| CPC E21B 34/14 (2013.01) [E21B 43/128 (2013.01)] | 8 Claims |
|
1. A pumping system for use in recovering fluids from a wellbore, the pumping system comprising:
an electric motor;
a pump driven by the electric motor, wherein the pump includes a pump intake that provides a path for the wellbore fluids to enter the pump; and
a flow control valve assembly connected to the pump, wherein the flow control valve assembly comprises:
a sliding sleeve; and
a valve control mechanism that moves the sliding sleeve between open and closed positions on the intake of the pump, wherein the valve control mechanism comprises:
a hydraulic chamber;
a control line connected between a source of controllably pressurized hydraulic fluid and the hydraulic chamber;
a piston connected to the sliding sleeve, wherein the piston is captured within the hydraulic chamber; and
a spring configured to exert a compressive force on the sliding sleeve to urge the sliding sleeve into an open or closed position relative to the pump intake, wherein the spring does not extend over the pump intake when the sliding sleeve is in the open position.
|