Electric motors and related systems for deployment in a downhole well environment

Abstract

A method can include providing a motor that includes a housing, axially aligned stationary electromagnets disposed in the housing, an aperture defined by the axially aligned stationary electromagnets, movable axially aligned permanent magnets disposed in the aperture and a connector shaft connected at an end of the movable axially aligned permanent magnets; disposing the motor and a rod pump in a well; controlling operation of the motor to linearly reciprocate the axially aligned movable permanent magnets and the connector shaft; pumping fluid from the well via the rod pump responsive to the linear reciprocation of the axially aligned movable permanent magnets and the connector shaft; and substantially blocking the pumped fluid from flowing through the aperture defined by the axially aligned stationary electromagnets of the motor. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.

1 . A method comprising:
 providing a controller;   providing a rod pump;   providing a motor that comprises a housing, axially aligned stationary electromagnets disposed in the housing, an aperture defined by the axially aligned stationary electromagnets, movable axially aligned permanent magnets disposed in the aperture and a connector shaft connected at an end of the movable axially aligned permanent magnets;   coupling the motor to the rod pump via the connector shaft;   disposing the motor and the rod pump in a well;   controlling operation of the motor by selectively supplying alternating current to the axially aligned stationary electromagnets via a power source controlled by the controller to linearly reciprocate the axially aligned movable permanent magnets and the connector shaft;   pumping fluid from the well via the rod pump responsive to the linear reciprocation of the axially aligned movable permanent magnets and the connector shaft; and   substantially blocking the pumped fluid from flowing through the aperture defined by the axially aligned stationary electromagnets of the motor.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  comprising providing a position sensor and sensing position of the axially aligned movable permanent magnets. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing another connector shaft at the other end of the axially aligned permanent magnets and connecting another moveable permanent magnet to the axially aligned permanent magnets via the other connector shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the well extends from a surface into a well environment and wherein the disposing the motor and the rod pump in the well comprises disposing the motor and the rod pump horizontally with respect to the surface. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the controller comprises a memory and programmable code wherein the programmable code is executable for controlling operation of the motor. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the controller is provided at a surface and is communicatively attached to a source of power via a wired link. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the controller is provided at a surface and is communicatively attached to a source of power via a wireless link. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the controller is attached directly to the motor. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the connector shaft comprises an annular component for substantially blocking the pumped fluid from flowing through the aperture defined by the axially aligned stationary electromagnets of the motor. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the substantially blocking the pumped fluid from flowing through the aperture defined by the axially aligned stationary electromagnets of the motor prevents clogging of the axially aligned permanent magnets disposed in the aperture defined by the axially aligned stationary electromagnets of the motor. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the pumped fluid comprises a fluid from a reservoir. 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 providing a controller;   providing a rod pump;   providing a motor that comprises a housing, axially aligned stationary electromagnets disposed in the housing, an aperture defined by the axially aligned stationary electromagnets, movable axially aligned permanent magnets disposed in the aperture and a connector shaft connected at an end of the movable axially aligned permanent magnets;   coupling the motor to the rod pump via the connector shaft;   disposing the motor and the rod pump in a well;   controlling operation of the motor by selectively supplying alternating current to the axially aligned stationary electromagnets via a power source controlled by the controller to linearly reciprocate the axially aligned movable permanent magnets and the connector shaft;   pumping fluid from the well via the rod pump responsive to the linear reciprocation of the axially aligned movable permanent magnets and the connector shaft; and   preventing clogging of the axially aligned permanent magnets disposed in the aperture defined by the axially aligned stationary electromagnets of the motor by substantially blocking the pumped fluid from flowing through the aperture defined by the axially aligned stationary electromagnets of the motor.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the pumped fluid comprises metallic pieces. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the metallic pieces are attracted to a magnet. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the pumped fluid comprises a fluid from a reservoir.