Downhole Jet Pump

Abstract

A downhole jet pump 10 includes an exterior pump housing 12, the jet nozzle 30, and a carrier 40. A diffuser 46 is provided downstream from a mixing tube 32, and preferably forms a unitary body sealed to the pump housing. An inlet valve 100 passes formation fluid to the pump housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A downhole jet pump for positioning in a well on a tubular string to pump fluids from the well to the surface, comprising:
 an exterior pump housing defining an elongate housing passageway therein having a central axis and extending from an upper portion to a lower portion of the pump housing;   a power fluid jet nozzle having an exterior sealed to the pump housing, the jet nozzle having a jet passageway therein for increasing fluid velocity of power fluid transmitted through the jet nozzle;   a mixing tube fluidly downstream from the jet nozzle and having an elongate mixing tube passageway receiving fluid from the jet nozzle;   a diffuser fluidly downstream from the mixing tube and having a curved flow path therein, the diffuser sealed to the exterior pump housing and the flow path in the diffuser being in communication with a throughport in the pump housing, a circumferential spacing between an exterior surface of the diffuser and an interior surface of the pump housing defining a flow path for formation fluid flowing to the jet nozzle; and   a carrier in the pump housing and supporting the jet nozzle and the mixing tube, the carrier including one or more ports for passing formation fluid radially inward to the jet nozzle, the carrier having a first end for sealing with either the pump housing and the diffuser, and an axially opposing second end for sealing with the other of the pump housing and the diffuser, such that the carrier, the jet nozzle, and the mixing tube may be arranged for direct flow or may be inverted in the pump housing for reverse flow.   
     
     
         2 . The jet pump as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an adjustment mechanism for adjusting an axial position between the jet nozzle with respect to the mixing tube.   
     
     
         3 . The jet pump as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is a selected axial length sleeve supporting the jet nozzle. 
     
     
         4 . The jet pump as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a temperature and/or pressure probe supported in the well from the jet pump housing, such that retrieval of the jet pump housing to the surface retrieves the probe.   
     
     
         5 . The jet pump as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is sealed to the pump housing and to the diffuser, such that there is limited axial movement of the carrier with respect to the pump housing and the diffuser. 
     
     
         6 . The jet pump as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an inlet valve below the pump housing for controlling formation fluid flow to the pump housing.   
     
     
         7 . A downhole jet pump for positioning in a well on a tubular string to pump fluids from the well to the surface, comprising:
 an exterior pump housing defining an elongate housing passageway therein having a central axis and extending from an upper portion to a lower portion of the pump housing;   a power fluid jet nozzle having an exterior sealed to the pump housing, the jet nozzle having a jet passageway therein for increasing fluid velocity of power fluid transmitted through the jet nozzle;   a mixing tube fluidly downstream from the jet nozzle and having an elongate mixing tube passageway receiving fluid from the jet nozzle;   a diffuser fluidly downstream from the mixing tube and having a curved flow path therein, the diffuser sealed to the exterior pump housing and the flow path in the diffuser being in communication with a throughport in the pump housing, a circumferential spacing between an exterior surface of the diffuser and an interior surface of the pump housing defining a flow path for formation fluid flowing to the jet nozzle; and   a carrier in the pump housing radially exterior of both the jet nozzle and the mixing tube and supporting the jet nozzle and the mixing tube, the carrier including an opening for passing formation fluid radially inward to the jet nozzle, the carrier having axially opposing ends each for sealing with either the pump housing or the diffuser, such that the carrier, the jet nozzle, and the mixing tube may be arranged for direct flow or may be inverted in the pump housing for reverse flow.   
     
     
         8 . The jet pump as defined in  claim 7 , further comprising:
 an adjustment mechanism for adjusting an axial position between the jet nozzle with respect to the mixing tube.   
     
     
         9 . The jet pump as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is a selected axial length sleeve supporting the jet nozzle. 
     
     
         10 . The jet pump as defined in  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a temperature and/or pressure probe supported in the well from the jet pump housing, such that retrieval of the jet pump housing to the surface retrieves the probe.   
     
     
         11 . The jet pump as defined in  claim 7 , further comprising:
 an inlet valve below the pump housing for controlling formation fluid flow within the pump housing.   
     
     
         12 . A method of operating a downhole jet pump positioned in a well on a tubular string to pump fluids from the well to the surface, comprising:
 providing an exterior pump housing defining an elongate housing passageway therein having a central axis and extending from an upper portion to a lower portion of the pump housing;   positioning a power fluid jet nozzle having an exterior sealed to the pump housing, the jet nozzle having a jet passageway therein for increasing fluid velocity of power fluid transmitted through the jet nozzle;   positioning a mixing tube fluidly downstream from the jet nozzle and having an elongate mixing tube passageway receiving fluid from the jet nozzle;   providing a diffuser fluidly downstream from the mixing tube and having a curved flow path therein, the diffuser sealed to the exterior pump housing and the flow path in the diffuser being in communication with a throughport in the pump housing, a circumferential spacing between an exterior surface of the diffuser and an interior surface of the pump housing defining a flow path for formation fluid flowing to the jet nozzle;   providing a carrier in the pump housing and supporting the jet nozzle and the mixing tube, the carrier including ports for passing formation fluid radially inward to the jet nozzle, the carrier having axially opposing ends each for sealing with either the pump housing and the diffuser, such that the carrier, the jet nozzle, and the mixing tube may be arranged for direct flow; and   inverting the carrier, the jet nozzle and the mixing tube in the pump housing for reverse flow.   
     
     
         13 . The method as defined in  claim 12 , further comprising:
 adjusting an axial position between the jet nozzle with respect to the mixing tube.   
     
     
         14 . The method as defined in  claim 12 , further comprising:
 supporting a temperature and/or pressure probe in the well from the jet pump housing, such that retrieval of the jet pump housing to the surface retrieves the probe.   
     
     
         15 . The method as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the carrier is sealed to the pump housing and to the diffuser, such that there is limited axial movement of the carrier with respect to the pump housing and the diffuser. 
     
     
         16 . The method as defined in  claim 12 , further comprising:
 positioning an inlet valve below the pump housing for controlling formation fluid flow within the pump housing.