Abstract:
A well pump assembly has a pump driven by an electrical motor. A seal section reduces a pressure difference between a dielectric lubricant in the motor and a hydrostatic well fluid pressure. The seal section has a housing containing a guide tube concentric with the axis. Contractible and extensible inner and outer bellows surround the guide tube. An inner bellows guide ring is secured to the inner bellows between ends and has an inner surface with an inner diameter smaller than a minimum inner diameter of the inner bellows for sliding engagement with an outer surface of the guide tube as the inner bellows lengthens and contracts. The outer bellows has a guide ring secured between ends and having an outer surface with an outer diameter larger than a maximum outer diameter of the outer bellows for sliding engagement with an inner surface of the housing.
Abstract:
An electrical submersible pump assembly has a magnetic coupling between the motor shaft and the pump shaft. The coupling includes motor shaft disks mounted to the motor shaft, each having upward and downward facing disk surfaces joined by an outward facing disk cylindrical surface. Motor shaft magnets are mounted in each of the disk cylindrical surfaces and in the upward and downward facing disk surfaces. A pump shaft rotor mounted to the pump shaft has annular bands axially separated from each other by recesses into which the disks extend. Rotor magnets are mounted in each of the recess cylindrical surfaces and in upward and downward facing band surfaces. The magnets in the recesses interact with the magnets on the disks.
Abstract:
A system for monitoring conditions associated with a pressure-equalizing bellows element within a seal section of an electric submersible pump assembly. Pressure sensors are associated with the seal section to detect differential pressure across the bellows element.
Abstract:
A modal attenuator includes annular chambers disposed between an attenuator body and a perforated screen surrounding a primary flow path. The modal attenuator in some arrangements is in the form of an expander section. In some arrangements one or both of the height and the width of the annular chambers may vary along the length of the attenuator body such that the volumes of the chambers vary along the length of the attenuator body. Each chamber preferably has an open end facing the perforated screen such that acoustic waves passing through the perforated screen can enter into the chamber through the open end.
Abstract:
An electrical submersible pump assembly has a thrust bearing mechanism with first and second thrust runners axially and rotationally secured to the shaft and located within a housing. First and second thrust receiving structures are rigidly mounted in the housing to receive thrust from the first and second thrust transferring devices. A deflectable member located in the first thrust transfer thrust device decreases in axial thickness in response to thrust of a selected level. The second thrust transfer thrust device has an axial length less than an axial distance from the second thrust receiving structure to the second thrust runner, defining an initial axial gap. During operation of the pump, the shaft and the first and second thrust runners move axially a limited extent, closing the gap and transferring thrust from the second thrust transfer device to the second thrust receiving structure.
Abstract:
Seal sections for electric submersible pumps. Seal sections are described which include a combination of a barrier fluid to protect a seal from unfavorable ingress and control of differential pressure across the face of the seal.
Abstract:
A bellows position monitoring arrangement to determine the axial position of a bellows assembly within the outer housing of a seal section or equalizer. The position can be correlated to an amount of motor oil being retained within the bellows assembly.
Abstract:
A submersible well pump assembly (11) has a pump (15), a motor (17), and a tubular pressure equalizer housing (23) located between the pump and the motor. A rotatable drive shaft (31) extends within the housing on the axis (32) for driving the pump. A guide tube (29) surrounds the drive shaft, defining an inner annulus (33) between the drive shaft and the guide tube and an outer annulus (35) between the housing and the guide tube. A well fluid inlet path (26) admits well fluid into the outer annulus. A hub assembly (39) is pivotally mounted to the guide tube. The hub assembly has a communication passage (55) with having at least one lateral portion (57) extending away the axis and a communication passage opening (62) spaced from the axis and in fluid communication with the outer annulus. The hub assembly has a counterweight (63) that rotates the communication passage opening to a point above the axis while the axis is horizontal.
Abstract:
Upper and lower pressure equalizers couple to a lower end of a motor of an electrical submersible pump assembly. An intermediate connection having a liquid flow passage connects the pressure equalizers. A connection valve located in the liquid flow passage closes the liquid flow passage prior to connecting the pressure equalizers with each other, and opens the liquid flow passage after the connection between the pressure equalizers is made. A sensor lower equalizer wire extends from a sensor unit through the lower pressure equalizer to a lower electrical terminal at the upper end of the lower pressure equalizer. A sensor upper equalizer wire connects to the lower electrical terminal and extends through the upper pressure equalizer to an upper electrical terminal at the upper end of the upper pressure equalizer. A sensor motor wire extends downward from the motor into engagement with the upper electrical terminal.