Electrical Test Splice For Coiled Tubing Supported Well Pump

A power cable and load supporting assembly for a submersible well pump, comprising:

• a lower coiled tubing segment having a lower end for securing to the well pump;
• a lower power cable segment having three lower power conductors and installed within the lower coiled tubing segment, each of the lower power conductors having a separate insulation layer;
• an upper coiled tubing segment for installation on a reel at an upper end of the well;
• an upper power cable segment having three upper power conductors and installed within the upper coiled tubing segment, each of the upper power conductors having a separate insulation layer;
• a splice connecting the lower coiled tubing segment and the lower power cable segment to the upper coiled tubing segment and the upper power cable segment, the splice having a longitudinal axis and comprising:
• a lower terminal electrically connecting together upper ends of the lower power conductors, the lower terminal having an upward extending lower electrical contact;
• an upper terminal electrically connecting together lower ends of the upper power conductors, the upper terminal having a downward extending upper electrical contact;
• an electrical intermediate connector having an upper end that stabs into engagement with the upper electrical contact and a lower end that stabs into engagement with the lower electrical contact;
• and
• a load supporting member surrounding the intermediate connector and joined to upper and lower ends, respectively, of the lower coiled tubing segment and the upper coiled tubing segment.

A method of retrieving and re-running from a well a lower coiled tubing segment containing a lower power cable segment, comprising:

• with a splice, splicing an upper end of the lower coiled tubing segment and an upper end of the lower power cable segment to a lower end of an upper coiled tubing segment and a lower end of an upper power cable segment;
• wherein the step of splicing comprises:
• with a lower terminal, electrically connecting together upper ends of lower power conductors in the lower power cable segment;
• with an upper terminal, electrically connecting together lower ends of upper power conductors in the upper power cable segment;
• with an intermediate connector, electrically joining together the lower and upper terminals;
• securing a load supporting member around the intermediate connector and to upper and lower ends, respectively, of the lower coiled tubing and the upper coiled tubing;
• then
• retrieving the lower coiled tubing segment and rolling the upper coiled tubing segment, the splice, and the lower coiled tubing segment onto a reel;
• then
• running the lower coiled tubing segment back into the well;
• and
• at selected intervals while lowering the lower coiled tubing segment, checking insulation in the upper power cable segment, the splice, and the lower power cable segment by measuring a resistance between an upper end of at least one of the upper power conductors and the upper coiled tubing segment.