WO2021034210A1

WO2021034210A1 - Peristaltic conveyor belt and crude oil artificial lifting unit

Info

Publication number: WO2021034210A1
Application number: PCT/RO2019/000022
Authority: WO
Inventors: Adrian BOGDAN
Original assignee: Bogdan Adrian
Priority date: 2019-08-21
Filing date: 2019-09-24
Publication date: 2021-02-25
Also published as: RO133786A0; RO133786A3; RO133786B1

Abstract

The invention refers to a peristaltic conveyor belt that is operated by lifting unit designed to artificially lift crude oil from deep wells to be used in the field of crude oil extraction and other deep well artificial fluid lifting applications. The peristaltic conveyor belt, according to the invention, consists of a continuous belt, made of mechanically resistant and chemically resilient materials, that has a toothed side fit for gearing, while the other side is fitted with a median channel (CM) that hosts several detachable peristaltic hoses (FP) used for loading and unloading of the crude oil, (FP) hoses having closed ends, and each one being fitted with two unidirectional valves transversally disposed, one admission valve (SA) and one discharge valve (SR), and some orifices (O) that transverse into the teeth to hold and protect the (SA), (SR) valves, (FP) hoses being attached to the (BTP) conveyor belt by the means of some transversal elastic tapes (BE), while the Crude oil artificial lifting unit consists of a surface unit (US), a depth unit (UA) and a (UMC) measurement and control unit, where the surface unit (US) has a casing (C) containing a entrance roller (3), an evacuation roller (4) that is medially fitted with a pressure ring (IP) that exerts a certain pressure on the (FP) hoses thus the (SR) discharge valve is activated so the crude oil gets evacuated, the shape of the evacuation roller (4) allowing that its side parts to role on the sides of the (BTP) belt and having the function to limit the pressure on the pressure ring (IP) on the hose (FP) avoiding early deterioration of the hose (FP) and ensuring the flow of centered motion for the (BTP) belt, some guide rollers (5), (6), (7) and (8) that direct the (BTP) belt on its path towards the motor roller (1) having the role to drive the (BTP) belt, the guide rollers (5), (6), (7) and (8) being fitted with a central channel (CC) that protects the (FP) hoses against unneeded mechanical stress, a toothed motor roller (1), while the depth unit (UA) consists of a metallic frame fitted with a handle, a lest (L) and a down-hole roller (2) the provided with pressure ring (IP) that elastically deform the (FP) peristaltic hoses to load them with crude oil by the (SA) admission valve.

Description

PERISTALTIC CONVEYOR BELT AND CRUDE OIL ARTIFICIAL LIFTING UNIT

The invention refers to a peristaltic conveyor belt that is operated by lifting unit designed to artificially lift crude -oil from deep wells.

The invention relates to the technical field of crude oil extraction and other deep well artificial fluid lifting applications.

Among several known systems for deep well artificial oil lifting, the RO 125468B patent refers to an artificial oil lifting unit that uses an endless oleophilic absorbent belt.

The disadvantages of this solution comprise: oil loading capacity of such oleophilic absorbent belt is reduced when the oil density decreases, the efficiency of such unit being diminished when applied to light and ultra-light oil extraction water adherence capacity of the oleophilic absorbent belt is low, thus creating extraction problems as water is left in the well increased fragility of the textile belt and its seams the complicated gearing of the textile belt driven by a double toothed belt which requires big lest weights to avoid belt slipping, these big weights generate belt deforming and lowering belt loading capacity.

There are also known the peristaltic pumps that use specially constructed flexible hoses that have the property of regaining their initial form after suffering elastic deformation under the forces of moving rollers. Depending on the type of application, the hose interior diameter and roller rotating speed, high volume of fluid could be pumped. Also, the peristaltic pumps are capable to carry corrosive or abrasive fluids which requires the specific of the material the hoses are made of. The disadvantage of the known peristaltic pumps is that they cannot to be used for fluid extraction from deep wells.

The technical problem to be solved is the fabrication of a peristaltic conveyor belt that is operated by specialized oil extraction unit, having a production capacity unaffected by the extracted oil density or by the water concentration in the crude oil, that has to be constructed out of physical wear and chemically resistant materials, and to use a light weight lest.

The invention solves the technical problem by introducing a peristaltic conveyor belt BTP, operated by specialized crude oil extraction unit comprised of a surface unit US having the roles of driving the belt and collecting the crude oil, and a down-hole unit UA having a lest weight L, where the loading of the oil fluid is facilitated, and includes a measurement and control unit UMC that monitors and regulates the production levels.

The peristaltic conveyor belt and the specialized crude oil lifting unit present the following advantages:

- the artificial lifting of the crude oil is achieved by the means of a peristaltic conveyor belt introduced in the well casing to a depth matching the extraction level, below the dynamic level of the well, having component several hoses with such physical properties that the oil loading/ unloading capacity is independent of the crude oil density, viscosity and water content;

- the robust belt is made of materials with high resistance to physical wear and chemical corrosive elements;

- the extraction volume of the unit is configured based upon the well’s production level by selecting the appropriate interior diameter of the peristaltic hoses

- the equipment allows for the measurement of the extraction volume, correlated to the volume of the fluid transferred into the fluid collection zone, thus ensuring a continuous functionality of the whole system

- the extraction can be performed even at low dynamic levels of the well, and only necessitates a minimum crude oil column above the down-hole roller the equipment has no problems while functioning empty when the crude oil levels drop below the down-hole roller, as the hoses are self-primed due to the peristaltic effect

- the hoses are detachable and can be replaced when damaged or during maintenance operations

- the lest weight is smaller compared with other known equipment, as the gearing of the belt is being eased due to the toothed side, while the tension required in the belt for loading/unloading of the crude oil is not as big A practical example of the peristaltic conveyor belt and the specialized oil extraction unit is given in relationship to drawings:

Fig. 1 - Peristaltic conveyor belt mounted in artificial crude oil lifting unit

Fig. 2A, Fig. 2B, Fig. 2C, Fig. 2D, Fig. 2E - Details of the peristaltic conveyor belt

Fig. 3A, Fig. 3B - Isometric views of peristaltic conveyor belt

Fig. 4 - Schematic for crude oil loading of the hoses at the down-hole roller level

Fig. 5A, Fig. 5B, Fig. 5C - Details of the down-hole roller level and unloading roller

Fig. 6 - Schematic for crude oil unloading from hoses at the unloading roller level

Fig. 7A, Fig.7B, Fig. 7C - Details of the guiding rollers

Fig. 8 - Details of the peristaltic hose with cu valves

Fig. 9 - Measurement and control unit

The peristaltic conveyor belt BTP for artificially lifting of the crude oil, is a continuous belt, fabricated out of mechanically resistant and chemically resilient materials, that has a toothed side - where the teeth could have various configurations, while the other side of the belt is fitted with a median channel CM that hosts several detachable peristaltic hoses FP utilized for loading and unloading of the crude oil. The median channel CM has a double role, hosting the peristaltic hoses as well as keeping the belt centered when passing over the rollers 2 and 4. The peristaltic hoses FP have closed ends, and each one being fitted with two unidirectional valves transversally disposed: the admission valve SA and discharge valve SR. The peristaltic conveyor belt BTP is fitted, corresponding to each FP hose end, with orifices O that transverse into the teeth to hold and protect the SA, SR valves. FP hoses are attached to the BTP conveyor belt by the means of a transversal elastic tapes BE.

The surface unit US of the artificial lifting unit is mounted at the well head, being composed of a casing C in which there are located a entrance roller 3, an evacuation roller 4, some guide rollers 5, 6, 7, 8 and a motor roller 1. The entrance roller 3 is a toothed, free roller that engages the BTP belt at the entrance in the surface unit US and guides it toward evacuation roller 4. Evacuation roller 4 is similar to the down-hole roller 2, being medially fitted with a pressure ring IP that exerts a certain pressure on the FP hoses, thus SR discharge valve is activated so the crude oil gets evacuated.

The guide rollers 5, 6, 7, 8 direct the BTP belt on its path towards the motor roller 1, they are fitted with a central channel CC that protects the FP hoses against unneeded mechanical stress. Motor roller 1 has corresponding teeth, having the role to gear the BTP belt by coupling with its toothed side and being connected by a shaft to an electric motor.

The down-hole unit UA being lowered in the well down to the production level, consists of a metallic frame fitted with a handle having a double role: to be utilized during the procedures of lowering UA down in the hole, and to be used for the recovery UA out of the hole in case the BTP belt breaks; the frame is also fitted with down-hole roller 2 and lest L.

By the means of the pressure ring IP down-role roller 2 has the role to elastically deform the FP peristaltic hoses, which in turn results in loading these with crude oil via the SA admission valve. Lest L role is to stretch and center the BTP conveyor belt in such way to make possible the cinematic gearing of the system while ensuring the proper tension of the BTP belt, as required for loading and unloading of the crude oil.. The weight of the lest L is accordingly modified depending on the variety of the application or the type of crude oil well.

The configuration of the down-hole roller 2 and roller 4 allows that the sides of the BTP belt will role centered over rollers sides, with the double role of: limiting the pressure exercised by the IP ring on the FP hose, thus avoiding the early deterioration of the hose, and ensuring the flow of centered motion for the BTP belt around the rollers, without vibrations, no matter if they role over an FP hose or not.

The UMC measurement and control unit consists of a collecting reservoir that evacuates the crude oil to the PT transfer pump, being fit with a floating magnetic sensor SM that determines the fluid levels. By using the data driven from the SM sensor, as this is connected to the PLC unit in the automation box, and via the software systems, the crude oil extraction volume is determined, and thus the central motor and PT transfer pump functioning parameters are controlled in conjunction with various system operating scenarios. The PT transfer pump is mounted at the UMC exit, and it’s used for transfer of the crude oil to the collecting reservoir areas.

The BTP conveyor belt unit and crude oil lifting unit can be used for other applications to artificially lift fluids from deep wells.

The functionality of the BTP conveyor belt is based on the peristaltic effect that allows specially fabricated hoses to regain their original form after being elastically deformed by the passing of a shoe or a roller. While for the case of a peristaltic pump the hose is static and shoe or roller move to determine the pumping of the fluid, in the case of the BTP conveyor belt, the rollers are fixed while the belt is moving, thus making that a succession of closed peristaltic hoses to be moved along while being loaded and unloaded with crude oil.

The BTP conveyor belt is geared by the motor roller 1 via its teeth, being driven by the electric motor, in a downward motion inside the well casing and towards the downhole roller 2. Due to the rotating motion of down-hole roller 2, its IP pressure ring pushes against the FP hoses, elastically deforming them. Thus, while rolling over down-hole roller 2, due to the pressure exerted on the FP hoses, any air / gas inside the hose will be evacuated via the discharge valve SR. When rolling off the down-hole roller 2, the FP peristaltic hoses regain their original form and generate a pressure difference that allows the loading of the crude oil via the SA admission valve. The BTP conveyor belt continues in an upward motion towards the surface, being taken in the US surface unit by the entrance roller 3 and guide towards evacuation roller 4. While rolling over roller 4, the IP pressure ring pushes on the FP hoses, elastically deforming them, thus creating an internal pressure that opens the SR discharge valve and unloads the crude oil in the CA collecting vessel. When rolling off the evacuation roller 4, the BTP belt is guided over guide rollers 5, 6, 7, 8 and redirected to motor roller 1.

Claims

1. Peristaltic conveyor belt, where in, it consists of a continuous belt, made of mechanically resistant and chemically resilient materials, that has a toothed side fit for gearing, while the other side is fitted with a median channel (CM) that hosts several detachable peristaltic hoses (FP) used for loading and unloading of the crude oil, (FP) hoses having closed ends, and each one being fitted with two unidirectional valves transversally disposed, one admission valve (SA) and one discharge valve (SR), and some orifices (O) that transverse into the teeth to hold and protect the (SA), (SR) valves, (FP) hoses being attached to the (BTP) conveyor belt by the means of some transversal elastic tapes (BE).

2. Crude oil artificial lifting unit, where in, it consists of a surface unit (US), a depth unit (UA) and a (UMC) measurement and control unit, where the surface unit (US) has a casing (C) containing a entrance roller (3), an evacuation roller (4) that is medially fitted with a pressure ring (IP) that exerts a certain pressure on the (FP) hoses thus the (SR) discharge valve is activated so the crude oil gets evacuated, the shape of the evacuation roller (4) allowing that its side parts to role on the sides of the (BTP) belt and having the function to limit the pressure on the pressure ring (IP) on the hose (FP) avoiding early deterioration of the hose (FP) and ensuring the flow of centered motion for the (BTP) belt, some guide rollers (5), (6), (7) and (8) that direct the (BTP) belt on its path towards the motor roller (1) having the role to drive the (BTP) belt, the guide rollers (5), (6), (7) and (8) being fitted with a central channel (CC) that protects the (FP) hoses against unneeded mechanical stress, a toothed motor roller (1), while the depth unit (UA) consists of a metallic frame fitted with a handle, a lest (L) and a down-hole roller (2) the provided with pressure ring (IP) that elastically deform the (FP) peristaltic hoses to load them with crude oil by the (SA) admission valve.

3. UMC measurement and control unit, according to claim 2, where in, it consists a collecting reservoir (R) that evacuates the crude oil towards the (PT) transfer pump, being fitted with a floating magnetic sensor (SM) connected to the PLC unit that determines the fluid levels and, by the software systems, allows the crude oil extraction volume to be determined and allows the central motor and (PT) transfer pump functioning parameters to be controlled in conjunction with various system operating scenarios.