Electric submersible pump (ESP) seal unit
AssigneeExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company
InventorsMichael C. Romer, Derek B. Bush
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electric submersible pump (ESP) system is described herein. The ESP system includes a pump and a motor connected to drive the pump. The pump and motor are disposed to pump fluid into production tubing in a wellbore. The motor produces heat when operating. The wellbore contains wellbore fluids. A seal unit is connected between the motor and the pump. The seal unit contains oil to lubricate the motor. Further, the seal unit receives heat from the motor when the motor is running. The seal unit contains a structure to reduce loss of heat after the motor stops running to reduce an exchange of oil from the seal unit to the wellbore and to reduce an exchange of wellbore fluids from the wellbore to the seal unit.
Claims25
An electric submersible pump (ESP) system, comprising:
- a pump;
- a motor connected to drive the pump, the pump and motor being disposed to pump fluid into production tubing in a wellbore, the wellbore containing wellbore fluids, the motor producing heat when operating;
- a seal unit connected between the motor and the pump, the seal unit containing oil to lubricate the motor, the seal unit receiving heat from the motor when the motor is running, the seal unit further containing a structure to reduce loss of heat after the motor stops running to reduce an exchange of oil from the seal unit to the wellbore and to reduce an exchange of wellbore fluids from the wellbore to the seal unit.
A method of operating an electric submersible pump (ESP) system, the method comprising:
- disposing a motor and a pump, the motor being connected to drive the pump, to pump fluid into production tubing in a wellbore, the wellbore containing wellbore fluids, the motor producing heat when operating;
- and
- connecting a seal unit between the motor and the pump, the seal unit containing oil to lubricate the motor, the seal unit receiving heat from the motor when the motor is running, the seal unit further containing a structure to reduce loss of heat after the motor stops running to reduce an exchange of oil from the seal unit to the wellbore and to reduce an exchange of wellbore fluids from the wellbore to the seal unit.
A well, comprising:
- an electric submersible pump (ESP) system, that includes a pump and a motor connected to drive the pump, the pump and motor being disposed to pump fluid into production tubing in a wellbore, the wellbore containing wellbore fluids, the motor producing heat when operating;
- a seal unit connected between the motor and the pump, the seal unit containing oil to lubricate the motor, the seal unit receiving heat from the motor when the motor is running, the seal unit further containing a structure to reduce loss of heat after the motor stops running to reduce an exchange of oil from the seal unit to the wellbore and to reduce an exchange of wellbore fluids from the wellbore to the seal unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.