Unlimited Sump Systems and Methods

Abstract

A system for providing an unlimited sump offering increased capacity over conventional sump systems is disclosed. In embodiments, the unlimited sump may comprise a submersible pump or electronic submersible pump (ESP), a particle separator located upstream of the submersible pump, a low pressure sub, a high pressure sub, and a particle pump sub comprising a particle pump, and optionally providing a particle trap located downstream of the submersible pump. The particle pump may be driven by electrical, hydraulic, or pressure differential means as a result of a flow of well fluids caused by operation of the submersible pump, and the particle pump may direct all or a portion of particulate matter separated from the wellbore fluids to be reintroduced to the well fluids at a point downstream of the submersible pump, thereby bypassing the submersible pump.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for returning particulate matter separated from a well fluid to the well fluid, comprising:
 a production string comprising a submersible pump, the submersible pump configured to circulate a well fluid through the production string;   a separator, the separator located on the production string upstream of the submersible pump; and   a particle pump, the particle pump configured to receive from the separator particulate matter that has been separated from the well fluid by the separator, wherein the particle pump is further configured to return the particulate matter to the well fluid at a location on the production string downstream of the submersible pump.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the particle pump is configured to be driven by electrical means as a result of the submersible pump circulating the well fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the particle pump is configured to be driven by hydraulic means as a result of the submersible pump circulating the well fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the particle pump is configured to be driven by a pressure differential resulting from the submersible pump circulating the well fluid. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the particle pump is a diaphragm pump. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising a transmission. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the transmission comprises a rod. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising a turbine. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the circulating well fluid actuates the turbine, and wherein the actuated turbine actuates the transmission, and wherein the rod actuates the diaphragm pump. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a cup packer. 
     
     
         11 . A method of returning particulate matter separated from a well fluid to the well fluid, comprising:
 (A) providing a production string comprising a submersible pump and a separator, the separator located on the production string upstream of the submersible pump;   (B) circulating the well fluid through the production string as a result of operating the submersible pump;   (C) separating particulate matter included in the well fluid from the well fluids at the separator;   (D) receiving the particulate matter separated from the well fluid at a particle pump;   (E) driving the particle pump as a result of the submersible pump circulating the well fluid; and   (F) returning the particulate matter to the well fluid at a location on the production string downstream of the submersible pump.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein driving the particle pump is performed by electrical means as a result of the submersible pump circulating the well fluid. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein driving the particle pump is performed by hydraulic means as a result of the submersible pump circulating the well fluid. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein driving the particle pump is performed as a result of a pressure differential resulting from the submersible pump circulating the well fluid. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein driving the particle pump is performed by mechanical means. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the particle pump is a diaphragm pump. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a transmission. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the transmission comprises a rod. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising a turbine, wherein the circulating well fluid actuates the turbine, and wherein the actuated turbine actuates the transmission, and wherein the rod actuates the diaphragm pump. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a cup packer.