraulic motor of claim 6 further comprising a pair of production tubings, one end of said pair of production tubings connects to said pair of feed throughs while the other end of said pair of production tubings connects to said surface pump unit.

12. The submersible hydraulic motor of claim 6 wherein said pump comprises a progressive cavity pump (PCP).

13. The submersible hydraulic motor of claim 6 further comprising a protective pipe, said protective pipe attached outside the junction of said pipe and said pump.

14. The submersible hydraulic motor of claim 1 is a Gerotor.

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