Baker Hughes Corporation

David B Dillon

Steven Keith Tetzlaff

David Lester Olson

Josh Prather

Edward C Kanady

Ray A Watson

Stephen T Shanahan

A method of producing a well fluid includes securing a motor to a string of outer tubing and lowering the outer tubing and motor into the well. A rotary pump is secured to a string of inner tubing and lowered into the outer tubing. The pump stabs into cooperative engagement with the motor. Supplying power to the motor rotates the pump, causing well fluid to flow into the outer tubing to an intake of the pump, which pumps the well fluid through the inner tubing to an upper end of the well. Removing the well fluid allows gas to flow up an annulus surrounding the outer tubing to the upper end of the well.

High velocity string for well pump and method for producing well fluid

A submersible pump assembly suspended on a string of tubing in a well has a valve that drains the tubing above the pump when the pump shuts down. The valve includes a valve housing installed with the tubing string above the submersible pump assembly. The valve housing has an interior in communication with fluid in the string of tubing above the valve housing, and a shunt port communicating the interior of the valve housing with an annulus surrounding the string of tubing. A valve cage is slidably received within the valve housing for movement between upper and lower positions. The valve cage blocks communication through the shunt port while in the upper position, and while in the lower position, opens the shunt port. A valve seat is located in the valve cage, and a valve member moves between a lower position, sealingly engaging the valve seat, and an upper position, allowing flow through the valve seat from the pump to the tubing string. Pump pressure causes the valve cage and the valve member to move to the upper positions. Ceasing operation of the submersible pump assembly causes the valve cage and the valve member to move to the lower positions, allowing fluid in the tubing string to flow out the shunt port to equalize with fluid in the annulus.

Production tubing shunt valve

A progressive cavity pump housing is secured to the lower end of a string of tubing. A motor is secured to the progressive cavity housing. An electrical power cable is strapped to the motor alongside the tubing. The pump has a pump rotor located within a stator. The pump rotor has a driven shaft extending downward from its lower end which mates with a drive shaft extending upward from the motor. When the pump reaches the motor, the driven shaft will stab into the drive shaft. The upper end of the pump rotor extends above the stator and is configured to engage an overshot retrieval tool. To retrieve the rotor, the operator lowers an overshot retrieval tool through the production tubing and latches it to the upper end of the pump rotor. The operator pulls the rotor out of the pump, thereby disengaging the rotor from the drive shaft of the motor, and leaving the remainder of the pump and the motor in place. After flushing the pump stator, the rotor may be lowered back through the tubing into the stator and reengaged to the drive shaft.

Retrievable progressing cavity pump rotor

A well pump assembly has a pressure relief valve in the tubing string for avoiding excessive discharge pressure on a progressing cavity pump. The pressure relief valve is mounted in the string of tubing downstream of the pump. The valve assembly has a main flow passage through it for fluid being pumped by the pump through the tubing. The valve assembly has a valve seat and a spring-biased valve element which is urged by the spring against the downstream end of the valve seat to maintain the valve seat closed. The upstream end of the valve seat is in communication with the pressure in the tubing. If the tubing pressure exceeds a selected level, the valve element moves to an open position, discharging well fluid into the casing.

Growing community of inventors

Parker, CO, United States of America

David B Dillon