Flow management system and method

1. A method of removing particulate from a production string pumping path comprising the steps of:

locating a pump in a production string flow path between a reservoir and a valve having a bypass urged closed by a spring;

fluidly coupling tubing to an outlet of the valve;

surrounding at least a portion of the tubing with a casing to create an annular flow space;

operating the valve bypass and removing particulate by removing at least a portion of a particulate laden fluid column above the valve; and,

receiving fluid and particulate in the annular flow space;

wherein the step of operating the valve bypass includes operating the bypass when a seat closure carried by a rotatable pump rod translates along the rod and mates with a seat of a shuttle and the shuttle opens a valve spill port while compressing a spring.

2. A method of implementing a substitute for a pump-off controller in a production string comprising the steps of:

locating a pump between a reservoir and a bypass valve, the pump for pumping a reservoir product through the valve;

the valve transitioning to a bypass mode in response to a drop in flow through the valve indicating damaging pump operating conditions;

in the bypass mode, the valve interrupting the flow of the reservoir product through the valve;

in the bypass mode, a bypass flow conduit conducting a bypass flow from the valve to the reservoir; and,

providing a bypass mode spill port through a sidewall of the valve;

wherein the bypass mode spill port is normally closed.

3. A method of implementing a substitute for a pump-off controller in a production string comprising the steps of:

locating a pump between a reservoir and a bypass valve, the pump for pumping a reservoir product through the valve;

the valve transitioning to a bypass mode in response to a drop in flow through the valve indicating damaging pump operating conditions;

in the bypass mode, the valve interrupting the flow of the reservoir product through the valve;

in the bypass mode, a bypass flow conduit conducting a bypass flow from the valve to the reservoir; and,

providing a bypass mode spill port through a sidewall of the valve;

wherein a spring is compressed when the valve transitions to bypass mode.

4. A method of implementing a substitute for a pump-off controller in a production string comprising the steps of:

locating a pump between a reservoir and a bypass valve, the pump for pumping a reservoir product through the valve;

the valve transitioning to a bypass mode in response to a drop in flow through the valve indicating damaging pump operating conditions;

in the bypass mode, the valve interrupting the flow of the reservoir product through the valve;

in the bypass mode, a bypass flow conduit conducting a bypass flow from the valve to the reservoir;

spring biasing a shuttle to provide a normally closed bypass mode spill port; and,

opening the spill port when a seat closure at an end of the shuttle moves away from a stationary seat.

5. An oilfield production method comprising the steps of:

providing a downhole production string including a pump and a valve;

locating the pump between a reservoir and the valve, the pump for pumping a reservoir product through the valve;

while the pump is operating

surfacing reservoir product when the valve is in a production mode, returning reservoir product to the reservoir when the valve is in a bypass mode,

the valve changing from the production mode to the bypass mode in response to a drop in flow through the valve indicating damaging pump operating conditions, and

the valve changing from the bypass mode to the production mode in response to a rise in flow through the valve that does not indicate damaging pump operating conditions; and,

the above steps implementing a substitute for a pump off controller in the production string, the substitute pump-off controller automatically protecting the pump via cyclic operation of the bypass and production modes;

wherein a spring tending to close a spill port is compressed when the valve changes from the production mode to the bypass mode.