Source: https://patents.justia.com/patent/10221662
Timestamp: 2019-05-27 00:59:40
Document Index: 538377837

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 14767998', 'Application No. 11201507523', 'Application No. 11201507523', 'Application No. 2014236733', 'Application No. 2412', 'Application No. 2016235008', 'Application No. 11201507523', 'Application No. 20162350008']

US Patent for Submersible well fluid system Patent (Patent # 10,221,662 issued March 5, 2019) - Justia Patents Search
Justia Patents Inlet Pressure Increase Opens Bypass From Pump Inlet To DischargeUS Patent for Submersible well fluid system Patent (Patent # 10,221,662)
Returning briefly to thrust bearing 291, the side that is normally loaded in operation is referred to as the “active” side (upper side in FIG. 2C), whereas the other side is referred to as the “inactive” side. In certain embodiments, the active side of thrust bearing 291 is protected during high-risk long-term storage, shipping, transportation, and deployment activities by maintaining it “un-loaded” during such activities. Specifically, process fluid rotor 206 “rests” on inactive side of thrust bearing 291 whenever subsea fluid system 200 is not operating, e.g. during storage, handling, shipping and deployment. This arrangement is advantageous because design attributes that increase tolerance to e.g. high impact loads during deployment, which however might reduce normal operating capacity, can be implemented for the inactive side of thrust bearing 291 without affecting the operating thrust capacity of fluid end 204. Such design attributes (among others) may include selection of bearing pad materials that are tolerant of prolonged static loads and/or impact loads, and that however do not have highest-available operating capacity. In addition, energy absorbing features e.g. springs, compliant pads (made of elastomeric and/or thermoplastic materials, etc.) and/or “crushable” devices (ref. “crumple zones” in automobiles) may be added integral to and/or below thrust bearing 291, as well as external to fluid end housing 208 (including on skid and/or on shipping stands, running tools, etc.). It may also be advantageous to “lock” rotors 206, 220 so that they are prevented from “bouncing around” during e.g. transportation, deployment, etc., or to support them on “stand-off” devices that prevent e.g. critical bearing surfaces from making contact during such events. Such locking and stand-off functionality may be effected using devices that may be manually engaged and/or released (e.g. locking screws, etc.), or preferably devices that are automatically engaged/disengaged depending on whether rotors 206, 220 are stopped, spinning, transitioning-to-stop or transitioning-to-spin. Devices providing aforementioned attributes include permanent magnet and/or electro-magnet attraction devices, among others (“locking” devices), and bearing-like bushings or pad/pedestal-like supports, among others, that present geometry suitable to the stand-off function while rotors 206, 220 are not spinning and present e.g. “less intrusive” geometry that permits the bearings (intended to support rotors 206, 220 during operation) to affect their function when rotors 206, 220 are spinning (“stand-off” devices). Displacement mechanisms that might enable the “dual-geometry” capability desired for “stand-off” devices include mechanical, hydraulic, thermal, electric, electro-magnetic, and piezo-electric, among others. Passive automatic mechanisms for enacting the locking and/or stand-off functions may be used, however a control system may also be provided to ensure correct operation.
Seal 282 may be substantially the same as seal 256 associated with upper radial bearing 264a described previously. Seal 282 is secured to sump top plate 280 and effects a hydrodynamic fluid-film seal (typically micro-meter-range clearance) relative to rotor sleeve 275 (shown in FIG. 2C as integrated with bearing sleeve 288, which is not a strict requirement) when process fluid rotor 206 is spinning, and also a static seal (typically zero-clearance) when process fluid rotor 206 is not spinning. Seal 282 may be designed to maintain, increase or decrease its hydrodynamic clearance when subjected to differential pressure transients from either side (above or below), and therefore to substantially maintain, increase or decrease, respectively, its leakage rate during especially sudden pressure transients. Seal 282 includes features enabling its hydrodynamic performance that allow a small amount of leakage in dynamic (regardless the clearance magnitude relative to rotor sleeve 275) and static modes whenever it is exposed to differential pressure, and therefore it may for some applications be characterized as a flow-restrictor instead of an absolute seal. A small amount of leakage is desired for the sump 271 application.
In some implementations, the chemical distribution system 140 includes a manifold 142 configured to receive a chemical from the submerged treatment chemical storage tank 141 and distribute the chemical to the one or more locations of the submersible well fluid system 100. The one or more locations of the submersible well fluid system 100 includes the fluid end 104, a pressure management system 160, or at a location of the submersible well fluid system 100 upstream of the process fluid outlet 114.
FIG. 3G is a schematic diagram showing a close-up view of the barrier fluid supply system 300 of FIG. 3A showing yet another example operational mode. FIG. 3G corresponds to operational scenario #20 of the appendix. In some circumstances, the water in the solids settling chamber 356 may be especially dirty, and may benefit from multiple passes through a coarse filter. The operational scenario shown in FIG. 3G allows the water to undergo coarse filtering twice before being directed to the membrane. In the example shown in FIG. 3G water is pumped into the first fluid circuit 302a by pump 310a into inlet 304a. The water is pumped through the first mentioned filter 306a. With valve 334a closed and valve 332a open, the water is directed through the crossover passage 318. With valve 332b closed and valve 330 open, the water is redirected through a redirect valve 322 to crossover passage 316 and into the second fluid circuit 302b. The water is then pumped (with pump 310a) through the second filter 306b. The water can then be directed to the outlet 308 through either the second fluid circuit 302b (as shown) or through the first circuit using crossover passage 320.
a process fluid outlet coupled to a fluid path from the impeller; and a gas/liquid separator in the fluid path and adapted to output to the process fluid outlet; and where the gas/liquid separator is carried by the frame.
Aspect 59. The submersible well fluid system of aspect 50, including a housing and where the electric machine resides in the housing; and
where the adjustable speed drive is affixed to the housing.
an electric machine comprising a rotor and a stator residing in a first housing at a first condition within the first housing;
a fluid end comprising an impeller and coupled to the electric machine;
an adjustable speed drive for the electric machine in a second housing, the second housing having an interior surface in contact with the adjustable speed drive, the second housing configured to conductively transfer heat from the adjustable speed drive to a surrounding body of water through the interior surface in contact with the adjustable speed drive;
a process fluid inlet connector in fluid communication with the fluid end and adapted to connect to a fluid outlet associated with a wellhead assembly; and
a conduit between the first and second housings that provides fluid communication between the first and second housings, the conduit spanning a clearance that separates the first housing from the second housing, the first and second housings comprising a gas, the gas at the first condition at a lower pressure than a pressure of a process fluid within the fluid end;
wherein the electric machine, fluid end, and adjustable speed drive are configured for operation in a body of water outside of a well.
2. The submersible well fluid system of claim 1, wherein the gas at the first condition is substantially at atmospheric pressure.
3. The submersible well fluid system of claim 1, where the first housing is affixed to the second housing.
4. The submersible well fluid system of claim 1, comprising a frame carrying the electric machine, the fluid end, and the adjustable speed drive.
5. The submersible well fluid system of claim 4, where the frame surrounds the electric machine, fluid end, and adjustable speed drive.
6. The submersible well fluid system of claim 4, where the frame is adapted to support the submersible well fluid system off a floor of the body of water.
7. The submersible well fluid system of claim 4, comprising:
a buffer tank in a fluid path to the impeller and adapted to mix uncombined gas and liquid process fluid and to supply the mixed gas and liquid to the impeller; and
wherein the buffer tank is carried by the frame.
8. The submersible well fluid system of claim 7, comprising:
9. The submersible well fluid system of claim 1, where the process fluid inlet connector is adapted to support the submersible well fluid system.
10. The submersible well fluid system of claim 9, where the process fluid inlet connector is adapted to support the submersible well fluid system off of the floor of the body of water.
11. A submersible well fluid system for operating submerged in a body of water, comprising:
a conduit between the first and second housings that provides fluid communication between the first and second housings, the conduit spanning a clearance that separates the first housing from the second housing;
wherein the electric machine, fluid end, and adjustable speed drive are configured for operation in a body of water outside of a well;
where the submersible well fluid system is for operating at a specified depth in a body of water, and
wherein the first housing comprises a fluid at the first condition, and when the submersible well fluid system is submerged to the specified depth in the body of water the fluid at the first condition is at one atmosphere pressure.
12. A submersible well fluid system for operating submerged in a body of water, comprising:
an electric machine comprising a rotor and a stator residing in a first housing at a first condition;
a bypass fluid path adapted to allow process fluid to flow from a location proximate the process fluid inlet around the fluid end;
wherein the electric machine, fluid end, and adjustable speed drive are configured for operation in a body of water outside of a well, and the first and second housings comprise a gas, the gas at a lower pressure than a pressure of a process fluid within the fluid end.
13. The submersible well fluid system of claim 12, comprising a frame carrying the electric machine, the fluid end, the adjustable speed drive, and the bypass fluid path.
14. The submersible well fluid system of claim 13, wherein the frame surrounds the electric machine, fluid end, the adjustable speed drive, and the bypass fluid path.
15. The submersible well fluid system of claim 14, where the frame is adapted to couple to a wellhead assembly or an associated assembly to support the submersible well fluid system.
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Patent Publication Number: 20160145980
Current U.S. Class: Inlet Pressure Increase Opens Bypass From Pump Inlet To Discharge (417/301)
International Classification: E21B 43/12 (20060101); F04D 27/00 (20060101); F04B 17/03 (20060101); F04B 47/06 (20060101); E21B 43/01 (20060101); F04D 17/10 (20060101); F04D 19/00 (20060101); F04D 29/52 (20060101); F04D 31/00 (20060101); F04D 25/06 (20060101); F04D 29/32 (20060101);