Downhole pump fluid throttling device

Abstract

In some embodiments, a method for controlling fluid flow through a downhole pump system in a borehole includes moving, via a downhole pump residing below a tubular in the borehole, a first fluid through the tubular, wherein the first fluid includes a compressible fluid. The method may further include increasing an intake pressure of the downhole pump while the first fluid is moving via a control valve system comprising a throttling valve.

1 . A method for controlling fluid flow through a downhole pump system in a borehole, comprising:
 moving, via a downhole pump residing below a tubular in the borehole, a first fluid through the tubular, wherein the first fluid includes a compressible fluid; and   increasing an intake pressure of the downhole pump while the first fluid is moving via a control valve system comprising a throttling valve.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid moves through the control valve system. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein increasing the intake pressure of the downhole pump, while the first fluid is moving, compresses the compressible fluid to form compressed fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the compressed fluid will not gas lock the downhole pump, wherein the downhole pump comprises an electric submersible pump (ESP) or a progressive cavity pump (PCP). 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein increasing the intake pressure of the downhole pump includes:
 reducing a flow area through which the first fluid flows, wherein the flow area is formed by the throttling valve.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein increasing the intake pressure of the downhole pump includes:
 activating a gear system coupled with the throttling valve, wherein the throttling valve comprises a rotary valve, wherein the rotary valve comprises a rotatable perforated lower disk residing above the downhole pump and a fixed upper disk, wherein the rotatable perforated lower disk is coupled longitudinally adjacently to the fixed upper disk, and wherein the gear system is to rotate the rotatable perforated lower disk.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein activating the gear system comprises activating an actuator, wherein the actuator comprises one of a linear actuator, a hydraulic actuator, a rotary actuator, an electric actuator, a magnetic actuator, and a cable-driven actuator. 
     
     
         8 . A downhole flow control valve system positioned in a borehole comprising:
 a throttling valve; and   an actuator configured to increase an intake pressure of a downhole pump hydraulically coupled with the throttling valve, wherein the throttling valve is to form a flow passage for a compressed fluid.   
     
     
         9 . The downhole flow control valve system of  claim 8 , wherein the downhole pump is an electric submersible pump (ESP) or a progressive cavity pump (PCP) configured to move the compressed fluid through the flow passage. 
     
     
         10 . The downhole flow control valve system of  claim 8 , wherein the throttling valve comprises a rotary valve, wherein the rotary valve includes:
 a rotatable first disk including a first perforation; and   a fixed second disk including a second perforation, wherein the fixed second disk is longitudinally-adjacently coupled with the first rotatable disk such that at least a first portion of the first perforation overlaps the second perforation, wherein the overlap forms the flow passage.   
     
     
         11 . The downhole flow control valve system of  claim 10 , wherein the actuator is coupled to a gear system including at least one gear coupled with the first rotatable disk to rotate the first rotatable disk, and wherein the actuator comprises one of a linear actuator,
 a hydraulic actuator, a rotary actuator, an electric actuator, a magnetic actuator, and a cable-driven actuator.   
     
     
         12 . The downhole flow control valve system of  claim 10 , wherein the overlap influences the intake pressure of the downhole pump. 
     
     
         13 . The downhole flow control valve system of  claim 12 , wherein reducing the overlap increases the intake pressure of the downhole pump. 
     
     
         14 . The downhole flow control valve system of  claim 10 , further comprising a downhole pump controller and one or more sensors, the downhole pump controller configured to:
 receive, from the one or more sensors, data measuring attributes of the downhole pump, the downhole flow control valve system, the compressed fluid, and the borehole; and   actuate, via the actuator, the first rotatable disk to control a flow rate through the flow passage.   
     
     
         15 . A downhole flow control apparatus positioned in a borehole comprising:
 a throttling valve; and   an actuator configured to increase an intake pressure of a downhole pump hydraulically coupled with the throttling valve, wherein the throttling valve is to form a flow passage for a compressed fluid.   
     
     
         16 . The downhole flow control apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the downhole pump is an electric submersible pump (ESP) or a progressive cavity pump (PCP) configured to move the compressed fluid through the flow passage. 
     
     
         17 . The downhole flow control apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the throttling valve comprises a rotary valve, wherein the rotary valve includes:
 a rotatable first disk including a first perforation; and   a fixed second disk including a second perforation, wherein the fixed second disk is longitudinally-adjacently coupled with the first rotatable disk such that at least a first portion of the first perforation overlaps the second perforation, wherein the overlap forms the flow passage.   
     
     
         18 . The downhole flow control apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the actuator is coupled to a gear system including at least one gear coupled with the first rotatable disk to rotate the first rotatable disk, and wherein the actuator comprises one of a linear actuator, a hydraulic actuator, a rotary actuator, an electric actuator, a magnetic actuator, and a cable-driven actuator. 
     
     
         19 . The downhole flow control apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein reducing the overlap increases the intake pressure of the downhole pump. 
     
     
         20 . The downhole flow control apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising a downhole pump controller and one or more sensors, the downhole pump controller configured to:
 receive, from the one or more sensors, data measuring attributes of the downhole pump, the apparatus, the compressible fluid, and the borehole; and   actuate, via the actuator, the first rotatable disk to control a flow rate through the flow passage.