Centrifugal pump stage diffuser

A method of lifting well fluid to a surface, comprising:

• running a submersible pump assembly into a wellbore, wherein the submersible pump assembly comprises a motor and a centrifugal pump assembly, wherein the centrifugal pump assembly comprises a drive shaft and a plurality of pump stages, wherein each pump stage comprises an impeller coupled to the drive shaft and a diffuser retained stationary within the centrifugal pump assembly, wherein each diffuser comprises a first plurality of vanes each having a first axial length and a second plurality of vanes each disposed between a pair of vanes of the first plurality of vanes and each having a second axial length, wherein the second axial length is between three quarters (¾) of the first axial length and one quarter (¼) of the first axial length, wherein the first axial length and the second axial length extend in the direction of a centerline axis of symmetry of the diffuser and wherein the centerline axis of symmetry of the diffuser is coincident with a centerline axis of the centrifugal pump assembly;
• providing power to the motor;
• providing rotating power by the motor to the drive shaft of the centrifugal pump;
• receiving the well fluid into an inlet at a downhole end of the centrifugal pump assembly;
• flowing the well fluid between each of the first plurality of vanes of each of the diffusers;
• splitting the well fluid flowing between the first plurality of vanes by each of the second plurality of vanes of each of the diffusers;
• and
• flowing the well fluid out an outlet at an uphole end of the centrifugal pump assembly.

A method of assembling a centrifugal pump assembly, comprising:

• installing a plurality of pump stages onto a drive shaft, wherein each pump stage comprises an impeller coupled to the drive shaft and a diffuser, wherein each diffuser comprises a first plurality of vanes each having a first axial length and a second plurality of vanes each disposed between a pair of vanes of the first plurality of vanes and each having a second axial length, wherein the second axial length is between three quarters (¾) of the first axial length and one quarter (¼) of the first axial length, wherein the first axial length and the second axial length extend in the direction of a centerline axis of symmetry of the diffuser and wherein the centerline axis of symmetry of the diffuser is coincident with a centerline axis of the centrifugal pump assembly;
• installing a housing over the plurality of pump stages, wherein the housing retains each of the diffusers;
• coupling a base to a downhole end of the centrifugal pump assembly;
• and
• coupling a pump discharge to an uphole end of the centrifugal pump assembly.