Submersible pumping systems with intake modules having tangential fluid intake ports

A submersible pumping system for producing fluid from a wellbore through production tubing to a wellhead, the pumping system comprising:

• a motor;
• a production pump driven by the motor;
• and
• a lower intake module between the motor and the production pump, wherein the lower first intake module comprises:
• a housing;
• a first stage chamber inside the housing;
• a second stage chamber inside the first stage chamber;
• a plurality of tangential fluid intake ports that extend from the wellbore through the housing into the first stage chamber;
• and
• a plurality of gas discharge ports that extend from the wellbore to the first stage chamber, wherein the plurality of gas discharge ports are located above the plurality of tangential fluid intake ports;
• an intake module shaft driven by the motor;
• one or more inducers connected to the intake module shaft and located inside the second stage chamber;
• and
• an upper intake module between the lower intake module and the production pump, wherein the upper intake module comprises:
• a housing;
• a first stage chamber inside the housing, wherein the first stage chamber of the upper intake module is in fluid communication with the second stage chamber of the lower intake module;
• a second stage chamber inside the first stage chamber, wherein the second stage chamber is in fluid communication with the production pump;
• a plurality of tangential fluid intake ports that extend from the wellbore through the housing into the first stage chamber;
• and
• a plurality of gas discharge ports that extend from the wellbore to the first stage chamber, wherein the plurality of gas discharge ports are located above the plurality of tangential fluid intake ports.

A submersible pumping system for producing fluid from a wellbore through production tubing to a wellhead, the pumping system comprising:

• a motor;
• a seal section connected to the motor;
• a production pump driven by the motor;
• and
• an intake module between the seal section and the production pump, wherein the intake module comprises:
• a housing;
• a first stage chamber inside the housing;
• a second stage chamber inside the first stage chamber, wherein the second stage chamber is in fluid communication with the production pump;
• a plurality of tangential fluid intake ports that extend from the wellbore through the housing into the first stage chamber, wherein the plurality of tangential fluid intake ports are configured to induce a swirling motion of two-phase fluid in the first stage chamber;
• a plurality of gas discharge ports that extend from the wellbore to the first stage chamber, wherein the plurality of gas discharge ports are located above the plurality of tangential fluid intake ports;
• and
• an inducer located inside the second stage chamber and driven by the motor.