CA2066912C - Submersible well pump gas separator - Google Patents
Submersible well pump gas separatorInfo
- Publication number
- CA2066912C CA2066912C CA002066912A CA2066912A CA2066912C CA 2066912 C CA2066912 C CA 2066912C CA 002066912 A CA002066912 A CA 002066912A CA 2066912 A CA2066912 A CA 2066912A CA 2066912 C CA2066912 C CA 2066912C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- gas
- rotor
- housing
- discharge member
- skirt
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B04—CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR CARRYING-OUT PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES
- B04B—CENTRIFUGES
- B04B5/00—Other centrifuges
- B04B5/12—Centrifuges in which rotors other than bowls generate centrifugal effects in stationary containers
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/34—Arrangements for separating materials produced by the well
- E21B43/38—Arrangements for separating materials produced by the well in the well
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
- F04D9/00—Priming; Preventing vapour lock
- F04D9/001—Preventing vapour lock
- F04D9/002—Preventing vapour lock by means in the very pump
- F04D9/003—Preventing vapour lock by means in the very pump separating and removing the vapour
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Structures Of Non-Positive Displacement Pumps (AREA)
Abstract
A gas separator for a submersible centrifugal pump for a well separates gas from liquid components of the well fluid. The gas separator has a rotatably driven rotor. The rotor has an outer cylinder, an inner hub and a longitudinal vane that extends between the inner hub and outer cylinder. Notches are formed in the upper edge of the vanes. A discharge member, mounted above the rotor, has a depending skirt that extends into the notches. This defines a separate inner flow path for gas to flow out of the separator into the well. The unseparated portions of the well fluid flow in a clearance between the skirt and the housing into a pump intake. Supports extend out from the discharge member for securing the discharge member in the housing.
Description
3 1. Fleld of the invent~on:
This invention relates in general to electrically 6 driven centrifugal submersible well pumps, and in 7 particular to a gas separator for separating gas from 8 the well fluid prior to reaching the pump.
This invention relates in general to electrically 6 driven centrifugal submersible well pumps, and in 7 particular to a gas separator for separating gas from 8 the well fluid prior to reaching the pump.
2. Description of the Prior Art:
12 Submersible well pumps of the type concerned 13 herein are centrifugal and driven by a downhole 14 electrical motor. A pump will have a large number of stages, each 6tage having an impeller rotatably driven 16 within a diffuser. These pumps are used to pump large 17 volumes of fluid, such as oil and water from wells.
19 Most oil wells typically will also produce some gas. If the gas is of sufficient volume, it can reduce 21 the performance of the pump. In these circumstances, 22 gas separators are mounted in the assembly below the 23 pump and above the motor and the mechanical ~eal.
Prior art gas separators utilize a rotatably 26 driven rotor within a cylindrical housing. The rotor 27 has at least one blade or vane. The vane will impart a 28 centrifugal force to the well fluid flowing through the 29 housing. This centrifugal force tends to separate the liquid components from the gas components because of 31 differance in densities, with the liquid components 32 locating near the outer wall of the housing, and the 33 gas remaining near the shaft.
-2 A discharge member mounts above the rotor. The 3 discharge member will provide a passagQ from the 4 central portion of the rotor to the exterior of the gas s separator to discharge gas. The discharge member also 6 provideg 8 liquid passageway for the remaining portion 7 of the well fluid to flow upward toward the intake of a 8 pump.
. 9 While workable, improvements to the rotor and 11 discharge member are desirable, both in the efficiency 12 and the cost of the members.
3 In this invention, the discharge member is 4 provided with an annular stationary skirt. The skirt extends downward into the rotor. Preferably, each of 6 the rotor blades will have a notch located in its upper 7 edge for receiving the lower termination of the skirt.
j g The skirt locates between the hub and the bore or side wall of the housing. This results in an annular 11 gas cavity within the skirt to receive the gas flowing 12 upward near the hub. A liquid passage is defined by 13 the clearance between the exterior of the skirt and the 14 bore of the housing. A gas discharge passage leads lS from the gas cavity to a gas outlet in the housing.
17 Each discharge member has a plurality of support 18 members, each extending radially outward into contact 19 with the bore of the housing. A gas passage extends through each support. A fastener extends through the 21 housing wall to fasten one of the support members to 22 the housing. In one embodiment, the gas separator is 23 of a tandem type. It will have two or more rotors and 24 two or more discharge elements located in series.
i -3 Figures lA, lB and lC comprise a vertical 4 sectional view of a gas separator constructed in accordance with this invention.
7 Figure 2 is a side view of the discharge member 8 used in the gas separator of Figure 1, and showing a ¦ g side 9o degrees from the positlon shown in Figure 1.
11 Figure 3 is a top plan view of the discharge 12 member of Figure 2.
14 Figure 4 is a sectional view of the discharge member of Figure 2, taken along the line IV-IV of 16 Figure 2.
- 2~66912 3 Referring to the drawings, and in particular to 4 Figure lC, gas separator 11 has a cylindrical housing 13. Housing 13 has an axial inner passage 15. A shaft 6 17 extends through the passage 15. Shaft 17 will be 7 driven by a motor (not shown) mounted below the gas 8 separator 11 and separated by a seal section (not ¦ 9 shown). An inlet 19 locates in the bottom of housing 13 for drawiny well fluid into passage 15.
12 The well fluid proceeds first to an inducer 21.
13 Inducer 21 comprises a helical screw mounted to the 14 shaft 17 for rotation with it. Inducer 21 conveys the fluid upward and pressurizes the fluid to prevent 16 expansion of the gas contained in the fluid at that 17 polnt.
i 18 19 The well fluid then passes through ~ bearing 23, which ls of a spider type, having a plurality of 21 passages 24. The well fluid proceeds to a set of guide 22 vanes 2S. Guide vanes 25 are mounted to the shaft 17 23 for rotation therewith. Preferably there are more than 24 one of the guide vanes 25, each comprising ~ flat or curved plate, and each being inclined relative to the 26 axl6 of ~haft 17. Guide vanes 25 impart a swirling 27 motion to the well fluid.
29 Guide vanes 25 are located in the lower portion of a rotor 27. Rotor 27 has an outer cyllndQr 29 whlch 31 extends down over guide vanes 25. Outer cylinder 29 32 enclo~es an inner hub 31 and is closQly spaced within ~
33 stationary sleeve 30 mounted in the passage 15. Inner ~ 20~69I2 1 hub 31 mounts to the ~haft 17 for rotation with the 2 shaft 17. Two or more rotor vanes 33 (only two shown) 3 extend between the hub 31 and the outer cylinder 29.
4 Vanes 33 comprise longitudinal blades extending from the lower end to the upper end of the rotor 27. Each 6 vane 33 is located in a radial plane of the axis of 7 shaft 17. Each vane 33 i8 vertically oriented.
g Referring to Figure lB, each vane 33 preferably has a notch 35 formed in its upper end. Notch 35 is a 11 longitudinal slot that extends downward a short 12 distance from the upper edge of each vane 33. In the 13 embodiment shown, each notch 35 i8 located 14 approximately midway between the hub 31 and the outer cylinder 29. The notches 35 also may be pos~tioned 16 to one side or the other of the midpoint between hub 31 17 and outer cylinder 29, dekpending on the amount of 18 separation desired. The rotor 27 imparts a centrifugal 19 force to the well fluid, causing heavier liguid components to flow outward toward the outer cylinder 29 21 as they progress up the rotor 27. The lighter gaseous 22 phase will remain in the central portion of the rotor 23 27, near the hub 31.
A d~scharge member 37 mounts stationarily directly 26 above rotor 27. Discharge member 37 does not rotate 27 with shaft 17. Discharge member 37 has a depending 28 skirt 39 that extends downward. Skirt 39 is concentric 29 with shaft 17. Skirt 39 is annular, having an outer diameter significantly ~maller than the inner diameter 31 of the passage 15 of housing 13. The inner diameter of 32 skirt 39 i8 significantly greater than the outer - 20~6912 1 diameter of inner hub 31. Thig result~ in an annular 2 gas cavity 41 located withln sklrt 39.
4 The clearance between the skirt 39 and the passage S 15 comprises a liquid passage 43. The portion of the 6 well fluid that does not enter gas cavity 41 will flow 7 up through the liquid passage 43. A plurality of gas 8 passages 45 (only one shown ln Fig. lB) extend through g discharge member 37. In the embodiment shown, there are three of the gas passages 45, and each communicates 11 with a gas outlet 47 extending through housing 13.
12 Gas outlets 47 allow separated gas to be discharged 13 into the well.
As shown also in Figures 3 and 4, discharge 16 member 37 has a plurality of laterally extending 17 supports 49. In the embodiment shown, there are three 18 supports 49 spaced 120 degrees apart from each other.
19 The supports 49 extend out into contact with the passage 15. Each support 49 has a generally 21 rectangular perimeter, having flat upper and lower 22 edges and side edges, a~ 6hown in Figure 2. The outer 23 face of each support 49 is a segment of a cylinder 24 having approximately the same diameter as the inner diameter of passage lS. The outer face of each support 26 49 extends circumferentially about 45 degrees.
28 The well fluid ln the liquld passage 43 flows 29 between the supports 49. A window 51, which is rectangular in the embodiment shown, i~ located in the 31 outer face of each support 49. Window Sl registers 32 with one of the gas outlets 47 (Fig. 1) and 33 communicates with a cavity 53 defined by the interior - 20~6912 1 of each support 49. Window 51 and cavity 53 may be 2 consldered a part of the gas passage 45 leading to a 3 gas outlet 47 (Fig. 11. A fastener, screw 55, or 4 locking device extends through a hole in housing 13.
The tip of screw 55 engages a dimple provided in one of 6 the upper supports 49. This engagement prevents 7 rotation of the discharge member 37 and also fixes the 8 discharge member 37 axially.
Referring still to Figure lB, a bearing 57 mounts 11 in housing 13 directly above discharge member 37.
12 Bearing 57 has a plurality of axial passages S9 13 extending through it.
In the embodiment shown, the gas Reparator 11 18 16 of a tandem type, and can have two or more units ~oined 17 in ser~es depending upon well conditions. That is, 18 there are two separate and independent separator 19 portions. The structure of the separator portion above bearing 57 is the same as that below. This structure 21 includes an inducer 61. A bearing 63 locates above 22 inducer 61. The well fluid passing through liquid 23 passage 43 may still contain some gas. The well fluid 24 flows through passages 65 in bearing 63 to an upper guide vane 67. Upper guide vane 67 rotates with shaft 26 17.
28 Upper guide vane 67 locates in the lower portion 29 of an upper rotor 69. Rotor 69 has an outer cylinder 71 closely spaced to a stationary ~leeve 72 in hou~ing 31 13. An inner hub 73 mounts to shaft 17 for rotation 32 wlth ghaft 17. A plurallty of longitudinal vanes 75 - ~05G912 .
1 extend between inner hub 73 and outer cylinder 71.
2 Each vane has a notch 77 ln its upper edge.
4 An upper discharge member 79 mounts statlonarily above upper rotor 69. Upper discharge member 79 has a 6 depending 6kirt 81, the lower edge of which extends 7 into the notches 77. Skirt 81 defines a gas cavity 83 1 8 on its inner diameter. Three gas passages 85 lead ¦ 9 through the upper discharge member 79, each to an upper gas outlet 87. Liquid passage 8g i~ located in a 11 clearance between the skirt 81 and the inner diameter 12 of housing 13.
14 The upper discharge member 79 has three 6upports 91, each having a window 93. The ~upports 91 extend to 16 the inner diameter of housing 13 and are 17 circumferentially spaced apart from each other. A
18 fastener 95 extends through a threaded hole in houslng 19 13 and has an inner end that engages the support 91.
21 A bearing 97 mounts in housing 13 above upper 22 dlscharge member 79 for supporting shaft i7. Bearing 23 97 has one or more axial passages 99 for the flow of 24 well fluid. The well fluid flows through a bore outlet 101 on the upper end into the intake of a pump (not 26 shown).
28 In operation, the well fluid flows ln lntake 19 29 tFig. lC). The inducer 21 will apply pressure to the well fluid, which then flows through guide vanQs 25 31 into rotor 27. The spinnlng rotor 27 causes some 32 ~eparation of the gas and liquid, with the heavier -1 liguld components moving outward toward the outer 2 cylinder 29.
4 Referring to Figure lB, the gaseous phase remains near inner hub 31 and will flow through the gas cavity 6 41, gas passage 45 and out the gas outlet 47. The 7 remaining portion of the well fluid, which may be a 8 mixture of liquid and gas, will flow up the liguid 9 passage 43 and through the bearing passage 59.
11 The well fluid at that point enters a second 12 separation stage which operates in the same manner as 13 previously described. The well fluid is pressurized 14 again by an inducer 61. The well fluid flows into lS rotor 69 (Fig. lA). Again, separation occurs. The 16 ~eparated gas flows through gas cavity 83, gas passage 17 85 and out gas outlet 87. The remaining well fluld 18 flows up the liquid passage 89, through the passage 99 19 and out the bore outlet 101. The well fluid then enters the intake of a pump (not shown).
22 The invention ha~ significant advantages.
23 Utilizing a stationary skirt with the diffuser enhances 24 separation of the liquid and gaseous components. The stationary skirt is less expensive to manufacture than 26 a rotating skirt such as used in one prior art type of 27 gas separator. The discharge members are easier to 28 install as they are held by fasteners rather than by 29 axial compression as in one prior art type.
31 While the invention has been shown in only one of 32 it~ forms, it should be apparent to those skilled in 33 the art that it is not ~o limited, but is susceptible .
1 to various changes without departing from the sco~ 91 2 2 the invention.
12 Submersible well pumps of the type concerned 13 herein are centrifugal and driven by a downhole 14 electrical motor. A pump will have a large number of stages, each 6tage having an impeller rotatably driven 16 within a diffuser. These pumps are used to pump large 17 volumes of fluid, such as oil and water from wells.
19 Most oil wells typically will also produce some gas. If the gas is of sufficient volume, it can reduce 21 the performance of the pump. In these circumstances, 22 gas separators are mounted in the assembly below the 23 pump and above the motor and the mechanical ~eal.
Prior art gas separators utilize a rotatably 26 driven rotor within a cylindrical housing. The rotor 27 has at least one blade or vane. The vane will impart a 28 centrifugal force to the well fluid flowing through the 29 housing. This centrifugal force tends to separate the liquid components from the gas components because of 31 differance in densities, with the liquid components 32 locating near the outer wall of the housing, and the 33 gas remaining near the shaft.
-2 A discharge member mounts above the rotor. The 3 discharge member will provide a passagQ from the 4 central portion of the rotor to the exterior of the gas s separator to discharge gas. The discharge member also 6 provideg 8 liquid passageway for the remaining portion 7 of the well fluid to flow upward toward the intake of a 8 pump.
. 9 While workable, improvements to the rotor and 11 discharge member are desirable, both in the efficiency 12 and the cost of the members.
3 In this invention, the discharge member is 4 provided with an annular stationary skirt. The skirt extends downward into the rotor. Preferably, each of 6 the rotor blades will have a notch located in its upper 7 edge for receiving the lower termination of the skirt.
j g The skirt locates between the hub and the bore or side wall of the housing. This results in an annular 11 gas cavity within the skirt to receive the gas flowing 12 upward near the hub. A liquid passage is defined by 13 the clearance between the exterior of the skirt and the 14 bore of the housing. A gas discharge passage leads lS from the gas cavity to a gas outlet in the housing.
17 Each discharge member has a plurality of support 18 members, each extending radially outward into contact 19 with the bore of the housing. A gas passage extends through each support. A fastener extends through the 21 housing wall to fasten one of the support members to 22 the housing. In one embodiment, the gas separator is 23 of a tandem type. It will have two or more rotors and 24 two or more discharge elements located in series.
i -3 Figures lA, lB and lC comprise a vertical 4 sectional view of a gas separator constructed in accordance with this invention.
7 Figure 2 is a side view of the discharge member 8 used in the gas separator of Figure 1, and showing a ¦ g side 9o degrees from the positlon shown in Figure 1.
11 Figure 3 is a top plan view of the discharge 12 member of Figure 2.
14 Figure 4 is a sectional view of the discharge member of Figure 2, taken along the line IV-IV of 16 Figure 2.
- 2~66912 3 Referring to the drawings, and in particular to 4 Figure lC, gas separator 11 has a cylindrical housing 13. Housing 13 has an axial inner passage 15. A shaft 6 17 extends through the passage 15. Shaft 17 will be 7 driven by a motor (not shown) mounted below the gas 8 separator 11 and separated by a seal section (not ¦ 9 shown). An inlet 19 locates in the bottom of housing 13 for drawiny well fluid into passage 15.
12 The well fluid proceeds first to an inducer 21.
13 Inducer 21 comprises a helical screw mounted to the 14 shaft 17 for rotation with it. Inducer 21 conveys the fluid upward and pressurizes the fluid to prevent 16 expansion of the gas contained in the fluid at that 17 polnt.
i 18 19 The well fluid then passes through ~ bearing 23, which ls of a spider type, having a plurality of 21 passages 24. The well fluid proceeds to a set of guide 22 vanes 2S. Guide vanes 25 are mounted to the shaft 17 23 for rotation therewith. Preferably there are more than 24 one of the guide vanes 25, each comprising ~ flat or curved plate, and each being inclined relative to the 26 axl6 of ~haft 17. Guide vanes 25 impart a swirling 27 motion to the well fluid.
29 Guide vanes 25 are located in the lower portion of a rotor 27. Rotor 27 has an outer cyllndQr 29 whlch 31 extends down over guide vanes 25. Outer cylinder 29 32 enclo~es an inner hub 31 and is closQly spaced within ~
33 stationary sleeve 30 mounted in the passage 15. Inner ~ 20~69I2 1 hub 31 mounts to the ~haft 17 for rotation with the 2 shaft 17. Two or more rotor vanes 33 (only two shown) 3 extend between the hub 31 and the outer cylinder 29.
4 Vanes 33 comprise longitudinal blades extending from the lower end to the upper end of the rotor 27. Each 6 vane 33 is located in a radial plane of the axis of 7 shaft 17. Each vane 33 i8 vertically oriented.
g Referring to Figure lB, each vane 33 preferably has a notch 35 formed in its upper end. Notch 35 is a 11 longitudinal slot that extends downward a short 12 distance from the upper edge of each vane 33. In the 13 embodiment shown, each notch 35 i8 located 14 approximately midway between the hub 31 and the outer cylinder 29. The notches 35 also may be pos~tioned 16 to one side or the other of the midpoint between hub 31 17 and outer cylinder 29, dekpending on the amount of 18 separation desired. The rotor 27 imparts a centrifugal 19 force to the well fluid, causing heavier liguid components to flow outward toward the outer cylinder 29 21 as they progress up the rotor 27. The lighter gaseous 22 phase will remain in the central portion of the rotor 23 27, near the hub 31.
A d~scharge member 37 mounts stationarily directly 26 above rotor 27. Discharge member 37 does not rotate 27 with shaft 17. Discharge member 37 has a depending 28 skirt 39 that extends downward. Skirt 39 is concentric 29 with shaft 17. Skirt 39 is annular, having an outer diameter significantly ~maller than the inner diameter 31 of the passage 15 of housing 13. The inner diameter of 32 skirt 39 i8 significantly greater than the outer - 20~6912 1 diameter of inner hub 31. Thig result~ in an annular 2 gas cavity 41 located withln sklrt 39.
4 The clearance between the skirt 39 and the passage S 15 comprises a liquid passage 43. The portion of the 6 well fluid that does not enter gas cavity 41 will flow 7 up through the liquid passage 43. A plurality of gas 8 passages 45 (only one shown ln Fig. lB) extend through g discharge member 37. In the embodiment shown, there are three of the gas passages 45, and each communicates 11 with a gas outlet 47 extending through housing 13.
12 Gas outlets 47 allow separated gas to be discharged 13 into the well.
As shown also in Figures 3 and 4, discharge 16 member 37 has a plurality of laterally extending 17 supports 49. In the embodiment shown, there are three 18 supports 49 spaced 120 degrees apart from each other.
19 The supports 49 extend out into contact with the passage 15. Each support 49 has a generally 21 rectangular perimeter, having flat upper and lower 22 edges and side edges, a~ 6hown in Figure 2. The outer 23 face of each support 49 is a segment of a cylinder 24 having approximately the same diameter as the inner diameter of passage lS. The outer face of each support 26 49 extends circumferentially about 45 degrees.
28 The well fluid ln the liquld passage 43 flows 29 between the supports 49. A window 51, which is rectangular in the embodiment shown, i~ located in the 31 outer face of each support 49. Window Sl registers 32 with one of the gas outlets 47 (Fig. 1) and 33 communicates with a cavity 53 defined by the interior - 20~6912 1 of each support 49. Window 51 and cavity 53 may be 2 consldered a part of the gas passage 45 leading to a 3 gas outlet 47 (Fig. 11. A fastener, screw 55, or 4 locking device extends through a hole in housing 13.
The tip of screw 55 engages a dimple provided in one of 6 the upper supports 49. This engagement prevents 7 rotation of the discharge member 37 and also fixes the 8 discharge member 37 axially.
Referring still to Figure lB, a bearing 57 mounts 11 in housing 13 directly above discharge member 37.
12 Bearing 57 has a plurality of axial passages S9 13 extending through it.
In the embodiment shown, the gas Reparator 11 18 16 of a tandem type, and can have two or more units ~oined 17 in ser~es depending upon well conditions. That is, 18 there are two separate and independent separator 19 portions. The structure of the separator portion above bearing 57 is the same as that below. This structure 21 includes an inducer 61. A bearing 63 locates above 22 inducer 61. The well fluid passing through liquid 23 passage 43 may still contain some gas. The well fluid 24 flows through passages 65 in bearing 63 to an upper guide vane 67. Upper guide vane 67 rotates with shaft 26 17.
28 Upper guide vane 67 locates in the lower portion 29 of an upper rotor 69. Rotor 69 has an outer cylinder 71 closely spaced to a stationary ~leeve 72 in hou~ing 31 13. An inner hub 73 mounts to shaft 17 for rotation 32 wlth ghaft 17. A plurallty of longitudinal vanes 75 - ~05G912 .
1 extend between inner hub 73 and outer cylinder 71.
2 Each vane has a notch 77 ln its upper edge.
4 An upper discharge member 79 mounts statlonarily above upper rotor 69. Upper discharge member 79 has a 6 depending 6kirt 81, the lower edge of which extends 7 into the notches 77. Skirt 81 defines a gas cavity 83 1 8 on its inner diameter. Three gas passages 85 lead ¦ 9 through the upper discharge member 79, each to an upper gas outlet 87. Liquid passage 8g i~ located in a 11 clearance between the skirt 81 and the inner diameter 12 of housing 13.
14 The upper discharge member 79 has three 6upports 91, each having a window 93. The ~upports 91 extend to 16 the inner diameter of housing 13 and are 17 circumferentially spaced apart from each other. A
18 fastener 95 extends through a threaded hole in houslng 19 13 and has an inner end that engages the support 91.
21 A bearing 97 mounts in housing 13 above upper 22 dlscharge member 79 for supporting shaft i7. Bearing 23 97 has one or more axial passages 99 for the flow of 24 well fluid. The well fluid flows through a bore outlet 101 on the upper end into the intake of a pump (not 26 shown).
28 In operation, the well fluid flows ln lntake 19 29 tFig. lC). The inducer 21 will apply pressure to the well fluid, which then flows through guide vanQs 25 31 into rotor 27. The spinnlng rotor 27 causes some 32 ~eparation of the gas and liquid, with the heavier -1 liguld components moving outward toward the outer 2 cylinder 29.
4 Referring to Figure lB, the gaseous phase remains near inner hub 31 and will flow through the gas cavity 6 41, gas passage 45 and out the gas outlet 47. The 7 remaining portion of the well fluid, which may be a 8 mixture of liquid and gas, will flow up the liguid 9 passage 43 and through the bearing passage 59.
11 The well fluid at that point enters a second 12 separation stage which operates in the same manner as 13 previously described. The well fluid is pressurized 14 again by an inducer 61. The well fluid flows into lS rotor 69 (Fig. lA). Again, separation occurs. The 16 ~eparated gas flows through gas cavity 83, gas passage 17 85 and out gas outlet 87. The remaining well fluld 18 flows up the liquid passage 89, through the passage 99 19 and out the bore outlet 101. The well fluid then enters the intake of a pump (not shown).
22 The invention ha~ significant advantages.
23 Utilizing a stationary skirt with the diffuser enhances 24 separation of the liquid and gaseous components. The stationary skirt is less expensive to manufacture than 26 a rotating skirt such as used in one prior art type of 27 gas separator. The discharge members are easier to 28 install as they are held by fasteners rather than by 29 axial compression as in one prior art type.
31 While the invention has been shown in only one of 32 it~ forms, it should be apparent to those skilled in 33 the art that it is not ~o limited, but is susceptible .
1 to various changes without departing from the sco~ 91 2 2 the invention.
Claims (6)
1. A gas separator for a submersible centrifugal pump for a well, the gas separator having a cylindrical housing (13) with a bore (15) extending therethrough, a shaft (17) driven by a motor of the pump and extending axially through the bore (15), an intake (19) in the lower end of the housing (13) for receiving well fluid containing liquid and gas, a rotor (27, 69) mounted to the shaft (17) for rotation therewith for receiving fluid flowing through the bore (15) of the housing (13) and forcing liquid of the fluid radially outward while the gas flows through a central portion of the rotor (27, 69), the rotor (27, 69) having an inner hub (31, 73), at least one longitudinal vane (33, 75) extending radially outward from the inner hub (31, 73), and a discharge member (37, 79) mounted stationarily above the rotor (27, 69) for directing the gas outward into the well and directing the liquid upward into an intake of the pump, the improvement characterized by:
an annular stationary skirt (39, 81) on the discharge member (37, 79) extending downward toward the rotor (27, 69) radially outward of the shaft (17) and radially inward of the bore (15) of the housing (13), the interior of the skirt (39, 81) defining a gas cavity (41, 83) for discharging gas through a gas outlet (47, 87) in the housing (13) into the well;
a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart supports (49, 91), each extending radially outward from the discharge member (37, 79) into contact with the bore (15) of the housing (13); and a fastener (55, 95) extending through a wall of the housing (13) into engagement with one of the supports (49, 91) for securing the discharge member (37, 79) within the housing (13).
an annular stationary skirt (39, 81) on the discharge member (37, 79) extending downward toward the rotor (27, 69) radially outward of the shaft (17) and radially inward of the bore (15) of the housing (13), the interior of the skirt (39, 81) defining a gas cavity (41, 83) for discharging gas through a gas outlet (47, 87) in the housing (13) into the well;
a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart supports (49, 91), each extending radially outward from the discharge member (37, 79) into contact with the bore (15) of the housing (13); and a fastener (55, 95) extending through a wall of the housing (13) into engagement with one of the supports (49, 91) for securing the discharge member (37, 79) within the housing (13).
2. The gas separator according to claim 1 wherein the supports (49, 91) are located above the skirt (39, 81), and wherein the portion of the well fluid that does not flow into the gas cavity (41, 83) flows between the supports (49, 91).
3. The gas separator according to claim 1 wherein each of the supports (49, 91) contains gas passage means (45, 85) for communicating gas from the gas cavity (41, 83) to the gas outlet (47, 87).
4. The gas separator according to claim 1 wherein the skirt ( 39, 81) on the discharge member (37, 79) extends downward into the rotor (27, 69) radially outward of the hub (31, 73) and radially inward of the outer periphery (29, 71) of the rotor (27, 69).
5. The gas separator according to claim 1 further comprising:
a notch (35, 77) formed in an upper edge of the vane (33, 75) for receiving a lower edge of the skirt ((39, 81).
a notch (35, 77) formed in an upper edge of the vane (33, 75) for receiving a lower edge of the skirt ((39, 81).
6. The gas separator according to claim 1 wherein there are three of the supports (49, 91), each spaced 120 degrees from each other.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US69070491A | 1991-04-24 | 1991-04-24 | |
| US690,704 | 1991-04-24 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2066912A1 CA2066912A1 (en) | 1992-10-25 |
| CA2066912C true CA2066912C (en) | 1997-04-01 |
Family
ID=24773589
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002066912A Expired - Lifetime CA2066912C (en) | 1991-04-24 | 1992-04-23 | Submersible well pump gas separator |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2066912C (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2255033B (en) |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7025154B2 (en) | 1998-11-20 | 2006-04-11 | Cdx Gas, Llc | Method and system for circulating fluid in a well system |
| US8376052B2 (en) | 1998-11-20 | 2013-02-19 | Vitruvian Exploration, Llc | Method and system for surface production of gas from a subterranean zone |
| US8297377B2 (en) | 1998-11-20 | 2012-10-30 | Vitruvian Exploration, Llc | Method and system for accessing subterranean deposits from the surface and tools therefor |
| US6662870B1 (en) | 2001-01-30 | 2003-12-16 | Cdx Gas, L.L.C. | Method and system for accessing subterranean deposits from a limited surface area |
| US7048049B2 (en) | 2001-10-30 | 2006-05-23 | Cdx Gas, Llc | Slant entry well system and method |
| US6679322B1 (en) | 1998-11-20 | 2004-01-20 | Cdx Gas, Llc | Method and system for accessing subterranean deposits from the surface |
| US6988548B2 (en) * | 2002-10-03 | 2006-01-24 | Cdx Gas, Llc | Method and system for removing fluid from a subterranean zone using an enlarged cavity |
| US6280000B1 (en) | 1998-11-20 | 2001-08-28 | Joseph A. Zupanick | Method for production of gas from a coal seam using intersecting well bores |
| US7360595B2 (en) | 2002-05-08 | 2008-04-22 | Cdx Gas, Llc | Method and system for underground treatment of materials |
| US6991047B2 (en) | 2002-07-12 | 2006-01-31 | Cdx Gas, Llc | Wellbore sealing system and method |
| US6991048B2 (en) | 2002-07-12 | 2006-01-31 | Cdx Gas, Llc | Wellbore plug system and method |
| US7025137B2 (en) | 2002-09-12 | 2006-04-11 | Cdx Gas, Llc | Three-dimensional well system for accessing subterranean zones |
| US8333245B2 (en) | 2002-09-17 | 2012-12-18 | Vitruvian Exploration, Llc | Accelerated production of gas from a subterranean zone |
| US6964308B1 (en) | 2002-10-08 | 2005-11-15 | Cdx Gas, Llc | Method of drilling lateral wellbores from a slant well without utilizing a whipstock |
| US7264048B2 (en) | 2003-04-21 | 2007-09-04 | Cdx Gas, Llc | Slot cavity |
| US7134494B2 (en) | 2003-06-05 | 2006-11-14 | Cdx Gas, Llc | Method and system for recirculating fluid in a well system |
| US7100687B2 (en) | 2003-11-17 | 2006-09-05 | Cdx Gas, Llc | Multi-purpose well bores and method for accessing a subterranean zone from the surface |
| US7419223B2 (en) | 2003-11-26 | 2008-09-02 | Cdx Gas, Llc | System and method for enhancing permeability of a subterranean zone at a horizontal well bore |
| US7163063B2 (en) | 2003-11-26 | 2007-01-16 | Cdx Gas, Llc | Method and system for extraction of resources from a subterranean well bore |
| US7207395B2 (en) | 2004-01-30 | 2007-04-24 | Cdx Gas, Llc | Method and system for testing a partially formed hydrocarbon well for evaluation and well planning refinement |
| US7207390B1 (en) | 2004-02-05 | 2007-04-24 | Cdx Gas, Llc | Method and system for lining multilateral wells |
| US7353877B2 (en) | 2004-12-21 | 2008-04-08 | Cdx Gas, Llc | Accessing subterranean resources by formation collapse |
| US7373984B2 (en) | 2004-12-22 | 2008-05-20 | Cdx Gas, Llc | Lining well bore junctions |
| US7299864B2 (en) | 2004-12-22 | 2007-11-27 | Cdx Gas, Llc | Adjustable window liner |
| US7571771B2 (en) | 2005-05-31 | 2009-08-11 | Cdx Gas, Llc | Cavity well system |
Family Cites Families (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4088459A (en) * | 1976-12-20 | 1978-05-09 | Borg-Warner Corporation | Separator |
| GB2124929B (en) * | 1982-07-22 | 1986-03-12 | Trw Inc | Liquid gas separator |
-
1992
- 1992-04-23 CA CA002066912A patent/CA2066912C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1992-04-24 GB GB9208894A patent/GB2255033B/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB9208894D0 (en) | 1992-06-10 |
| GB2255033A (en) | 1992-10-28 |
| CA2066912A1 (en) | 1992-10-25 |
| GB2255033B (en) | 1994-12-21 |
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| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKEX | Expiry |