Apparatus For The Eccentric Connection of Tubular Members in a Downhole Pumping Apparatus

Abstract

A downhole GCP pumping apparatus which accommodates eccentricities in the position of input and output shafts of the various elements of the assembly by connecting the drive rod string directly to noncentered shafts while maintaining the overall outside dimension of production tubing within the walls of the well hole.

1 . In a well having a well casing extending from the surface to a subsurface interval;
 a supply of rotational power located at the surface of the well;   a string of tubing extending within the casing from the surface to a downhole assembly and fixedly attached thereto;   a drive rod string, said drive rod string being housed within the production tubing and extending between the supply of rotational power at the surface and the downhole assembly, the upper end of said drive rod string being rotationally connected to the supply of rotational power at the surface, and the lower end of said drive rod string being rotationally connected to a component of the downhole assembly for the purpose of providing rotational power to said component;   a rotationally driven component of the downhole assembly, said component being equipped with an input shaft, said input shaft being radially offset from the centerline of said downhole assembly, said input shaft being directly connected to said drive rod string for the purpose of rotational power input to said component;   wherein the tubing is fixedly attached to said downhole assembly such that the centerline of said tubing is radially offset from the centerline of said downhole assembly;   wherein said radial offset of the connection of said tubing and said downhole assembly matches in extent and direction the radial offset of the input shaft of sid rotationally driven component such that said drive rod string can connect with said input shaft of said rotationally driven component, without any part of said rod string making contact with the inner wall of said tubing.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein, the radial offset of the attachment of said tubing to said downhole assembly being such that the outer maximum radial extent of the diametrically largest part of said production tubing is within the maximum radial extent of said downhole assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said downhole assembly being a geared centrifugal pump.