Multi-stage pumping system

• Main Authors: GRIGORY L ARAUZ, ASHLEY C KISHINO, W KEITH RUSSELL, ANTHONY FRANK VENERUSO, THOMAS H ZIMMERMAN, STEVEN E BUCHANAN, KENNETH L HAVLINEK, LAWRENCE C LEE
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 12.06.2002
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: BLASTING; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER; DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES; EARTH DRILLING; EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; ELECTRICITY; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; GENERATION; HEATING; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; MINING; NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT PUMPS; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR ASLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS; POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS; ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENTMACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENTPUMPS; WEAPONS

A multi-stage pumping system 10 comprises a number of stages 40, each of which includes an impeller, a diffuser and a motor. The system 10 may include a fluid intake 26 though which fluid can be drawn from a wellbore 20 a delivered to a holding tank at the surface 28. Each stage 40 may include an identifier ( 81 figure 9a) to check its operation, and the system 10 may include sensors to monitor temperature, speed, vibration, pressure and flow rate. The stages 40 may be independently controlled by a controller 83 to operate at different speeds or in different directions, and each stage 40 may be used as a flow control valve. The system 10 may include electrical quick-connects (77 figure 8 ) which allow the rapid connection and disconnection of adjacent stages 40.