System, method and apparatus for electrical submersible pump assembly with pump discharge head having an integrally formed discharge pressure port

• US 8,328,529 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2009
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Thompson, Joseph Scott, Bierig, Kevin R., McCoy, Robert H., Besser, Gordon Lee, Knox, Dick L., Ong, Joo Tim, O'Bryan, Suresha R., Campbell, Dustin B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Anh
• Assistant Examiner(s): FEATHERLY, HANA SANEI
• Application Number:
  US12/362,557
• Publication Number:
  US 20090196774A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: 417/63, 417/415
• US Class Current: 417/63
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/128 Adaptation of pump systems with down-hole electric drives

Abstract

An electrical submersible pump assembly has a pump discharge head with an integrally formed pump discharge pressure port. The discharge head is mounted directly to the pump and couples the pump to production tubing. A static pressure port extends directly through the side wall of the discharge head. The pressure port includes a tubing connector for hydraulic tubing to run down to the gauge. Inside the discharge head, a flow limiter is located in the pressure port to stop the loss of fluid if there is a break in the tubing connector or hydraulic line. Alternatively, the discharge head may incorporate a venturi or other pressure drop structure to allow the fluid flow to be measured via a pressure drop across an orifice. The venturi may be configured as an insert to permit it to be replaced after it has become worn by abrasive flow.

Claims

1. A down hole tool assembly for a well, comprising:

a pump;

a motor;

a seal assembly mounted to and located between the pump and the motor;

a pump discharge head having a side wall, a production flow passage and an integrally formed pump discharge pressure port extending directly from the production flow passage through the side wall, the pump discharge head being mounted directly to the pump;

a pressure gauge mounted below the motor;

a hydraulic line extending alongside the pump, the seal assembly and the motor and connected between the pressure port and the gauge, the hydraulic line having a passage therethrough for communicating fluid in the discharge head to the gauge;

the pump discharge head having an upper end configured to connect directly to production tubing; and

wherein the pump discharge pressure port has a tubing connector for attaching the hydraulic line thereto for connection to the gauge, and the pump discharge pressure port extends at an acute angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the pump discharge head.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a flow limiter located in the pump discharge pressure port for limiting a flow of fluid through the discharge pressure port.

3. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pump discharge head has a lower end threadingly coupled or bolted to the pump, and the upper end of the pump discharge head is adapted to be threadingly coupled or bolted to the production tubing.

4. A down hole tool assembly for a well, comprising:

a pump;

a motor;

a seal assembly mounted to and located between the pump and the motor;

a pump discharge head having a side wall, a production flow passage and an integrally formed pump discharge pressure port extending directly from the production flow passage through the side wall, the pump discharge head being mounted directly to the pump;

a pressure gauge mounted below the motor;

a hydraulic line extending alongside the pump, the seal assembly and the motor and connected between the pressure port and the gauge, the hydraulic line having a passage therethrough for communicating fluid in the discharge head to the gauge;

the pump discharge head having an upper end configured to connect directly to production tubing; and

a pressure change structure defining a reduced flow area section joining a larger flow area section within the production flow passage for creating a pressure drop downstream from the pump.

5. An assembly according to claim 4, wherein the pressure change structure comprises one of a venturi, an orifice plate, and a flow nozzle.

6. An assembly according to claim 4, wherein the pressure change structure comprises a venturi insert that is removable from the production flow passage.

7. An assembly according to claim 4, wherein the pressure change structure is located downstream from the pump at an axial distance that is at least three times a diameter from a last diffuser of the pump.

8. An assembly according to claim 4, wherein the pressure change structure is a removable insert located within the production flow passage.

9. An assembly according to claim 8, further comprising:

a downstream pressure port extending through the side wall of the discharge head downstream of the first mentioned pressure port;

an upstream orifice extending through a side wall of the insert and in fluid communication with the first mentioned pressure port;

a downstream orifice extending through the side wall of the insert and in fluid communication with the downstream pressure port; and

a seal ring on an outer surface of the removable insert that isolates the upstream and downstream orifices.

10. An assembly according to claim 9, further comprising:

an annular upstream groove on the outer surface of the insert and joining the upstream orifice;

an annular downstream groove on the outer surface of the insert and joining the downstream orifice; and

the annular grooves permitting orientation of the insert in any direction relative to the discharge head.

11. An electrical submersible pump (ESP) assembly, comprising:

a pump;

a motor;

a seal assembly mounted to and located between the pump and the motor;

a pump discharge head having a side wall, a production flow passage, and an integrally formed pump discharge pressure port extending directly from the production flow passage through the side wall, the pump discharge head being mounted directly to the pump;

production tubing mounted directly to the pump discharge head opposite the pump;

a hydraulic gauge located below the motor opposite the pump discharge head;

a hydraulic line extending alongside the pump, the seal assembly and the motor and connected between the pump discharge pressure port and the hydraulic gauge, the hydraulic line having a passage to communicate fluid from the production flow passage to the hydraulic gauge to measure pressure in the production flow passage;

wherein

the pump discharge pressure port has a tubing connector for attaching the hydraulic line thereto for connection to the gauge, and the pump discharge pressure port extends at an acute angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the pump discharge head; and

a flow limiter is located in the pump discharge pressure port for limiting a flow of fluid through the pump discharge pressure port.

12. An assembly according to claim 11, wherein the pump discharge head is threadingly coupled or bolted to the pump and to the production tubing.

13. An assembly according to claim 11, further comprising:

a pressure change structure located in the production flow passage of the pump discharge head for creating a pressure drop in the pump discharge head, the pressure change structure having a larger flow area section joining a smaller flow area section; and

the pressure change structure is a removable insert.

14. An assembly according to claim 13, wherein the pressure change structure comprises one of a venturi, an orifice plate, and a flow nozzle.

15. An assembly according to claim 13, wherein the pressure change structure is located downstream from the pump at an axial distance that is at least three times a diameter from a last diffuser of the pump.

16. An assembly according to claim 13, further comprising:

a downstream pressure port extending through the side wall of the discharge head downstream of the first mentioned pressure port;

an upstream orifice extending through a side wall of the insert and in fluid communication with the first mentioned pressure port;

a downstream orifice extending through the side wall of the insert and in fluid communication with the downstream pressure port;

a seal ring on an outer surface of the removable insert that isolates the upstream and downstream orifices

17. An electrical submersible pump (ESP) assembly, comprising:

a pump;

a motor;

a seal assembly mounted to and located between the pump and the motor;

a pump discharge head having a side wall, a production flow passage, and upstream and downstream pump discharge pressure ports extending from the production flow passage through the side wall, the pump discharge head being mounted directly to the pump;

a gauge assembly mounted below the motor;

a pair of lines, each connected between one of the pump discharge pressure ports and the gauge assembly, each of the hydraulic lines having a passage to communicate fluid from the production flow passage to the gauge assembly, the lines extending alongside the pump, the seal assembly and the motor;

a venturi sleeve removably located in the production flow passage of the pump discharge head, having a central flow passage with a smaller upstream diameter section joining a larger downstream diameter section;

an upstream communication port extending from the upstream diameter section through a side wall of the sleeve to the upstream discharge pressure port; and

a downstream communication port extending from the downstream diameter section through the side wall of the sleeve to the downstream discharge pressure port.