Deploying an artificial lift system on cable

Abstract

An artificial lift string has a fluid end that is coupled to and configured to be driven by an electric motor. An interconnect is at an uphole end of the artificial lift string. The interconnect is configured to release a cable between the string and a topside facility.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electric submersible artificial lift system, comprising:
 an electric motor configured to reside in a wellbore;   a fluid end coupled to and configured to be driven by the electric motor, the fluid end configured reside in the wellbore and configured to propel wellbore fluids through the wellbore when driven by the electric motor; and   an interconnect at an uphole end of the electric submersible artificial lift system, the interconnect configured to (i) couple to a cable extending from a topside facility into the wellbore to support the artificial lift system depending from the cable and (ii) release from the cable while the artificial lift system is residing in the wellbore.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electric motor, fluid end and interconnect are configured to reside within a production tubing within a casing of the wellbore. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , comprising an outer housing comprising a seal and a latch configured to seal and latch into a corresponding profile of the production tubing. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , comprising a packer configured to seal and grip an interior wall of the production tubing. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , where the interconnect comprises a line connector configured to couple an electric and/or hydraulic line extending from a topside facility into the wellbore to an aspect of the artificial lift system, the line connector configured to allow the line to release from the aspect of the artificial lift system while the artificial lift system is residing in the wellbore. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , where the interconnect is configured to release the cable before the line connector allows the line to release from the aspect of the artificial lift system. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , where the cable comprises the line and where the interconnect comprises a cable connector configured grip the exterior of the cable. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , where the interconnect is configured to release from the cable in response to a specified tension applied to the cable. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , where the interconnect comprises:
 a tubular housing configured to internally receive the cable;   a wedge in the housing moveable into gripping contact with an exterior of the cable; and   a cap coupled to the tubular housing retaining the wedge in the housing, the cap configured to release from the tubular housing upon a specified tension applied to the cable.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , where the interconnect is configured to release from the cable in response to a signal supplied to the interconnect. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , where the interconnect comprises:
 a tubular housing configured to internally receive the cable;   a body configured to grip an exterior of the cable; and   an actuator actuable to release the interconnect from gripping the cable in response to a signal.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , where the body comprises a wedge moveable to grip the cable by the actuator; and
 where the actuator comprises a hydraulic piston coupled to a hydraulic line extending from a topside facility into the wellbore, the piston movable by a hydraulic signal transmitted on the hydraulic line.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising an outer housing extending to an uphole end of the artificial lift system, the outer housing comprising a profile adapted to engage with a corresponding profile of a retrieval tool for retrieving the artificial lift system. 
     
     
         14 . A method, comprising:
 supporting an electric submersible artificial lift system at an interconnect thereof by a cable as the artificial lift system is lowered into a wellbore, the cable extending from a topside facility; and   releasing the cable from the artificial lift system while the artificial lift system is in the wellbore.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising sealing and supporting the artificial lift system in a production tubing; and
 where the releasing comprises releasing after sealing and supporting the artificial lift system in the production tubing.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising powering the artificial lift system via the cable. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising, after releasing the cable from the artificial lift system, retrieving the artificial lift system by engaging a profile in an uphole end of the artificial lift system to a retrieval tool. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , where releasing comprising releasing in response to at least one of a signal or a specified tension on the cable. 
     
     
         19 . An artificial lift system, comprising:
 an electric powered fluid end configured to propel wellbore fluids through the wellbore; and   a cable interconnect coupled to the electric powered fluid end, the interconnect configured to couple to a cable to support and power the electric powered fluid end and configured to release from the cable while the electric powered fluid end is in the wellbore.   
     
     
         20 . The artificial lift system of  claim 19 , comprising a retrieval tool profile.