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Surface pump assemblyRelated Patent Categories: Pumps, Motor Driven, Electric Or Magnetic Motor, Rotary Motor And Rotary Nonexpansible Chamber Pump, Having BearingSurface pump assembly description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070086906, Surface pump assembly. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a surface pump assembly for transferring fluids into or out of a well or pipeline. Particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to a horizontal pump assembly having a centrifugal pump connected to a motor. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] In oil field applications fluid, like water or oil, is often pressurized and moved either between surface locations or is moved from a surface location to at least one downhole location. For example, there are instances where collected oil must be transported to a remotely located processing facility. In other instances, water is pumped down an injection well for disposal or for maintaining or increasing reservoir pressure in enhanced recovery operations or to encourage the flow of oil in underground formations to another well for recovery. In still other instances, pressurized water is injected into a wellbore to become mixed with oil and bring the oil to the surface of the well where it is separated from the water and collected. [0005] Pumping oil out of a well that does not have adequate natural formation pressure is conventionally done through the use of an electric submersible pump located in the wellbore. The pumps operate at the end of a tubular string and include a pump and an electric motor along with a source of electrical power supplied from the surface to operate the electric motor. Because they operate in fluid at the bottom of a wellbore, electric submersible pumps are necessarily more expensive than conventional surface-mounted pumps. Additionally, repair or replacement of a submersible pump requires the removal of the entire pump assembly. [0006] Multistage centrifugal pumps, which are similar to electrical submersible pumps, have been used at the surface to inject fluid into the wellbore. These surface mounted pumps are generally mounted horizontally with an electric motor and a thrust chamber. One advantage of the surface mounted pump is that the motor is less expensive than a downhole motor and the apparatus can be accessed for repair or replacement without pulling it out of a wellbore. [0007] One problem associated with the surface mounted pump is that the seal between the intake chamber of the pump and the thrust chamber requires repair or replacement due to wear. The repair usually involves removing the entire thrust chamber from the pump. During the repair, the pump will be inoperable. In addition, assembly of the pump is complicated because the pump and the motor must be individually aligned with the thrust chamber. [0008] There is a need, therefore, for an improved surface pump assembly. There is also a need for a horizontal pump having a centrifugal pump connected to a motor without a thrust chamber. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] In one embodiment, a pump assembly includes a motor, a pump, and a shaft coupled to the motor and adapted to rotate the impeller, wherein a thrust load from the pump is transmitted to the motor. Preferably, the pump includes an inlet, an outlet, and at least one impeller. [0010] In another embodiment, a method of transporting a fluid includes providing a pump assembly having a pump having a plurality of impellers; a motor for operating the impellers; and a shaft for transmitting torque to the impellers. The method also includes rotating the impellers; increasing the pressure of the fluid flowing through the pump; transmitting a thrust load from the pump to the motor; and transporting the fluid through the pump. [0011] In another embodiment, a surface mounted pump assembly comprises a centrifugal pump having a plurality of impellers and an electric motor adapted to drive the pump such that a thrust load from the pump is transmitted to the pump. [0012] In one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, the motor comprises a bearing that is effective to support the thrust load. [0013] In one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, the motor comprises angular contact bearings. [0014] In one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, the pump assembly includes a mechanical seal adapted to seal the shaft against the atmosphere. [0015] In one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, the mechanical seal comprises a thrust bearing to support at least a portion of the thrust load. [0016] In one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, the shaft is coupled to the motor outside of the pump. [0017] In one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, the pump assembly is horizontally mounted. [0018] In one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, the pump assembly is mounted on a skid. [0019] In one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, the pump assembly is disposed on the surface of a well. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0020] So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. [0021] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of one embodiment of a surface pump assembly. Continue reading about Surface pump assembly... Full patent description for Surface pump assembly Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Surface pump assembly patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Surface pump assembly or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Infusion device and actuator for same Next Patent Application: Brushless motor and fluid pump having the same Industry Class: Pumps ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Surface pump assembly patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.22513 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Electronics: Semiconductor , Audio , Illumination , Connectors , Crypto , 174 |
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