US 12,473,804 B2
External recirculation for gas lock relief
Xiaonan Lu, Houston, TX (US); Zheng Ye, Houston, TX (US); and Rissa Rutter, Houston, TX (US)
Assigned to Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed by Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Jul. 12, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/221,298.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/388,508, filed on Jul. 12, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0018855 A1, Jan. 18, 2024
Int. Cl. E21B 43/12 (2006.01); E21B 34/08 (2006.01); E21B 43/38 (2006.01); F04B 47/06 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 43/128 (2013.01) [E21B 34/08 (2013.01); E21B 43/38 (2013.01); F04B 47/06 (2013.01)] 4 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A submersible pumping system for producing a fluid from a wellbore through production tubing to a wellhead, the pumping system comprising:
a pump assembly, wherein the pump assembly comprises:
at least one pump; and
a gas separator connected to the pump, wherein the gas separator includes an intake;
a motor that drives the at least one pump; and
a recirculation module configured to deliver a volume of priming fluid from the production tubing to the pump assembly, wherein the recirculation module comprises:
a recirculation mandrel positioned within the production tubing;
a recirculation valve offset from the recirculation mandrel, wherein the recirculation valve comprises a biasing element configured to automatically open the recirculation valve when the pressure supplied by the pump assembly drops below a threshold pressure indicative of a gas lock condition in the pump assembly; and
a recirculation line extending from the recirculation valve to the intake of the gas separator.