Pumping system for a wellbore and methods of assembling the same

Abstract

A pumping system for use in moving a fluid present within a wellbore is provided. The pumping system includes an electric linear motor having a motor housing and a stator coupled to the motor housing. The stator includes a track having a primary magnet assembly. A motor shaft is electrically coupled to the stator and includes a body having a secondary magnet assembly. The pumping system includes a pump coupled to the electric linear motor, which includes a pump housing coupled to the motor housing and a pump piston coupled to the motor shaft. The pump piston is configured to reciprocate within the pump housing between a second position and a first position. A seal is coupled to the motor housing and the motor housing and configured to direct the fluid into the pump housing when the pump piston is in the first position and to direct the fluid out of the pump housing when the pump piston is in the second position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pumping system for use in moving a fluid present within a wellbore, said pumping system comprising:
 an electric linear motor comprising:
 a motor housing; 
 a stator coupled to said motor housing and comprising a track having a primary magnet assembly; and 
 a motor shaft electrically coupled to said stator and comprising a body having a secondary magnet assembly and a first diameter; 
   a first pump coupled to said electric linear motor, said pump comprising:
 a pump housing coupled to said motor housing; and 
 a pump piston coupled to said motor shaft and having a second diameter which is different than said first diameter, said pump piston configured to reciprocate within said pump housing between a first position and a second position; and 
   a seal coupled to said motor housing and said pump housing and configured to direct the fluid into said pump housing when said pump piston is in said first position and to direct the fluid out of said pump housing when said pump piston is in said second position.   
     
     
         2 . The pumping system of  claim 1 , wherein said primary magnet assembly comprises at least one of a plurality of magnetic windings and a permanent magnet. 
     
     
         3 . The pumping system of  claim 1 , wherein said secondary magnet assembly comprises at least one of a plurality of permanent magnetic windings and a permanent magnet. 
     
     
         4 . The pumping system of  claim 1 , wherein said motor housing has a first length and said pump housing has a second length which is less than said first length. 
     
     
         5 . The pumping system of  claim 1 , wherein said housing comprises an inner surface coupled to said track. 
     
     
         6 . The pumping system of  claim 1 , wherein said first diameter is larger than said second diameter. 
     
     
         7 . The pumping system of  claim 1 , wherein said seal comprises a channel coupled in flow communication to the wellbore and said pump housing. 
     
     
         8 . The pumping system of  claim 1 , further comprising a motor channel and a pump channel. 
     
     
         9 . The pumping system of  claim 1 , further comprising a connector removably coupled to at least one of said motor housing and said pump housing. 
     
     
         10 . The pumping system of  claim 1 , further comprising another pump coupled to said motor shaft. 
     
     
         11 . A well assembly for pumping a fluid, said well assembly comprising:
 a well casing comprising a first zone, a second zone and a plurality of perforations coupled in flow communication to said second zone;   an electric linear motor coupled to said well casing in at least one of said first zone and said second zone and comprising:
 a motor housing; 
 a stator coupled to said motor housing and comprising a track having a primary magnet assembly; and 
 a motor shaft electrically coupled to said stator and comprising a body having a secondary magnet assembly and a first diameter; 
   a pump coupled to said electric linear motor and located within said second zone, said pump comprising:
 a pump housing coupled to said motor housing; and 
 a pump piston coupled to said motor shaft and having a second diameter which is less than said first diameter, said pump piston configured to reciprocate within said pump housing between a first position and a second position; and 
   a seal coupled to said motor housing and said pump housing and configured to direct the fluid into said pump housing when said pump piston is in said first position and to direct the fluid out of said pump housing when said pump piston is in said second position.   
     
     
         12 . The well assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said motor housing has a housing length and said pump housing has a pump length which is less than said housing length. 
     
     
         13 . The well assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said primary magnet assembly comprises a magnetic winding and said secondary magnet assembly comprises a permanent magnet. 
     
     
         14 . The well assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said primary magnet assembly comprises a permanent magnetic material and wherein said secondary magnet assembly comprises a plurality of magnetic windings. 
     
     
         15 . The well assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a heat transfer device coupled to said motor housing. 
     
     
         16 . A method of assembling a pumping system, the method comprising:
 coupling a stator to a motor housing, the stator comprising a primary magnet assembly;   coupling a motor shaft to the stator, the motor shaft comprising a secondary magnet assembly and having a first diameter;   coupling a pump housing to the motor housing;   coupling a pump piston to the motor shaft, the pump piston having a second diameter which less than the first diameter and configured to reciprocate within the pump housing between a first position and a second position; and   coupling a seal to the motor housing and the piston housing, the seal configured to direct the fluid into the pump housing when the pump piston is in the first position and to direct the fluid out of the pump housing when the pump piston is in the second position.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising coupling a plurality of magnetic windings to a track of the stator. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising coupling a permanent magnet to the motor shaft. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising coupling a permanent magnet to a track of the stator. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising coupling a plurality of magnetic windings to the motor shaft.