US 12,031,551 B2
Flexible adapter for submersible oily and storm pumping systems
Mustafa A. Al Abbas, Dhahran (SA); Muhannad A. Alsulami, Dhahran (SA); Samil Alshaibani, Dhahran (SA); Hyder Salem, Dhahran (SA); and Ahmed I. Mulhim, Dammam (SA)
Assigned to SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, Dhahran (SA)
Filed on Apr. 15, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/722,015.
Prior Publication US 2023/0332393 A1, Oct. 19, 2023
Int. Cl. F04D 29/60 (2006.01); E03F 5/22 (2006.01); F04D 13/08 (2006.01); F16L 37/26 (2006.01)
CPC F04D 29/607 (2013.01) [E03F 5/22 (2013.01); F04D 13/08 (2013.01); F04D 29/606 (2013.01); F16L 37/26 (2013.01); E03F 2201/00 (2013.01); F04D 13/086 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of interchanging a pump in a pumping system, comprising:
removing a first submersible pump from a basin to a ground level along at least one guide rail;
providing an adapter having a reducing passage extending from a first side to a second side,
wherein the reducing passage has a varying inner diameter and an internal transition that transitions a first inner diameter of the reducing passage to a second inner diameter of the reducing passage, the first inner diameter being different from the second inner diameter;
securing the first side of the adapter to a second submersible pump;
securing the second side of the adapter to a guide rail bracket,
wherein the second submersible pump has a different output diameter than the first submersible pump;
wherein securing the first side of the adapter to the second submersible pump and the second side of the adapter to the guide rail bracket comprises varying an inner diameter of the pumping system via said reducing passage;
lowering the second submersible pump, the adapter, and the guide rail bracket down to the basin along the at least one guide rail;
securing the guide rail bracket to a discharge tubing disposed within the basin;
activating the pumping system; and
maintaining a first discharge pressure and a first discharge flow across the adapter equal to a second discharge pressure and a second discharge flow,
wherein the first submersible pump produces the second discharge pressure and the second discharge flow.