US5159977A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical submersible pump for lifting heavy oils
Assignee: Shell USA Inc
•
Filing: 1991-06-10
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Granted: 1992-11-03
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Expires: 2011-06-10
Abstract
Abstract The performance of electrical submersible pump is improved by injection of water such that the water and the oil being pumped flow in a core flow regime, reducing friction and maintaining a thin water film on the internal surfaces of the pump.
Inventors
- 👤 George J. Zabaras
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:47
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/12; E21B43/121; E21B43/128
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
An electrical submersible pump for producing viscous crude oil from a producing wellbore comprising: a) a pump section; b) a pump inlet at the lower end of the pump; c) a motor located below the pump which drives the pump; d) a shroud surrounding the pump inlet and the motor defining an annular flow path between the inside of the shroud and the motor from a shroud inlet at the bottom to the pump inlet; e) a water conduit for conducting water from the surface to the shroud inlet; and f) a means to direct a portion of the water from the conduit to the annular flow path adjacent to the motor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
An electrical submersible pump for producing viscous crude oil from a producing wellbore comprising: a) a pump section; b) a pump inlet at the lower end of the pump; c) a motor located below the pump which drives the pump; d) a shroud surrounding the pump inlet and the motor defining an annular flow path between the inside of the shroud and the motor from a shroud inlet at the bottom to the pump inlet; e) a water conduit for conducting water from the surface to the shroud inlet; and f) a means to direct a portion of the water from the conduit to the annular flow path adjacent to the motor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The pump of claim 1 further comprising a means to direct another portion of the water to the annular flow path adjacent to the shroud.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
The pump of claim 1 wherein the means to direct water from the conduit to the annular flow path adjacent to the motor comprises an inside sleeve surrounding the lower portion of the motor, the sleeve open to the annular flow path at the top and defining a volume between the sleeve and the motor which is in communication with the water conduit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
The pump of clam 2 wherein the means to direct water from the conduit to the annular flow path adjacent to the shroud comprises an outside sleeve which is inside the shroud and the sleeve defining a volume between the sleeve and the shroud which is open to the annular flow path at the top, and in communication with the water conduit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
The pump of clam 2 wherein the means to direct water from the conduit to the annular flow path adjacent to the shroud comprises an outside sleeve which is inside the shroud and the sleeve defining a volume between the sleeve and the shroud which is open to the annular flow path at the top, and in communication with the water conduit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The pump of claim 4 wherein the average distance between the inside sleeve and the motor times the average diameter of the motor is about equal to the average distance between the outside sleeve and the shroud times the average diameter of the outside sleeve.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
The motor of claim 5 wherein the average distance between the inside sleeve and the motor times the average diameter of the motor plus the average distance between the outside sleeve and the shroud times the average diameter of the outside sleeve is about one-sixteenth of the difference between the square of the average diameter of the outer sleeve minus the square of the average diameter of the inner sleeve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The motor of claim 5 wherein the inner and outer sleeves are each concentric about the motor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The motor of claim 5 wherein the inner and outer sleeves are each concentric about the lower portion of the motor.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for transporting viscous crude oil from a producing wellbore to the surface comprising: providing an electrical submersible pump with a pump section, a pump inlet at the lower end of the pump section, a motor located below the pump which drives the pump, a shroud surrounding the pump inlet and the motor defining an annular flow path between the inside of the shroud and the motor from a lower shroud inlet to the pump inlet; establishing oil-water core flow within the annular flow path with water layers flowing adjacent to the motor and adjacent to the shroud and oil flowing between the water layers; and pumping the oil-water mixture to the surface with the electrical submersible pump.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for transporting viscous crude oil from a producing wellbore to the surface comprising: providing an electrical submersible pump with a pump section, a pump inlet at the lower end of the pump section, a motor located below the pump which drives the pump, a shroud surrounding the pump inlet and the motor defining an annular flow path between the inside of the shroud and the motor from a lower shroud inlet to the pump inlet; establishing oil-water core flow within the annular flow path with water layers flowing adjacent to the motor and adjacent to the shroud and oil flowing between the water layers; and pumping the oil-water mixture to the surface with the electrical submersible pump.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the viscous crude oil is of a gravity less than about 12° API.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
10. The method of claim 10 wherein the viscous crude oil is of a gravity between about 8 and about 12° API.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the amount of water is between about 10 and 25 percent of the total amount of water and oil pumped to the surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the amount of water is between about 15 and about 25 percent by weight of the total amount of water and oil pumped to the surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the amount of water is about 20 percent by weight of the total flow pumped to the surface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-11-03 | 1996-05-04 | 1996-11-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-11-03 | 2000-05-04 | 2000-11-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-11-03 | 2004-05-04 | 2004-11-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |