Artificial Lift Technology Unveiled At Conference
Artificial lift technology company, Upwing Energy, will unveil new downhole technologies at its first Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) appearance in Houston from May 6th to May 9th. Upwing will showcase its Subsurface Compressor System (SCS) for gas wells and it’s Magnetic Drive System (MDS) for oil wells.
Through in-booth presentations and technology displays and demonstrations, attendees will learn how Upwing’s technologies significantly improve downhole reliability while increasing hydrocarbon production and recovery from onshore and offshore wells.
The SCS is a high-speed downhole compressor system driven by a magnetically levitated permanent magnet (PM) motor that increases gas production and recoverable reserves by enabling greater drawdown close to the well perforations.
A detailed cutaway model of the SCS with a clear view of internal components will highlight the three integrated modules, including, from top to bottom, the compressor, the thrust bearing and the motor. The compressor module contains the multistage compressor on magnetic bearings, power supply and electronics.
The thrust bearing module contains actively controlled magnetic thrust bearings directly coupled to the compressor module. The motor module contains a high-speed PM motor, magnetic bearings, and a magnetic coupling. The subsurface compressor will spin for display purposes, as torque is transferred from the motor to the compressor via the magnetic coupling.
The MDS is a drive system for electric submersible pumps (ESPs) with hermetically sealed electrical components for greater reliability and a connection-less mechanical string for greater retrievability via slickline. The protector-less design includes a PM motor that also acts as a magnetic coupling.
A demonstration unit of the MDS will suspend a rotor axially by passive magnetic strength of permanent magnets. Upwing’s magnetic technologies will drive and levitate the motor rotor on the retrievable string inside the production tubing mockup. The stator and rotor are independently hermetically sealed and will operate with a large clearance.
The ‘lifting head’ will grab the top of the rotor and pull it out of the stator, overcoming the natural axial pull of the PMs. The same process will occur while pushing the rotor back into the stator. The levitation of the rotor inside the stator can be seen when the ‘lifting head’ detaches from the rotor. The stator’s copper windings will be visible through a viewing window in the MDS unit.
“There is no better place to make our first appearance than at OTC, which is the pinnacle event for leaders in the oil and gas industry,” said Herman Artinian, President and CEO of Upwing Energy. “Our technologies will make a step change in the reliability of downhole rotating devices, making artificial lift more economically viable and enabling operators to get more out of existing assets. We look forward to continuing to work with members of the industry to commercialise these technologies.”
Held annually in Houston, OTC is one of the largest global events for the oil and gas sector, for the world’s energy professionals to meet and network, making it a good platform to showcase the latest industry innovations.
