Patents by Inventor Arthur I. Watson
Arthur I. Watson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11585355Abstract: An electric submersible pump (ESP) with reduced vibration is provided. In an implementation, an ESP section has radial bearings placed at shaft locations of reduced vibration to reduce wear. The locations of reduced vibration are selected to avoid areas of high vibration and vibrational waves that reinforce each other due to structure resonance and natural excitation frequencies. In an implementation, a radial bearing is positioned at a node of reduced vibration of a standing vibrational wave. In an implementation, a succession of multiple radial bearings are spaced at different intervals from each other to avoid conventional even spacing of the bearings that causes standing waves, resonance waves, and vibrational waves at natural excitation frequencies. In an implementation, a span between adjacent radial bearings is selected to spare other adjacent bearings at different spans the effects of vibrations that may extend over a range of excitation frequencies in the ESP section.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2019Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Hao Lam, Arthur I. Watson, Jacques Orban, Lauro De Camargo, David Milton Eslinger
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Patent number: 11168551Abstract: A technique facilitates removal of gas from a gas-sensitive region in an electric submersible pumping system. A gas purging system is integrated into the electric submersible pumping system. During operation of the electric submersible pumping system, the gas purging system also is operated to move gas away from the gas-sensitive region, e.g. a thrust bearing region, and to a collection region or other suitable region. In some embodiments, the gas which accumulates in a collection region may be discharged to a region external of the electric submersible pumping system.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2017Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Arthur I. Watson, Grant T. Harris
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Patent number: 10968918Abstract: Wear rings for electric submersible pump (ESP) stages are provided. An example ESP has one or more running clearance seals reinforced with high-hardness wear rings. Ceramics and carbides may provide the high hardness for the wear rings, but such substances are more brittle than metals and have different coefficients of thermal expansion than metals. For protection, each high-hardness wear ring may be mounted with an elastic cushioning scheme. The elastic mounting preserves each wear ring from shock, stress, and breakage from thermal expansion and contraction of an adjacent pump part. Each high-hardness wear ring may also have a low-stress driving mechanism that cushions the rotational force imparted to the wear ring when the ESP pump is being powered. In some implementations, the elastic mounting scheme may also serve as the low-stress driving mechanism for the high-hardness wear ring.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2014Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Arthur I. Watson, David Milton Eslinger
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Publication number: 20200116164Abstract: An electric submersible pump (ESP) with reduced vibration is provided. In an implementation, an ESP section has radial bearings placed at shaft locations of reduced vibration to reduce wear. The locations of reduced vibration are selected to avoid areas of high vibration and vibrational waves that reinforce each other due to structure resonance and natural excitation frequencies. In an implementation, a radial bearing is positioned at a node of reduced vibration of a standing vibrational wave. In an implementation, a succession of multiple radial bearings are spaced at different intervals from each other to avoid conventional even spacing of the bearings that causes standing waves, resonance waves, and vibrational waves at natural excitation frequencies. In an implementation, a span between adjacent radial bearings is selected to spare other adjacent bearings at different spans the effects of vibrations that may extend over a range of excitation frequencies in the ESP section.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2019Publication date: April 16, 2020Inventors: Hao Lam, Arthur I. Watson, Jacques Orban, Lauro De Camargo, David Milton Eslinger
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Publication number: 20190271324Abstract: A technique facilitates removal of gas from a gas-sensitive region in an electric submersible pumping system. A gas purging system is integrated into the electric submersible pumping system. During operation of the electric submersible pumping system, the gas purging system also is operated to move gas away from the gas-sensitive region, e.g. a thrust bearing region, and to a collection region or other suitable region. In some embodiments, the gas which accumulates in a collection region may be discharged to a region external of the electric submersible pumping system.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2017Publication date: September 5, 2019Inventors: Arthur I. Watson, Grant T. Harris
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Patent number: 10385875Abstract: An electric submersible pump (ESP) with reduced vibration is provided. In an implementation, an ESP section has radial bearings placed at shaft locations of reduced vibration to reduce wear. The locations of reduced vibration are selected to avoid areas of high vibration and vibrational waves that reinforce each other due to structure resonance and natural excitation frequencies. In an implementation, a radial bearing is positioned at a node of reduced vibration of a standing vibrational wave. In an implementation, a succession of multiple radial bearings are spaced at different intervals from each other to avoid conventional even spacing of the bearings that causes standing waves, resonance waves, and vibrational waves at natural excitation frequencies. In an implementation, a span between adjacent radial bearings is selected to spare other adjacent bearings at different spans the effects of vibrations that may extend over a range of excitation frequencies in the ESP section.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2014Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Hao Lam, Arthur I. Watson, Jacques Orban, Lauro De Camargo, David Milton Eslinger
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Patent number: 9720424Abstract: A system can include an interface to receive sensed data and economic data; a production control framework that includes a module for modeling motor efficiency of an electric submersible pump, a module for modeling gas composition of a fluid being pumped by an electric submersible pump, a module for modeling solid dynamics in a fluid being pumped by an electric submersible pump, a module to update one or more of the modules for modeling in response to receipt of data via the interface; and an interface to output control commands to a controller for an electric submersible pump based at least in part on data received by the interface and analyzed by the production control framework. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Adunola Ige, Obinna Ilochonwu, Arthur I Watson, Grant T Harris, Ian Roberge
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Patent number: 9482233Abstract: An electric submersible pump device has a pump and a motor. The motor can be adjacent to the pump. A support member supports the sensor and has a length so that the sensor is located a first distance downhole from a downhole distal end of the motor.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2008Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Arthur I. Watson, John A. Booker, Kenneth Armstrong, John David Rowatt
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Publication number: 20160222976Abstract: Wear rings for electric submersible pump (ESP) stages are provided. An example ESP has one or more running clearance seals reinforced with high-hardness wear rings. Ceramics and carbides may provide the high hardness for the wear rings, but such substances are more brittle than metals and have different coefficients of thermal expansion than metals. For protection, each high-hardness wear ring may be mounted with an elastic cushioning scheme. The elastic mounting preserves each wear ring from shock, stress, and breakage from thermal expansion and contraction of an adjacent pump part. Each high-hardness wear ring may also have a low-stress driving mechanism that cushions the rotational force imparted to the wear ring when the ESP pump is being powered. In some implementations, the elastic mounting scheme may also serve as the low-stress driving mechanism for the high-hardness wear ring.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2014Publication date: August 4, 2016Inventors: Arthur I. Watson, David Milton Eslinger
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Publication number: 20160222984Abstract: An electric submersible pump (ESP) with reduced vibration is provided. In an implementation, an ESP section has radial bearings placed at shaft locations of reduced vibration to reduce wear. The locations of reduced vibration are selected to avoid areas of high vibration and vibrational waves that reinforce each other due to structure resonance and natural excitation frequencies. In an implementation, a radial bearing is positioned at a node of reduced vibration of a standing vibrational wave. In an implementation, a succession of multiple radial bearings are spaced at different intervals from each other to avoid conventional even spacing of the bearings that causes standing waves, resonance waves, and vibrational waves at natural excitation frequencies. In an implementation, a span between adjacent radial bearings is selected to spare other adjacent bearings at different spans the effects of vibrations that may extend over a range of excitation frequencies in the ESP section.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2014Publication date: August 4, 2016Inventors: Hao Lam, Arthur I. Watson, Jacques Orban, Lauro De Camargo
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Patent number: 9394750Abstract: A collet coupling for electric submersible pump shafts is provided. An example coupling for joining two shafts includes a tubular coupling member, and collet for fixing the coupling to a shaft via expandable fingers with ribs for latching into a groove on each shaft. Shoulders in the groove transmit axial load forces between the two shafts through the ribs, fingers, and collet. An example method includes attaching one end of the coupling to a shaft of an ESP unit already installed in a well, adjusting an axial reach of a threaded collet for attachment to a second shaft of an upper ESP unit, and engaging ribs of the collet into a groove of the second shaft to couple the two shafts. A sliding retainer allows quick release. An axial deviation distance may be factory-stamped on the ESP units for quick length adjustment and installation of collet couplings in the field.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2014Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Sergey Pisetskiy, Arthur I Watson
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Publication number: 20150241881Abstract: A system can include an interface to receive sensed data and economic data; a production control framework that includes a module for modeling motor efficiency of an electric submersible pump, a module for modeling gas composition of a fluid being pumped by an electric submersible pump, a module for modeling solid dynamics in a fluid being pumped by an electric submersible pump, a module to update one or more of the modules for modeling in response to receipt of data via the interface; and an interface to output control commands to a controller for an electric submersible pump based at least in part on data received by the interface and analyzed by the production control framework. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2015Publication date: August 27, 2015Inventors: Adunola Ige, Obinna Ilochonwu, Arthur I Watson, Grant T Harris, Ian Roberge
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Patent number: 9083101Abstract: A technique is provided for connecting a power cable to a submersible component. A connector system is used to form the connection and comprises a plurality of individual connectors for connecting power carrying conductors to the submersible component. Each of the individual connectors is separately connectable to the submersible component which enables improved sealing with respect to the submersible component. In multi-phase power applications, individual connectors can be used for each phase.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2013Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Arthur I Watson, Gregory H Manke, Wayne L Costa, Kevin T Scarsdale, Chris E Featherby
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Patent number: 9057256Abstract: A system can include an interface to receive sensed data and economic data; a production control framework that includes a module for modeling motor efficiency of an electric submersible pump, a module for modeling gas composition of a fluid being pumped by an electric submersible pump, a module for modeling solid dynamics in a fluid being pumped by an electric submersible pump, a module to update one or more of the modules for modeling in response to receipt of data via the interface; and an interface to output control commands to a controller for an electric submersible pump based at least in part on data received by the interface and analyzed by the production control framework. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2012Date of Patent: June 16, 2015Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Adunola Ige, Obinna Ilochonwu, Arthur I. Watson, Grant T. Harris, Ian Roberge
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Patent number: 8910718Abstract: A system and method is provided for producing a hydrocarbon fluid from a subterranean environment. The system and method utilize an electric submersible pumping system having a motive unit comprising a combined submersible motor section and protector section.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2004Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Arthur I. Watson, Steven Dornak, Michael W. Miller, Parveen Sayela, Cody Casey, Gregory H. Manke, Mark McCorry, John D. Rowatt, Mark E. Allen, Diego A. Narvaez
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Publication number: 20140322038Abstract: An electric submersible pump device having a motor part, a pump part, and a protector part. The protector part includes redundant shaft seal parts.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2014Publication date: October 30, 2014Inventors: Michael Hui Du, Arthur I. Watson, John David Rowatt, Chad Bremner, Arunkumar Arumugam, David Garrett, Christopher E. Featherby, Ramez Guindi
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Publication number: 20140242825Abstract: A technique is provided for connecting a power cable to a submersible component. A connector system is used to form the connection and comprises a plurality of individual connectors for connecting power carrying conductors to the submersible component. Each of the individual connectors is separately connectable to the submersible component which enables improved sealing with respect to the submersible component. In multi-phase power applications, individual connectors can be used for each phase.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2013Publication date: August 28, 2014Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Arthur I. Watson, Gregory H. Manke, Wayne L. Costa, Kevin T. Scarsdale, Chris E. Featherby
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Patent number: 8807966Abstract: An electric submersible pump device having a motor part, a pump part, and a protector part. The protector part includes redundant shaft seal parts.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2008Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Michael Hui Du, Arthur I. Watson, David Rowatt, Chad Bremner, Arunkumar Arumugam, David Garrett, Christopher Featherby, Ramez Guindi
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Publication number: 20140209292Abstract: A submersible pump can include a male part that includes an outer diameter; a female part that includes an inner diameter; an elastomeric seal element disposed between the male part and the female part; and a non-elastomeric seal element disposed between the male part and the female part. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2014Publication date: July 31, 2014Applicant: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Arthur I. Watson, Boyle Suwono, Bernard Kee Buck Tong, Christopher E. Featherby
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Publication number: 20140209323Abstract: A collet coupling for electric submersible pumps is provided. An example coupling for joining two shafts includes a tubular coupling member, and collet for fixing the coupling to a shaft via expandable fingers with ribs for latching into a groove on each shaft. Shoulders in the groove transmit axial load forces between the two shafts through the ribs, fingers, and collet. An example method includes attaching one end of the coupling to a shaft of an ESP unit already installed in a well, adjusting an axial reach of a threaded collet for attachment to a second shaft of an upper ESP unit, and engaging ribs of the collet into a groove of the second shaft to couple the two shafts. A sliding retainer allows quick release. An axial deviation distance may be factory-stamped on the ESP units for quick length adjustment and installation of collet couplings in the field.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2014Publication date: July 31, 2014Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Sergey Pisetskiy, Arthur I Watson