Abstract: A system to enhance well control in slim completions in an oil well includes an electrical submersible pump (“ESP”) positioned within a casing and having at least a portion thereof extending outwardly from a production tubing positioned within the casing. The production tubing terminates adjacent a distal end portion of a pump discharge to thereby provide greater interstitial space between outer surfaces of the portion of the pump disposed to extend outwardly from the production tubing and inner walls of the casing. This increased interstitial space, for example, can assist in cost savings by reducing the rate of erosion damage to the ESP. Embodiments of the present invention can further include a valve connected to inner walls of the casing and positioned distal from the ESP to control the flow of hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A pump is driven by rotation of an electrical motor drive shaft. An eccentric drive unit includes an eccentric member coupled between the motor drive shaft and the pump drive shaft. The eccentric member has an offset portion parallel to and offset from the motor axis for orbiting around the motor axis. A flexible boot encloses the offset portion. A pump end static seal seals a pump end of the boot at an interface between the eccentric member and the pump drive shaft. A motor end static seal seals a motor end of the boot at a motor end of the eccentric member.

Abstract: A method of operating a system (16) for pumping a fluid, which system comprises: a pump (17) for pumping the fluid; and a variable speed motor (20) for driving the pump (17). The method comprises the steps of: identifying a first system parameter (PI); identifying a second system parameter (P2) which is a function of the torque of the pump; setting a target value (P10) for a first system parameter; monitoring the first system parameter (PI); establishing a target value (P20) for the second system parameter based on the difference between the target value and the measured value of the first system parameter; monitoring the second system parameter; and regulating the rotational speed of the pump such that the difference between the monitored value and the target value of the second system parameter is minimized. A system for implementing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A pump includes a pump chamber in which a rotor with gates is supported so that it can rotate, an electric motor for driving the rotor, an outlet, and an inlet port that is fastened to a mounting plate and is in active connection with an inlet channel. The pump should be improved so that its service life and reliability are improved with minimal installation complexity in a vehicle, wherein intense cleaning of lines and devices connected on the suction side can be eliminated. This is achieved in that a filter is arranged in the area of the inlet channel between the mounting plate and the pump chamber.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump has a stationary diffuser with a bore. A thrust bearing is pressed into the diffuser bore and has a curved interior. A thrust runner having a curved exterior is correspondingly and closely received by the thrust bearing interior. The thrust runner is keyed to a shaft and transmits thrust from a rotating impeller to the diffuser via the thrust bearing. The curved surface of the thrust bearing allows for handling of both axial and radial thrust without the need for multiple thrust bearings. The increased surface area of the curved surface in the thrust bearing can also handle higher loads.

Abstract: A pump system (1) is provided for the pumping of multiphase mixtures which includes a pumping apparatus (3) for multiphase mixtures with at least one liquid phase and at least one gaseous phase. The pumping apparatus (3) contains one or more axial compression stages with one respective axial impeller each and one or more pumping stages with a respective one radial impeller each which are arranged adjoining the axial compression stage or stages, wherein the pump system (1) additionally includes a separator (2) at the inlet side of the pumping apparatus (3) to separate a portion of the gaseous phase and wherein the pumping apparatus (3) is configured for delivery heads larger than 50 m.

Abstract: A submersible pump, and method of making the submersible pump, is disclosed. The pump comprises a housing, a plurality of impeller stages serially disposed in the housing from a bottom impeller stage to a top impeller stage, an impeller stage bypass hole extending through one of the diffusers and a housing bypass hole extending through the housing radially outwardly from one of the impeller stages.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a fluid driven actuation system is provided having a turbine and an actuation member with cooperating surfaces. In one form the fluid is fuel. The turbine may move when fluid is flowed through the actuation member thereby causing the actuation member to move by action of the cooperating threaded surfaces. A movable nozzle may also be provided to direct fluid flowing through actuation member and may be used to cause the turbine to move. A spring may be provided to create a biasing force in the nozzle.

Abstract: The invention relates to high-speed electrical submersible pumps used for hydrocarbons production from oil wells with high concentration of solids. The technical result such as a longer service life is achieved with the technical design, wherein the pump comprises: a housing with a head and a base, a compression nut, a shaft installed on a journal bearing, stages of impellers and spacers installed on the shaft, set of diffusers installed on the housing, wherein the diffusers and impellers are manufactured from a ceramic material. The preferable design has metal spacers between the diffusers, wherein the length of the diffuser spacer between the contact surfaces equals the distance between the impeller spacers.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump has impellers that are not connected by a central shaft. More specifically, each of the impellers has a separate hub segment that interlocks with an adjacent hub segment from another impeller. The hub segments are rotated in unison with each other to rotate the impellers.

Abstract: A bearing arrangement for a turbine rotor of a turbine is adapted to be mounted in a drill string and to be driven by the flow of drilling fluid. The bearing arrangement includes a turbine chamber surrounding the turbine rotor and having an inflow and an outflow, a stator on which the turbine rotor is rotatably mounted, and a cavity formed between the turbine rotor and the stator and accommodating at least one radial plain bearing and being separated from the turbine chamber by an axial plain bearing constructed as a bearing ring seal and by a conveyor screw which is disposed on the turbine rotor and operates to convey from the cavity to the turbine chamber.

Abstract: A multi-stage submersible pump uses impellers having only one shroud to provide stages with shorter stack lengths to allow more stages per housing and more head pressure per housing. The impellers are biased with wave springs to keep the rotating impeller vanes close to the mating diffusers. The entire stack of impellers is assembled in contact with each other using the wave springs and are always under axial load. The wave springs also take up any tolerance variations in the stack to keep the impellers in proper running position. To keep the impellers in their proper locations, thrust washers formed from hard materials are used between adjacent impellers to avoid erosion thereof.

Abstract: A stackable multi-stage diffuser with anti-rotation lugs utilizes cast lugs and complementary recesses in the diffuser walls. When stacked in a housing, the lugs of lower diffusers nest inside the recesses of upper diffusers. The diffuser sections interlock and are mechanically locked in the housing to prevent rotation of the diffusers. Each diffuser is sealed directly to adjacent diffusers with o-rings, but do not contact or seal to the housing.

Abstract: A grinder pump assembly includes at least one grinder pump stage that has a diffuser and an impeller. The grinder pump assembly also includes a diffuser cap that includes cap contact surfaces. The impeller includes a plurality of upper vanes and lower vanes. The diffuser includes a plurality of lower contact surfaces, a plurality of diffuser vanes and plurality of upper contact surfaces. The upper vanes of the impeller are configured to rotate in proximity with the lower contact surfaces on the diffuser. The lower vanes of the impeller are configured to rotate in proximity with the cap contact surfaces. Multiple grinder pump stages may be used within a single grinder pump assembly.

Abstract: A submersible pump, and method of making the submersible pump, is disclosed. The pump comprises a housing, a plurality of impeller stages serially disposed in the housing from a bottom impeller stage to a top impeller stage, an impeller stage bypass hole extending through one of the diffusers and a housing bypass hole extending through the housing radially outwardly from one of the impeller stages.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a downhole tool. In particular, the present invention relates to a downhole pump assembly, a downhole tool assembly including a downhole pump assembly, a well including a downhole pump assembly and to a method of recovering well fluids. In one embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a downhole tool assembly (10) for location in a borehole (16) of a well (12), the tool assembly (10) including a downhole pump assembly (18). The pump assembly (18) comprises a turbine (26) coupled to a pump (28), for driving the pump (28) to recover well fluid.

Abstract: Pump apparatus and methods of making and using same are disclosed. One inventive apparatus includes at least two pump stages having different performance characteristics combined in series to substantially match an intended pumping application. An inventive method includes selecting two or more pump stages having different performance characteristics that when combined in series overcome limitations of at least one of the pump stages.

Abstract: A turbine is disclosed which includes a turbine blade housing having an inner facing portion of a first material having a first coefficient of expansion, and a turbine blade body having an outer facing portion of a second coefficient of expansion greater than said first coefficient. In a preferred embodiment, the blade housing comprises a number of steel shroud rings and the turbine blade body comprises a number of stators and rotors of a thermoplastic material. An interference fit between stator blades and the shroud rings is enhanced in use due to the difference in thermal and/or hydrophilic coefficients of expansion of the first and second materials.

Abstract: A fluid powered drilling motor adapted for drilling oil wells and other subterranean bore holes. The motor having a rotor and a stator wherein the iron content of the whole motor is less than 0.1% wt. In one embodiment the motor is made of an alloy having a base metal comprising one of copper, nickel, and aluminum plus about 0.05-10 wt % Beryllium. In another embodiment, the motor is made of either 15Ni-8SN—Cu or 9Ni-6Sn—Cu.

Abstract: A gravity-operated anti-surge valve for a turbine pump consists of a poppet adapted to be moveable under fluid pressure between a closed position and a valve seat for the poppet. The weight of the poppet biases the poppet in the closed position against the valve seat in the absence of fluid pressure. Fluid pressure developed by the pump forces the poppet open. As fluid pressure decreases when the pump is shut off, the weight of the poppet allows the poppet to gradually close against continuing fluid flow, preventing water hammer. As fluid pressure approaches zero, the poppet completely closes, preventing the weight of a column of water from rushing down the lineshaft at high speed and driving the pump impellers in reverse. The valve is located above the top bowl of the pump.

Abstract: A system for compressing a multi-phase fluid made up of at least one gaseous phase and at least one liquid phase, the system having at least one pair of pumping elements. The system includes an axial-flow pump P1 and a centrifugal pump P2 arranged after the axial-flow pump P1. The two elements are linked by an element which adjusts the fluid from the axial-flow pump to optimize the effect of the centrifugal pump.

Abstract: An improved well-pump for geothermal wells, an alignment system for a well-pump, and to a method for aligning a rotor and stator within a well-pump, wherein the well-pump has a whistle assembly formed at a bottom portion thereof, such that variations in the frequency of the whistle, indicating misalignment, may be monitored during pumping.

Abstract: A centrifugal well pump has modules of pumping stages, each module having a separate thrust bearing. The thrust bearing for each module is supported by an uppermost diffuser of the module. A thrust runner rotates with the shaft and engages the stationary thrust bearing. A tension member engages the runner and extends downward through the stages. The tension member has a number of upward facing load shoulders, one for each impeller within the module. Each of the load shoulders supports the hub of one of the impellers. Downthrust on each impeller transfers through the load shoulder to the tension member, and from there to the thrust runner.

Abstract: A downhole pumping system for recovering liquids and gas, comprising a first centrifugal pump having internal features for mixing introduced gas into introduced liquids, and a second centrifugal pump having an intake in fluid communication with a discharge of the first centrifugal pump. In one prattled embodiment the internal features for mixing comprise improved impellers having a balance hole that extends through an upper surface of the impeller body into each of a plurality of internal flow chambers, and an additional passage in at least a plurality of the flow chambers. The additional passages cause some fluid to be recirculated in a manner that causes introduced gas to be mixed into the liquids, thereby increasing the pump's gas volume recovery ability.

Abstract: A vertical turbine pump which operates with its inlet submerged in a body of liquid to be pumped employs an impeller provided with two or three equiangularly spaced vanes and a diffuser section provided with three equiangularly spaced stationary vanes. A vertical turbine pump incorporating such a combination of impeller and diffuser vanes exhibits favorable hydraulic efficiency and smooth operation and can effectively handle liquids with entrained solids. The pump bowl bearings are part of a cartridge which is readily removed and installed through the upstream end of the pump to facilitate servicing in the field.

Abstract: A multiple stage drag and dynamic pump is provided for pumping fluid. The pump comprises a housing and a shaft positioned in the housing, the shaft rotating about the longitudinal axis of the housing. A rotor assembly has a plurality of pump stages mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith, each pump stage including a plurality of blades fixed to the shaft. The pump also includes a stator assembly having a plurality of flow directing stator elements, each of the stator elements being positioned between adjacent pump stages. Each of the stator elements has a wall and a diverter, wherein the wall is perpendicular to the axis of the shaft and the diverter is at an angle of less than 90.degree. with respect to the axis of the shaft.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for pumping fluids from horizontal wells with a dip tube used without requiring a packer in the well. Gas is separated from the liquid phase ahead of the pump to avoid slug flow of gas into the pump. This increases the amount of oil that can be pumped from the well by avoiding shutdowns resulting from gas-locking of the pump.

Abstract: A hydroelectric power generator equipment includes a hydraulic turbine which has a runner with blades adjustable of opening thereof and a hollow turbine shaft mounting thereon the runner, a power generator having a hollow shaft connected to the turbine shaft, a hydraulic cylinder mounted on the runner to drive the blades, and first and second liquid passages each passing through the turbine and generator shafts and feeding oil to the hydraulic cylinder to adjust the opening of the runner blades. One of members defining the first and second liquid passages is screwed in the inner wall of the shafts around an axially middle portion of the first and second liquid passages to suppress radial movement of the passage defining member. Some of the members are slidably or firmly inserted in other members so that disassembly is easy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for pumping a two-phase gas/liquid mixture in an extraction well (11) whose initial gas percentage is greater than approximately 40% by volume, characterized in that it consists:in reducing the percentage of free gas to below 40% by the use of at least a first centrifugal separating module (3, 4);in cooling the drive motor by means of an annular flow of the mixture emerging from the first separating module (3, 4) around the motor (9), the proportion of gas in the said mixture having been brought down to below 40% in order to increase its heat capacity and its speed of passage around the motor;in reducing to below approximately 10% the percentage of gas by volume by the use of at least a second centrifugal separating module (14);in pumping the fluid thus obtained by means of a centrifugal pump (16) driven by the motor (9).

Abstract: A submersible centrifugal pump is disclosed. It includes a housing with a linear stack of axially mounted pumping units therein. Each unit is constructed as a module with at least a first and a second impeller mounted to a central shaft. A diffuser forms an outer casing which is provided for each impeller. A thrust bearing, lubricated and cooled by the fluid being pumped is supported from and to the outer casing and is arranged to receive axial force from the upstream impellers in each modular unit. A plurality of impellers and diffusers can form a single modular unit.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for pumping fluids from horizontal wells with a dip tube used without requiring a packer in the well. Gas is separated from the liquid phase ahead of the pump to avoid slug flow of gas into the pump. This increases the amount of oil that can be pumped from the well by avoiding shutdowns resulting from gas-locking of the pump.

Abstract: A multistage turbine is provided for driving a downhole motor, which is driven by the flow of a fluid therethrough. The turbine comprises a housing and a shaft positioned in the housing, the shaft rotating about the longitudinal axis thereof. A plurality of turbine stages are mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith, each turbine stage including a rim coaxial with the shaft and a plurality of turbine blades fixed to the rim. A plurality of flow directing stators are positioned between adjacent turbine stages, each of the stators having a wall portion and diverter portion, wherein the wall portions are perpendicular to the axis of the shaft and the diverter portions are at an angle of less than 90.degree. with respect to the axis of the shaft.

Abstract: A multistage drag turbine assembly is provided for use in a downhole motor, the drag turbine assembly comprising an outer sleeve and a central shaft positioned within the outer sleeve, the central shaft having a hollow center and a divider means extending longitudinally in the hollow center for forming first and second longitudinal channels therein. A stator is mounted on the shaft. The stator has a hub surrounding the shaft and a seal member fixed to the hub, wherein the hub and the shaft each have first and second slot openings therein. A rotor comprising a rotor rim and a plurality of turbine blades mounted on the rotor rim is positioned within the outer sleeve for rotation therewith with respect to the stator such that a flow channel is formed in the outer sleeve between the turbine blades and the stator.

Abstract: A submersible centrifugal pump is disclosed. It includes a housing with a linear stack of axially mounted pumping units therein. Each unit constructed as a module with at least a first and a second impeller mounted to a central shaft. A diffuser forms an outer casing which is provided for each impeller. A thrust bearing, lubricated and cooled by the fluid being pumped is supported from and to the outer casing and is arranged to receive axial force from the upstream impellers in each modular unit. A plurality of impellers and diffusers can form a single modular unit.

Abstract: In a fluid handling appartus comprising a multi-stage mechanical seal assembly, an additional mechanical seal assembly to maintain a substantially constant exit pressure of leakage from the last stage of the multi-stage mechanical seal assembly, and a novel driving arrangement between the motor and the fluid machine.

Abstract: A submersible pump (10) consists of a pump unit (12) driven by a motor (11) and a suction inlet bowl (13) which draws in and filters fluid and provides the same to the pump unit (12) upon activation of the motor (11). The suction inlet bowl (13) includes a generally cylindrical upper portion (31) adapted to attach to the pump unit (12) and a generally cylindrical base (14) adapted to be attached to the motor (11). A fluid inlet portion (20) is located between the upper portion (31) and the base (14) and is recessed radially inwardly of the outer periphery of the base (12) and upper portion (31). The fluid inlet portion (20) includes a plurality of generally vertical slots (27) through which the fluid may pass and be filtered thereby.

Abstract: There is disclosed a submerged type pump which is vertically seated on the seating face arranged on the bottom of the fluid lifting column and is comprised of a motor section and a pump section with a casing in which the treating fluid may pass, wherein a check valve is arranged at a pump discharge port and an automatic switch valve is arranged on the top of the casing so that the automatic switch valve is released by closing the fluid lifting column with the pump seating face and the check valve to discharge the treating fluid suspended in the fluid lifting column.

Abstract: A submersible centrifugal pump is disclosed. It includes a housing with a linear stack of axially mounted pumping units therein. Each unit constructed as a module with at least a first and a second impeller mounted to a central shaft. A diffuser forms an outer casing which is provided for each impeller. A thrust bearing, lubricated and cooled by the fluid being pumped is supported from and to the outer casing and is arranged to receive axial force from the upstream impellers in each modular unit. A plurality of impellers and diffusers can form a single modular unit.

Abstract: A submersible centrifugal pump has a downward thrust washer of reduced diameter. The pump has a housing containing a plurality of stages of impellers and diffusers. Each impeller is rotated by a shaft for discharging fluid upward and outward into an intake of a diffuser. A counterbore is formed in the upper end of a bore that passes axially through the diffuser. An upward facing shoulder is located at the lower end of the counterbore. A thrust washer is located on the shoulder. An extension sleeve extends downward from the hub of each impeller into the counterbore of the diffuser of a next lower stage. Downward thrust on the impeller is transmitted through the extension sleeve to the thrust washer.

Abstract: A vertical turbine pump which operates with its inlet sub-merged in a body of liquid to be pumped employs an impeller provided with two or three equiangularly spaced vanes and a diffuser section provided with three equiangularly spaced stationary vanes. A vertical turbine pump incorporating such a combination of impeller and diffuser vanes exhibits favorable hydraulic efficiency and smooth operation and can effectively handle liquids with entrained solids. The pump bowl bearings are part of a cartridge which is readily removed and installed through the upstream end of the pump to facilitate servicing in the field.