| Abstract |
Line Shaft Pump technology is utilized in harsh geothermal environments to artificially lift hot brines in production wells (Hettkamp et al. 2022). LSPs are installed at depths down to appr. 760 m. A 2 3/16” diameter shaft is powered by a hollow shaft motor from the top of the well, rotating within a 4” outer diameter oil-filled tube to reduce friction. Up to 20 liters per day of oil is continuously being injected from the top, feeding into an appr. oil volume of 3 liters per running meter between shaft and oil tube. At the wellhead, the shaft is sealed with a special dynamic seal. At its lower end directly above the pump bowls the shaft is open to the annulus between production and well casing. This leakage type lubrication is currently still a challenge for the LSP technique. Therefore, the ANtLiA project aims to develop a new, downhole dynamic sealing system to allow for this oil to completely return back to surface. Such a closed-loop oil system should prevent any water or brine contamination, also reducing oil consumption of LSPs to nearly zero. Testing this new oil return system is scheduled in 2026 at the specially designed test pump facility at Fraunhofer in Bochum, Germany. Additionally, the project plans to evaluate different oil types to guarantee durable, high-quality lubrication. These improvements ensure that LSP technology complies with any environmental and water quality standards as well as opening new operational areas for LSP technology. |