ESP Recirculation System with Gas Separation

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

• a capsule that encapsulates the pumping system;
• an intake;
• a gas handler pump downstream from the intake;
• a production pump connected to the production tubing;
• a liquid separator connected between the gas handler pump and the production pump, wherein the liquid separator is configured to discharge a primarily liquid stream into capsule in proximity to the intake and to provide the production pump with a reduced gas fraction fluid;
• and
• a motor that drives the gas handler pump and the production pump.

A submersible pumping system for producing two-phase fluids from a well located beneath a body of water through production tubing to a production platform located on the surface of the body of water, the submersible pumping system comprising:

• a first pump subassembly, wherein the first pump subassembly comprises:
• a first intake;
• a first gas handler pump downstream from the first intake;
• a first production pump downstream from the first gas handler pump;
• a first liquid separator connected between the first gas handler pump and the first production pump, wherein the first liquid separator is configured to recirculate a primarily liquid stream to the first intake and to provide the first production pump with a reduced gas fraction fluid;
• a first motor that drives the first gas handler pump and the first production pump;
• and
• a first capsule that encapsulates the first intake, the first gas handler pump, the first production pump, the first liquid separator and the first motor.