Technique for protecting a submersible motor
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorEdwin Gross
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A motor protection system that utilizes a motor protector in combination with a submersible motor. The motor protector allows for the free flow of an internal lubricating liquid therethrough to the connected submersible motor. The internal liquid prevents the migration of surrounding, environmental liquids to the interior of the motor while allowing the internal pressure of the motor to equalize with external pressure. Additionally, the design allows the use of a power cable connector that can be coupled to the submersible motor without being sealed with respect to the environmental fluids.
Claims44
A system for producing a fluid, comprising:
- an electric submersible pumping system having a submersible motor, a motor protector, a power cable, and an unsealed power cable connector through which the power cable extends to provide power to the submersible motor.
A system for producing a fluid, comprising:
- an electric submersible pumping system having:
- a submersible pump;
- a submersible motor;
- and
- a motor protector coupled to the submersible motor, the motor protector comprising an open flow path that permits an internal fluid to flow from an upper region of the motor protector to an interior of the submersible motor.
A method of protecting a submersible motor, comprising:
- coupling a motor protector to a submersible motor;
- eliminating barriers to the flow of liquid from an upper region of the motor protector to a bottom of the submersible motor;
- and
- filling the submersible motor and the motor protector to a desired level with a lubricating fluid having a specific gravity greater than the specific gravity of fluid into which the submersible motor is submerged during operation.
A method of protecting a submersible motor without requiring sealed regions, comprising:
- coupling a motor protector and an isolation tube to a submersible motor;
- opening the motor protector and the isolation tube to the wellbore environment at a position above the submersible motor when disposed in an operating orientation;
- and
- providing a free flowing passageway through the motor protector, the submersible motor and the isolation tube.
A submersible motor system, comprising:
- a submersible motor;
- a motor protector coupled to the submersible motor, the motor protector having an unobstructed passageway between an opening to the surrounding environment and an interior of the submersible motor;
- and
- a liquid formulated to block the flow of an environmental fluid to the submersible motor.
A system of protecting a submersible motor without requiring sealed regions, comprising:
- means for coupling a motor protector and an isolation tube to a submersible motor;
- means for opening the motor protector and the isolation tube to the wellbore environment at a position above the submersible motor when disposed in an operating orientation;
- and
- means for providing a free flowing passageway through the motor protector, the submersible motor and the isolation tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.