Pump assemblies

Abstract

Embodiments of improved pump systems and methods of using the same are disclosed herein. Embodiments described herein are well-suited, for example, for use in the methods of artificial lift in oil wells and for the purpose of deliquification of gas wells, among other uses. Embodiments of the disclosed pump systems may comprise one or more pump assemblies connected in parallel via shared low- and high-pressure conduits.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pump system, comprising:
 a first pump assembly, comprising:
 a first electric motor configured to actuate a first pump; 
 a first inlet valve configured to draw fluid from a first low-pressure conduit and into the first pump; and 
 a first outlet valve configured to expel the fluid from the first pump and into a first high-pressure conduit; 
 a second pump assembly, comprising: 
 a second electric motor configured to actuate a second pump; 
 a second inlet valve configured to draw fluid from a second low-pressure conduit and into the second pump; and 
 a second outlet valve configured to expel the fluid from the second pump and into a second high-pressure conduit, 
   wherein the first low-pressure conduit is in fluid connection with the second low-pressure conduit, and   wherein the first high-pressure conduit is in fluid connection with the second high-pressure conduit.   
     
     
         2 . The pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the first pump and the second pump are positive displacement pumps. 
     
     
         3 . The pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the first pump and the second pump are progressive cavity pumps. 
     
     
         4 . The pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the first pump and the second pump are electric submersible pumps, each of the first pump and the second pump comprising at least one turbine. 
     
     
         5 . The pump system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first pump comprises a first piston and a first cylinder,   wherein the second pump comprises a second piston and a second cylinder,   wherein the first inlet valve is configured to draw fluid from the first low-pressure conduit into the first cylinder when the first piston moves in a first direction within the cylinder,   wherein the second inlet valve is configured to draw fluid from the second low-pressure conduit into the second cylinder when the second piston moves in the first direction within the cylinder,   wherein the first outlet valve is configured to expel fluid from the first cylinder into the first high-pressure conduit when the first piston moves in a second direction within the cylinder, opposite the first direction, and   wherein the second outlet valve is configured to expel fluid from the second cylinder into the second high-pressure conduit when the second piston moves in the second direction within the cylinder.   
     
     
         6 . The pump system of  claim 5 , further comprising: a first screw mechanism coupled to the first electric motor and to the first piston, wherein rotation of the screw mechanism by the first electric motor is configured to causes motion of the piston within the first chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The pump system of  claim 6 , wherein the first screw mechanism comprises an axial channel. 
     
     
         8 . The pump system of  claim 6 , further comprising: a speed reduction mechanism coupling between the electric motor and the first screw mechanism. 
     
     
         9 . The pump system of  claim 6 , wherein the first low-pressure conduit is located outside the first pump assembly, and wherein the second low-pressure conduit is located outside of the second pump assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The pump system of  claim 6 , wherein the first low-pressure conduit is located inside the first pump assembly, and wherein the second low-pressure conduit is inside of the second pump assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The pump system of  claim 9 , wherein the first high-pressure conduit is located outside the first pump assembly, and wherein the second high-pressure conduit is located outside of the second pump assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The pump system of  claim 9 , wherein the first high-pressure conduit is located inside the first pump assembly, and wherein the second high-pressure conduit is inside of the second pump assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The pump system of  claim 10 , wherein the first high-pressure conduit is located outside the first pump assembly, and wherein the second high-pressure conduit is located outside of the second pump assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The pump system of  claim 10 , wherein the first high-pressure conduit is located inside the first pump assembly, and wherein the second high-pressure conduit is inside of the second pump assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The pump system of  claim 1 , further comprising: a manifold connected to the second pump assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The pump system of  claim 15 , further comprising: a production tube connected to the manifold. 
     
     
         17 . The pump system of  claim 16 , wherein the production tube is a coiled tube. 
     
     
         18 . The pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the first electric motor comprises a first rotor and a first stator, and wherein the first stator comprises a plurality of axial stator channels configured to carry the fluid. 
     
     
         19 . The pump system of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of axial channels in the first stator are in fluid connection with the first high-pressure conduit. 
     
     
         20 . The pump system of  claim 18 , wherein the first rotor comprises a plurality of axial rotor channels, and wherein the plurality of axial rotor channels are in fluid connection with the first low-pressure conduit. 
     
     
         21 . The pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the first electric motor is a brushless permanent magnet type motor, and wherein the second electric motor is a brushless permanent magnet type motor. 
     
     
         22 . The pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the first pump assembly and the second pump assembly are arranged in series. 
     
     
         23 . The pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the first pump assembly and the second pump assembly are installed within a well bore.