Journal bearing lubrication side ports for optimum bearing load capacity

A method of cooling a bearing assembly of an electric motor of an Electric Submersible Pump (ESP) assembly, comprising:

• conveying the ESP assembly into a wellbore via a production tubing;
• providing electric power to the electric motor via a power cable;
• generating a first pressure zone and a second pressure zone in a fluid film gap located between an outer surface of an inner bearing sleeve of a bearing assembly of the electric motor and an inner surface of an outer bearing sleeve of the bearing assembly of the electric motor, wherein a pressure of working fluid in the first pressure zone is greater than a pressure of the working fluid in the second pressure zone;
• providing a volumetric flow of cooling fluid via a fluid supply path to the bearing assembly;
• and
• lifting production fluids by the ESP assembly in response to providing electric power.

A system, comprising:

• a bearing assembly comprising an inner bearing sleeve and an outer bearing sleeve;
• and
• a fluid supply path comprising an inner bore of a drive shaft rotationally coupled to the inner bearing sleeve, a fluid port within the drive shaft, a radial gap beside the bearing assembly, and a return flow path;
• wherein a first pressure zone and a second pressure zone are generated in a fluid gap located between an outer surface of the inner bearing sleeve and an inner surface of the outer bearing sleeve in response to a rotation of the inner bearing sleeve with respect to the outer bearing sleeve, and wherein a pressure of working fluid in the first pressure zone is greater than a pressure of the working fluid in the second pressure zone.