Compact cable suspended pumping system for dewatering gas wells
A method of unloading liquid from a reservoir includes deploying a pumping system into a wellbore to a location proximate the reservoir using a cable. The pumping system includes a multi-section motor, an isolation device, and a pump. The method further includes supplying a power signal from the surface to the motor via the cable and sequentially operating each section of the motor to mimic a multi-phase motor, thereby driving the pump and lowering a liquid level in the tubular string to a level proximate the reservoir.
1. A method of unloading liquid from a reservoir, comprising:
deploying a pumping system into a wellbore to a location proximate the reservoir using a cable, wherein the pumping system comprises a multi-section motor, an isolation device, and a pump;
supplying a power signal from the surface to the motor via the cable and sequentially operating each section of the motor to mimic a multi-phase motor, thereby driving the pump and lowering a liquid level in the tubular string to a level proximate the reservoir; and
setting the isolation device before or as a result of supplying the power signal, thereby rotationally connecting the pumping system to a tubular string disposed in the wellbore and isolating an inlet of the pump from an outlet of the pump.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
ceasing supply of the power signal;
unsetting the isolation device after or as a result of ceasing the power signal supply; and
removing the pumping system from the wellbore using the cable.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the power signal is medium voltage DC via the cable,
the pumping assembly further comprises a power conversion module (PCM), and
the PCM outputs a low voltage signal to the motor.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein motor and the pump are operated at greater than or equal to ten thousand RPM.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein a maximum outer diameter of the pump assembly and the cable is less than or equal to two inches.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising controlling a speed of the motor.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the pumping system comprises a sensor, and
the method further comprises transmitting a measurement by the sensor to the surface via the cable.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the isolation device longitudinally connects the pumping system to the tubular string, thereby supporting a weight of the pumping system.
9. A pumping system, comprising:
a submersible multi-section electric motor operable to rotate a drive shaft, wherein each section is incrementally oriented so that the sections are operable to mimic a multi-phase motor;
a pump rotationally connected to the drive shaft;
an isolation device operable to engage a tubular string, thereby fluidly isolating an inlet of the pump from an outlet of the pump and rotationally connecting the motor and the pump to the tubular string; and
a cable having two or less conductors, a strength sufficient to support the motor, the pump, and the isolation device, and in electrical communication with the motor.
10. The pumping system of claim 9 , wherein a maximum outer diameter of the motor, pump, isolation device, and cable is less than or equal to two inches.
11. The pumping system of claim 9 , further comprising a power conversion module (PCM) operable to:
receive a medium voltage DC power signal from the cable, and
supply a low voltage power signal to the motor.
12. The pumping system of claim 11 , wherein the PCM is operable to vary a speed of the motor.
13. The pumping system of claim 9 , wherein the motor is a switched reluctance motor.
14. The pumping system of claim 9 , wherein the motor and the pump are operable at greater than or equal to ten thousand RPM.
15. The pumping system of claim 9 , further comprising:
a sensor; and
a modem operable to send a measurement from the sensor along the cable.
16. The pumping system of claim 9 , wherein the isolation device is further operable to support the weight of the motor, the pump, and the isolation device.
17. The pumping system of claim 9 , wherein each section comprises:
a submersible tubular housing;
a stator core disposed within the housing and having one or more lobes, each lobe having a winding wrapped therearound; and
a rotor disposed within the housing and comprising a shaft and a rotor core, the rotor core having two or more lobes.
18. The pumping system of claim 9 , wherein the pump further comprises one or more stages, each stage comprising:
a tubular housing;
a mandrel disposed in the housing and comprising:
a rotor rotatable relative to the housing and having:
an impeller portion,
a shaft portion, and
one or more helicoidal vanes extending along the impeller portion,
a diffuser:
connected to the housing,
having the shaft portion extending therethrough, and
having one or more vanes operable to negate swirl imparted to fluid pumped through the impeller portion; and
a fluid passage formed between the housing and the mandrel and having a nozzle section, a throat section, and a diffuser section.
19. A method of unloading liquid from a reservoir, comprising:
deploying a pumping system into a wellbore to a location proximate the reservoir using a cable, wherein the pumping system comprises a multi-section motor, an isolation device, and a pump;
supplying a power signal from the surface to the motor via the cable and sequentially operating each section of the motor to mimic a multi-phase motor, thereby driving the pump and lowering a liquid level in the tubular string to a level proximate the reservoir;
ceasing supply of the power signal;
unsetting the isolation device after or as a result of ceasing the power signal supply; and
removing the pumping system from the wellbore using the cable.
20. A method of unloading liquid from a reservoir, comprising:
deploying a pumping system into a wellbore to a location proximate the reservoir using a cable, wherein the pumping system comprises a multi-section motor, an isolation device, and a pump; and
supplying a power signal from the surface to the motor via the cable and sequentially operating each section of the motor to mimic a multi-phase motor, thereby driving the pump and lowering a liquid level in the tubular string to a level proximate the reservoir,
wherein:
the power signal is medium voltage DC via the cable,
the pumping assembly further comprises a power conversion module (PCM), and
the PCM outputs a low voltage signal to the motor.
21. A method of unloading liquid from a reservoir, comprising:
deploying a pumping system into a wellbore to a location proximate the reservoir using a cable, wherein the pumping system comprises a multi-section motor, an isolation device, and a pump; and
supplying a power signal from the surface to the motor via the cable and sequentially operating each section of the motor to mimic a multi-phase motor, thereby driving the pump and lowering a liquid level in the tubular string to a level proximate the reservoir,
wherein motor and the pump are operated at greater than or equal to ten thousand RPM.
22. A method of unloading liquid from a reservoir, comprising:
deploying a pumping system into a wellbore to a location proximate the reservoir using a cable, wherein the pumping system comprises a multi-section motor, an isolation device, and a pump; and
supplying a power signal from the surface to the motor via the cable and sequentially operating each section of the motor to mimic a multi-phase motor, thereby driving the pump and lowering a liquid level in the tubular string to a level proximate the reservoir,
wherein:
the pumping system comprises a sensor, and
the method further comprises transmitting a measurement by the sensor to the surface via the cable.
23. A method of unloading liquid from a reservoir, comprising:
deploying a pumping system into a wellbore to a location proximate the reservoir using a cable, wherein the pumping system comprises a multi-section motor, an isolation device, and a pump; and
supplying a power signal from the surface to the motor via the cable and sequentially operating each section of the motor to mimic a multi-phase motor, thereby driving the pump and lowering a liquid level in the tubular string to a level proximate the reservoir,
wherein the isolation device longitudinally connects the pumping system to the tubular string, thereby supporting a weight of the pumping system.