Patent attributes
A turbine-powered electrical submersible pump (ESP) that has intake and discharge ports. The ESP intakes wellbore fluid from the intake port at an intake pressure, pressurizes the fluid, and discharges the fluid from the discharge port at a discharge pressure higher than the intake pressure. A motor is coupled to and drives the ESP. A turbine generator has a flow passage disposed between turbine intake and discharge ports. The turbine intake port is fluidly coupled to the pump discharge port. The turbine generator generates electric power from the pressurized wellbore fluid flowing through the flow passage and is electrically coupled to the motor and powers the motor with the generated electric power. A rechargeable battery is electrically coupled to the motor and provides power to initially start the motor. The turbine generator is further electrically coupled to the battery and recharges the battery.
