Pump protection method and system

A method of protecting a hydrocarbon pump from excessive flow rates in a system for pumping a hydrocarbon fluid, which system comprises said pump and an electrical motor for driving the pump, the method comprising the steps of:

• for each of a plurality of gas volume fraction values of the hydrocarbon fluid, establishing a maximum torque limit for the pump by mapping a maximum allowable torque of the pump as a function of a differential pressure across the pump, thereby creating a plurality of maximum torque curves, each representing the maximum torque limit for a unique gas volume fraction value;
• from the plurality of maximum torque curves, establishing a master maximum torque curve which represents the maximum torque limit for all said gas volume fraction values;
• monitoring a torque of the pump and a differential pressure across the pump;
• based on the monitored differential pressure (DP′) and using the master maximum torque curve, establishing a maximum allowable torque (T′) for the pump;
• and
• taking a predetermined action if the monitored torque exceeds the established maximum allowable torque (T′).