Internal - External Pressure Balancer Patents (Class 417/414)
  • Patent number: 11346364
    Abstract: There is provided a multistage centrifugal fluid machine capable of improving efficiency of an operation for assembling an inner casing to a high pressure side head flange. The multistage centrifugal fluid machine 100 includes a rotor 3 provided with a plurality of impellers (41 to 81) in an axial direction, a cylindrical outer casing 2, and an inner bundle 1 that is fitted with the outer casing 2 to form a flow passage for the working fluid. The inner bundle 1 includes a high pressure side head flange 11, a low pressure side head flange 12, and an inner casing 5 disposed between the high pressure side head flange 11 and the low pressure side head flange 12. The high pressure side head flange 11 and the inner casing 5 are fastened with a first bolt 142 via an elastic body 144.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Products, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hayato Kunishi, Tomohiro Naruse, Takeshi Kazama, Kazuo Takeda, Hiroaki Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 11111925
    Abstract: A system is provided for use with an electrical submersible pump (ESP). The system includes an ESP mounted on a tubing and a magnetic field source positioned above the ESP. The magnetic field source generates a magnetic field configured to suspend iron-containing particles above a discharge of the ESP. The magnetic field prevents an accumulation of the iron-containing particles onto components of the ESP during a powered-off state of the ESP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mohannad Abdelaziz, Rafael Adolfo Lastra Melo
  • Patent number: 10781811
    Abstract: A volumetric compensator assembly for use in the seal section of a pumping system includes an envelope bladder that in turn includes a flexible top sheet and a bottom sheet connected to the top sheet along a pair of side seams and an end seam. The top sheet and bottom sheet together define a bladder interior that has a variable capacity. The volumetric compensator assembly also has a bladder support tube and the envelope bladder is coiled around the bag support tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas ESP, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Paul Reeves, Victor Acacio, Chengbao Wang, Omprakash Samudrala
  • Patent number: 10669825
    Abstract: An electrical submersible well pump assembly includes an electrical motor for driving a pump. A pressure compensating chamber contains a dielectric lubricant in fluid communication with an interior of the motor. A movable pressure compensating element has a first side in contact with the lubricant in the chamber. Movement of the element relative to the chamber causes a change in volume of the chamber. An electrical drive mechanism is connected with and moves the element. A controller senses a pressure difference between the lubricant pressure and the well fluid pressure and operates the drive mechanism in response. The element may be a piston, a bellows or telescoping tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Baker Hughes, a GE Company, LLC
    Inventors: James Christopher Clingman, Ryan P. Semple
  • Patent number: 10447105
    Abstract: A subsea pump assembly includes a tubular conduit that has an upstream end plate and an inlet for flowing well fluid into an interior of the conduit. A power cable opening extends through the upstream end plate. An electrical submersible pump and motor are in the interior of the conduit. The motor has a motor assembly housing with an upstream end having an electrical insulator opening. An end connection secures the upstream end to an interior side of the upstream end plate with the insulator opening registering with the power cable opening. An insulated electrical connector is mounted in the insulator opening. A motor wire in the motor assembly housing joins to an inner end of the electrical connector. A power conductor extends from exterior of the conduit through the power cable opening and joins to an outer end of the electrical connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Baker Hughes, a GE Company, LLC
    Inventors: Arturo L. Poretti, Ignacio Martinez, Ryan P. Semple, James C. Clingman, Chad A. Craig
  • Patent number: 9528357
    Abstract: A system and method is used to protect a motor of a submersible pumping system. A variety of motor protector features are provided to facilitate operation of the motor protector and submersible pumping system in multiple wellbore environments and applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Michael H. Du, Lawrence C. Lee, Arunkumar Arumugam, Ashley C. Kishino
  • Patent number: 9482233
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Arthur I. Watson, John A. Booker, Kenneth Armstrong, John David Rowatt
  • Patent number: 9435330
    Abstract: A compensated barrier and lubrication fluids pressure regulation system for a subsea motor and pump module is disclosed. The system comprises a hydraulic fluid supply, a barrier fluid circuit, and a lubrication fluid circuit. Hydraulic fluid in the barrier fluid circuit is pre-tensioned towards a motor by a first separating pressure compensator which is responsive to the pressure in the lubrication fluid circuit and which applies the sum of the pressure in the lubrication fluid circuit and an inherent pre-tensioning pressure to the barrier fluid circuit. Hydraulic fluid in the lubrication fluid circuit is pre-tensioned towards a pump by a second separating pressure compensator which is responsive to a pumped medium pressure at a suction side or at a discharge side of the pump and which applies the sum of the pumped medium pressure and an inherent pre-tensioning pressure to the lubrication fluid circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Scandinavia AS
    Inventor: Ole Petter Tomter
  • Patent number: 9200634
    Abstract: An apparatus for maintaining the operation of a geothermal production pump having one or more impellers and a vertical line shaft for driving the impellers, includes a liquid buffer for isolating a discharge column through which pumped geothermal fluid including non-condensable gases flows from a lubrication column through which flows oil for lubricating one or more bearings of the line shaft, the liquid buffer being interposed between the discharge column and an outlet of the lubrication column to prevent infiltration of the non-condensable gases into the lubrication column. The liquid buffer includes an upper oil receiving section facing the lubrication column outlet and a lower securing element related to the upper oil receiving section. A lowermost bearing is a thrust bearing, and a bowl in which the cup structure and the thrust bearing are housed is in fluid communication with a further bowl in which is housed an uppermost impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Ormat Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Nadav Amir
  • Patent number: 9109601
    Abstract: A blood pump apparatus includes a housing having a blood inlet port and blood outlet port, a pump unit including an impeller that rotates within the housing, and an impeller rotational torque generation section. The housing includes a plurality of magnetic members embedded between the impeller and the impeller rotational torque generation section for transmitting a magnetically attractive force generated by the impeller rotational torque generation section to an impeller body. The pump device includes a non-contact bearing mechanism for rotating the impeller without contacting with the inner surface of the housing when the impeller is rotated by the impeller rotational torque generation section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Thoratec Corporation
    Inventor: Takehisa Mori
  • Patent number: 9103342
    Abstract: The invention relates to an underwater delivery unit with a pump and a drive device that is sealed against the surrounding water and a process medium. According to the invention, the pump (31) and the drive device (32) are combined into a module with a module housing (3) and are arranged in a pressure housing (2), wherein the pressure housing (2) is filled with the process medium and surrounds the module housing (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Joh. Heinr. Bornemann GmbH
    Inventors: Axel Jaeschke, Joerg Lewerenz
  • Patent number: 9045976
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a wellbore pumping system submerged into a wellbore for unloading liquid from a wellbore comprising well fluid, such as gas, having a wellbore pressure, comprising a pump having an inlet and an outlet, a tubing fluidly connected with the outlet of the pump, and a driving unit connected with and powered by a cable, such as a wireline, and having a rotatable drive shaft for driving the pump, wherein the pump is a reciprocating pump comprising at least one pumping unit having a first moving member displaceable in a housing for sucking well fluid into and out of a first chamber. Furthermore, the invention relates to a wellbore pumping method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: WELLTEC A/S
    Inventor: Jorgen Hallundbaek
  • Patent number: 8932034
    Abstract: A submersible well pump assembly has a rotary pump, a motor, and a seal section coupled between the motor and the pump. The seal section has a cylindrical housing having upper and lower adapter and a shaft extending axially through the housing. A guide tube surrounds the shaft and a bellows surrounds the guide tube. A well fluid passage communicates well fluid to a well fluid chamber between the bellows and the housing. A guide tube passage extends axially within the guide tube between an interior and an exterior of the guide tube from an upper portion to a lower portion of the guide tube for communicating lubricant in the motor with lubricant within the bellows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Kelsey A. McKinney, Dan A. Merrill
  • Patent number: 8905727
    Abstract: Isolated pressure compensating electrical motor connections and related methods are provided. According to an example of a sealed motor electrical connection, the connection incorporates a sealed female motor connection positioned to receive a male motor connector. The female motor connector has one or more independent dielectric oil chambers each pressure compensated by a bellow or similar device interfaced with the motorhead oil and/or well annulus fluid to thereby pressure compensate the chamber pressure of the female motor connection with that of the internal motor and/or well annulus. This configuration locates the electrical connection point of the motor lead extension with the motor lead wires to a separate area outside the motor to thereby prevent the occurrence of phase to phase or phase to ground shorts occurring in this critical area due to conductive element contamination that may reside in the motor oil or the well bore fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeffrey G. Frey, Ryan P. Semple
  • Patent number: 8807966
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Hui Du, Arthur I. Watson, David Rowatt, Chad Bremner, Arunkumar Arumugam, David Garrett, Christopher Featherby, Ramez Guindi
  • Patent number: 8714935
    Abstract: A method of running a down hole rotary pump using a top drive, sucker rod or any drive shaft from surface. A first step involves providing a gear box having an input end and an output end. The gear box is being capable of receiving an input of a first speed at the input end and producing an output of a second speed which is one of either faster or slower than of the first speed at the output end. A second step involves positioning the gear box down hole with the input end coupled to a remote lower end of a sucker rod and the output end coupled to a rotary activated pump. A third step involves applying a driving force to the sucker rod to rotate the sucker rod at the first speed, with the rotational force being transmitted to the rotary activated pump through the gear box which rotates the rotary activated pump at the second speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: 1589549 Alberta Ltd.
    Inventor: Pradeep Dass
  • Publication number: 20140105759
    Abstract: A linear pump and motor system includes a motor, rotary-to-linear mechanism, pressure compensation device (PCD), and gas mitigation assembly. The rotary-to-linear mechanism may translate rotation of a motor into linear motion to provide a pumping action. A PCD may minimize a pressure differential between lubrication fluids and external fluids. A gas mitigation assembly may provide a mechanism that mechanically opens a valve. In some embodiments, a PCD may be utilized separately from the linear pump. In some embodiments, a gas mitigation assembly may be utilized separately from the linear pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Henry Research & Development
    Inventors: James C. Henry, James David Henry, Ronald David Wallin, Frederick Eugene Morrow, Trevor Hardway
  • Publication number: 20140099211
    Abstract: A submersible well pump assembly include a rotary pump driven by an electrical motor. A seal section operably connects between the motor and the pump for reducing a pressure differential between motor oil in the motor and well fluid surrounding the pump assembly. The pump assembly contains a sealed fluid. A sensor mounted to the well pump assembly detects contamination of the sealed fluid by well fluid encroaching into contact with the sealed fluid. The sensor may be mounted in the motor or the seal section to detect well fluid contamination of motor oil. The sensor may be mounted in a secondary pump that has that has temporary barriers to block the entry of well fluid into a buffer fluid contained in the secondary pump while the secondary pump is in a storage condition within a well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Ketankumar K. Sheth, Suresha R. O'Bryan, Risa Rutter, Ryan A. Lack, Sean A. Cain, Thomas N. Hendryx
  • Patent number: 8690551
    Abstract: A seal section for use in a downhole submersible pumping system includes a modular seal bag assembly having a first end cap, a second end cap and a plurality of seal bags connected between the first and second end caps. Each of the first and second end caps includes a plurality of nozzles and each of the plurality of seal bags is connected to a unique pair of nozzles on the first and second end caps. The modular seal bag assembly further includes a shaft tube connected between the first and second end caps. In a second preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a seal section that includes a single seal bag connected between two opposing end caps. The seal bag is preferably seamless and fabricated from a fluoropolymer, such as perfluoroalkoxy (PFA).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Inventors: Arcady Royzen, Alan Howell, Joseph W. Elder
  • Patent number: 8641389
    Abstract: A labyrinth type seal section for use with an electrical submersible pump assembly having a guide tube with an axial bore to port wellbore fluid to a lower end of the seal section. Lubricating fluid fills substantially all of the seal section above an interface between the lubricating fluid and the wellbore fluid. The guide tube circumscribes a drive shaft that extends between a motor and a pump. The guide tube and shaft form an annulus filled with lubricating fluid that communicates to the well fluid and to the motor, so that pressure in the motor can be equalized to pressure of the ambient well fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Kelsey A. McKinney, Dan Merrill
  • Patent number: 8604740
    Abstract: A power supply and control unit for submersed electric motors includes an enclosure which is jointly connected to the motor of a submersed electric pump and forms a hermetic chamber that contains an electronic power supply that can be connected to the motor. The unit includes a heat exchange means in the liquid state that completely fills the empty space within the hermetic chamber in order to transfer to the enclosure the heat generated by the electronic power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Sebastiano D'Amico, Andrea Fongaro
  • Publication number: 20130216409
    Abstract: An amphibious pump is provided including a wet type motor with coolant and an absorbing mechanism of the expansion of the coolant inside the motor chamber, dividing it into two chambers, at least one expansion joint between an internal chamber of the motor, hermetically closed, and an equalization inner chambers and a means to equalize the internal pressure for the pumped fluid. The electric motor is immersed m a cooling liquid, usually oil, in a chamber, and, the other camera is filled with the aqueous solution, which communicates with the outside through the equalizer assembly, which can, for example, comprise a rubber mask with micro holes, which allows the exchange of water between the outer chamber and the chamber of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: HIGRA INDUSTRIAL LTDA
    Inventor: HIGRA INDUSTRIAL LTDA
  • Patent number: 8485797
    Abstract: An expansion chamber to serve ESP equipment installed on the seabed located in either a caisson or a conduit on a skid. The expansion chamber provides an external reservoir for expansion and contraction of motor oil in the ESP equipment. During operation of an ESP, the heat generated in the motor raises the temperature of the motor oil, causing it to expand. The expansion chamber is connected to the ESP equipment via oil lines that allow oil to expand into the expansion chamber when the temperature of the motor oil increases. The expansion chamber has a movable barrier therein that defines primary and secondary chamber. Oil communicates with the primary chamber. Formation fluid within the conduit surrounding the motor communicates with the secondary chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Ignacio Martinez, Dan A. Merrill
  • Patent number: 8430649
    Abstract: A submersible pump system with a pump, motor and compensator assembly. In one embodiment, the compensator assembly is made up of multiple elastomeric compensators and a housing. The elastomeric compensators, which are made up of an engaging end, a floating end and a series of alternating crests and grooves, may contain motor cooling liquid. The crests and grooves extend along the compensator's longitudinal axis. The compensators possess a degree of elasticity sufficient for a width of at least one of the respective grooves to expand and contract along with the motor cooling liquid. The crests slide along an interior wall of the housing, while the floating end moves within the housing in cooperation with expansion and contraction of the width of at least one of the grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Flowserve Management Company
    Inventors: Thomas Albers, Axel Helmut Tank-Langenau, Behrend Goswin Schlenhoff
  • Patent number: 8419387
    Abstract: A submersible pumping system includes a pump assembly, a motor and a seal section positioned between the pump assembly and the motor. The seal section includes a clean fluid circulation system, a contaminated fluid circulation system and at least one bag seal assembly. The bag seal assembly includes an upper mounting block, a lower mounting block and a bag seal extending over the upper mounting block and lower mounting block and providing a path for the clean fluid circulation system. The bag seal assembly further includes a mounting plate connected to the upper mounting block that limits the axial travel of the bag seal on the upper mounting block. The bag seal assembly optionally includes a breather tube connected to the mounting plate and extending along the exterior of the bag seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Inventors: Randy Karbs, Michael Barnes, Alan Howell, Arcady Royzen
  • Patent number: 8328539
    Abstract: According to one or more aspects of the present disclosure, a motor protector comprises a housing defining a compensator chamber; a compensator disposed in the housing having a motor fluid end in fluid communication with a motor fluid and a well fluid end, the compensator axially moveable relative to the housing in response to the expansion and contraction of the motor fluid; and a port formed through the housing to provide fluid communication from exterior of the housing to the well fluid end of the compensator. The compensator may be one selected from the group of a bellows and a plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Sclumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Arthur I. Watson, Christopher E. Featherby
  • Patent number: 8263893
    Abstract: A subsea arrangement including at least one canister including a chamber accommodating at least one circuit breaker. The chamber is filled with a gaseous dielectric medium constituting a quenching medium for the at least one circuit breaker in the chamber. The pressure in the chamber is balanced against ambient sea water pressure by a pressure balancer, which includes at least one pressure container containing a pressurized gaseous medium of a same type as the gaseous medium in the chamber. The pressure container is connected to the chamber via a control valve, which is arranged to be controlled by the ambient pressure so as to feed pressurized gaseous medium from the pressure container into the chamber when the ambient pressure increases in order to maintain the pressure in the chamber equal to the ambient pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Scandinavia AS
    Inventor: Tor-Odd Rønhovd
  • Patent number: 8246326
    Abstract: A seal section for use in a downhole submersible pumping system includes a housing, a bag support tube extending through the housing, a shaft positioned inside the bag support tube and a bag plate connected to the bag support tube. The bag plate preferably includes an end cap secured to the bag support tube and a locking collar threadingly engaged with the end cap. The bag plate is configured to receive the open end of a cylindrical seal bag manufactured from perflouroalkoxy polymer. The end cap includes a tapered head that tapers from a first diameter that is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the seal bag to a second diameter that is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the seal bag. This mechanism for securing the seal bag obviates the need for o-ring or other mechanical seals between the seal bag and the bag plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas ESP, Inc.
    Inventor: Arcady Royzen
  • Patent number: 8113792
    Abstract: A compressor unit is provided. The compressor unit includes a compressor and a motor enclosed by a common casing in a sealless manner. A stator of the motor is cooled by a cooling system. A partition separates a process fluid from a cooling fluid in an area of the stator. Further, a relation between a process fluid pressure and a cooling fluid pressure is established by using a pressure compensator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Geert De Boer
  • Publication number: 20110194956
    Abstract: A seal section for use in a downhole submersible pumping system includes a housing, a bag support tube extending through the housing, a shaft positioned inside the bag support tube and a bag plate connected to the bag support tube. The bag plate preferably includes an end cap secured to the bag support tube and a locking collar threadingly engaged with the end cap. The bag plate is configured to receive the open end of a cylindrical seal bag manufactured from perflouroalkoxy polymer. The end cap includes a tapered head that tapers from a first diameter that is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the seal bag to a second diameter that is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the seal bag. This mechanism for securing the seal bag obviates the need for o-ring or other mechanical seals between the seal bag and the bag plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: WOOD GROUP ESP, INC.
    Inventor: Arcady Royzen
  • Publication number: 20110123374
    Abstract: A submersible pump system with a pump, motor and compensator assembly. In one embodiment, the compensator assembly is made up of multiple elastomeric compensators and a housing. The elastomeric compensators, which are made up of an engaging end, a floating end and a series of alternating crests and grooves, may contain motor cooling liquid. The crests and grooves extend along the compensator's longitudinal axis. The compensators possess a degree of elasticity sufficient for a width of at least one of the respective grooves to expand and contract along with the motor cooling liquid. The crests slide along an interior wall of the housing, while the floating end moves within the housing in cooperation with expansion and contraction of the width of at least one of the grooves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: FLOWSERVE MANAGEMENT COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas Albers, Axel Helmut Tank-Langenau, Behrend Goswin Schlenhoff
  • Patent number: 7896624
    Abstract: A method of running a down hole rotary pump using a top drive, sucker rod or any drive shaft from surface. A first step involves providing a gear box having an input end and an output end. The gear box is being capable of receiving an input of a first speed at the input end and producing an output of a second speed which is one of either faster or slower than of the first speed at the output end. A second step involves positioning the gear box down hole with the input end coupled to a remote lower end of a sucker rod and the output end coupled to a rotary activated pump. A third step involves applying a driving force to the sucker rod to rotate the sucker rod at the first speed, with the rotational force being transmitted to the rotary activated pump through the gear box which rotates the rotary activated pump at the second speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Inventor: Pradeep Dass
  • Publication number: 20110014071
    Abstract: A system and method is used to protect a motor of a submersible pumping system. A variety of motor protector features are provided to facilitate operation of the motor protector and submersible pumping system in multiple wellbore environments and applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael H. Du, Lawrence C. Lee, Arunkumar Arumugam, Ashley C. Kishino
  • Patent number: 7806670
    Abstract: A system and method is used to protect a motor of a submersible pumping system. A variety of motor protector features are provided to facilitate operation of the motor protector and submersible pumping system in multiple wellbore environments and applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Michael H. Du, Lawrence C. Lee, Arunkumar Arumugam, Ashley C. Kishino
  • Patent number: 7741744
    Abstract: A technique is provided to facilitate pumping of fluids in a well. A submersible pumping system utilizes a submersible motor to power a submersible pump. A motor protector works in cooperation with the submersible motor to protect motor fluid within the submersible motor and to reduce differential pressures between the internal motor fluid and the external well fluid. The motor protector incorporates a piston slidably sealed within an interior cavity of the motor protector for movement to reduce undue differential pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Arthur I. Watson, Michael H. Du, John D. Rowatt
  • Patent number: 7708534
    Abstract: A well pump assembly has a rotary pump with an electrical motor that contains a motor lubricant. A thrust chamber is mounted between the motor and the pump, the thrust chamber containing a thrust chamber lubricant. Seals prevent the entry of thrust chamber lubricant into the motor chamber. A pressure equalizing chamber is mounted to the motor for admitting well fluid. A first pressure barrier in the equalizing chamber equalizes the pressure of the thrust chamber lubricant with that of the well fluid. A second pressure barrier contained within the first pressure barrier equalizes the pressure of the motor lubricant with thrust chamber lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Larry J. Parmeter, Arturo Luis Poretti
  • Patent number: 7611338
    Abstract: An electrical submersible well pump assembly has upper and lower motors that are filled with oil. During installation in a well, the upper motor lowers into engagement with the lower motor. The drive shafts of the motors have splined ends that engage each other within a central cavity. A vent port leads from the central cavity to the exterior for venting any trapped air located within the central cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Mike Allen Swatek, Van J. McVicker
  • Patent number: 7549849
    Abstract: A pumping system including a first section and a second section. The first section includes a first housing having an axial bore formed therethrough and a protruding member formed on one end of the first housing, and a first shaft arranged within the axial bore of the first housing. The second section include a second housing having an axial bore formed therethrough and a recess formed on one end of the second housing for receiving the protruding member of the first housing, and a second shaft arranged within the axial bore of the second housing. An apparatus for compensating oil volume change in a motor, including a compensator housing having an open end for connecting to the motor, and a closed end; and a flexible bladder arranged within the housing and connected to the open end of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Arthur I. Watson, Tyson R. Messick, Diego A. Narvaez, Michael H. Du, Patrick M. McCartney
  • Patent number: 7530391
    Abstract: A seal section for a submersible well pump assembly has a housing for connection between a pump and a motor. A central radial bearing support rotatably supports a drive shaft and defines upper and lower chambers in the housing. A well fluid passageway leads from an exterior portion of the housing to the upper chamber. Upper and lower isolation tubes extend around the shaft within the upper and lower chambers, defining an annular passage for fluid communication with lubricant contained in the motor. A bladder surrounds the upper isolation tube for separating lubricant from well fluid in the upper chamber. A labyrinth tube within the bladder has an upper end in fluid communication with a labyrinth port leading through the upper isolation tube and a lower end in fluid communication with the lower chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Clarence F. Hall, Larry J. Parmeter, Brett D. Leamy
  • Patent number: 7400074
    Abstract: The present utility model relates to submersible motor and its protector. A shared assembling base is provided to support and fix one end of the housing of the submersible motor and protector, the submersible motor has a main shaft to connect through the protector. The end of the assembling base connecting with the protector has a thrust bearing to support the motor shaft and form a thrust bearing chamber with the seal base of the protector, the shared assembling base has a cooling oil connecting passage, the isolation chamber where the bag is put in is formed between the seal base and assembly head base of the protector, a mechanical seal outside the assembly head base is provided for acting on the main shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Tianjin Rongheng Group
    Inventors: Chaorong Zhuang, Zongmin Li, Shudong Dong
  • Patent number: 7367400
    Abstract: A chamber for use in a submersible pump assembly. The submersible pump assembly has a submersible motor which is connected to a power source and which will drive a submersible pump in the submersible pump assembly. A motor protector with expansion chamber is connected to the submersible motor. The expansion chamber and submersible motor are filled with motor oil. The expansion chamber has a housing and a reactant disposed in the housing interior for reacting with and reducing the concentration of contaminants present in the well fluid that are harmful to components of the motor protector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Wood Group ESP, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Howell
  • Patent number: 7217107
    Abstract: A system and method for protecting a motor for a submersible pumping system. A variety of motor protectors are provided for application in variable temperature environments and multiple wellbore orientations. The motor protectors may include one or more of a positively pressurized bellows, a relatively balanced pressure bellows free of sliding seals, and a multi-orientable labyrinth. Each of these motor protectors also may have various moisture absorbents, filters, particle shedders and various conventional motor protector components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Michael H. Du, Lawrence C. Lee, Arunkumar Arumugam, Ashley C. Kishino
  • Patent number: 7182584
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for reducing the wear on a motor protector, particularly when used in an abrasive environment. The motor protector comprises an outer housing having an internal shaft. The motor protector further comprises a head section having an abrasives exclusion mechanism to reduce the amount of abrasive material contacting a specific component or components within the motor protector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Hui Du, Arthur I. Watson, Arunkumar Arumugam
  • Patent number: 7066248
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electric submersible pumping system for use in wellbore. The electric submersible pumping system includes a motor assembly, a pump assembly and a seal section disposed in the wellbore. The pump assembly is below the motor and is driven by the motor. The seal section is between the motor assembly and the pump assembly, and protects the motor assembly from thrust generated in the pump assembly. The seal section includes a shaft that transmits torque from the motor assembly to the pump assembly. A labyrinth chamber in the seal section restricts the flow of wellbore fluids. The seal section can also include a mechanical seal, a thrust bearing, a bag type chamber, an abrasion resistant bearing, and a motor electrical termination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Wood Group ESP, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Howell
  • Patent number: 6981853
    Abstract: A system and method for protecting a motor for a submersible pumping system. A variety of motor protectors are provided for application in variable temperature environments and multiple wellbore orientations. The motor protectors may include one or more of a positively pressurized bellows, a relatively balanced pressure bellows free of sliding seals, and a multi-orientable labyrinth. Each of these motor protectors also may have various moisture absorbents, filters, particle shedders and various conventional motor protector components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Michael H. Du, Lawrence C. Lee, Arunkumar Arumugam, Ashley C. Kishino
  • Patent number: 6889765
    Abstract: The invention generally concerns a submersible well pumping system comprising an axially elongated housing and a multi-chamber hydraulically driven diaphragm pump suspended in a well. The pump is driven by a self-contained, closed hydraulic system, activated by an electric, pneumatic or hydraulic motor. Several embodiments are used to reverse the flow of working fluid into and out of the working fluid sub-chambers of a two chambered diaphragm pump to operate the diaphragm pump over all operating conditions including starts and stops, and low speed. Generally, the embodiments sense the end of the pumping stroke, either directly or by time. When the end of the pumping stroke is sensed, the direction of flow is reversed by changing the state of a directional valve, operating a reversing clutch, or by deactivating one prime mover-auxiliary pump and activating a second that operates in the reverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Smith Lift, Inc.
    Inventor: Leland B. Traylor
  • Publication number: 20040146415
    Abstract: A multi-diameter bellows is provided in a seal section of a submersible pump to assist in allowing expansion of dielectric oil within the submersible pump, to equalize the casing annulus pressure with the internal dielectric motor fluid and to isolate the well fluid from the clean dielectric motor fluid. A shaft communicates the motor with the pump and runs through a bellows located in a bellows chamber in the seal section. The bellows is made of a first collapsible section and a second collapsible section. The first collapsible section has a fixed end at a first end of the bellows and has a first cross-sectional area. The second collapsible section has a fixed end at a second end of the bellows and has a second cross-sectional area. A first coupling member is provided between the first collapsible section and the second collapsible section. A volume within the bellows is varied by movement of the first coupling member towards either of the first end and the second end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Daniel A. Merrill, Leslie C. Reid
  • Patent number: 6688860
    Abstract: A system and method for protecting a motor for a submersible pumping system. A variety of motor protectors are provided for application in variable temperature environments and multiple wellbore orientations. The motor protectors may include one or more of a positively pressurized bellows, a relatively balanced pressure bellows free of sliding seals, and a multi-orientable labyrinth. Each of these motor protectors also may have various moisture absorbents, filters, particle shedders and various conventional motor protector components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Michael H. Du, Lawrence C. Lee, Arunkumar Arumugam, Ashley C. Kishino
  • Patent number: 6666664
    Abstract: A motor protection system that utilizes a motor protector in combination with a submersible motor. The motor protector allows for the free flow of an internal lubricating liquid therethrough to the connected submersible motor. The internal liquid prevents the migration of surrounding, environmental liquids to the interior of the motor while allowing the internal pressure of the motor to equalize with external pressure. Additionally, the design allows the use of a power cable connector that can be coupled to the submersible motor without being sealed with respect to the environmental fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Edwin Gross
  • Patent number: 6616425
    Abstract: A feed device (1) for washer fluid, wherein an electric motor (3) which is provided for driving a feed pump (4) has a housing (6) which is sealed in the upper region and an opening (11) which is arranged in the lower region level with the feed pump (4). Ventilation of the electric motor (3) takes place via this opening (11). In the event of a water level reaching the electric motor (3), for example if the motor vehicle passes through water, an air bubble is formed in the housing (6), the air bubble preventing water from penetrating into the electric motor (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Rainer Kober