Pressure monitoring system with isolating means

In a submersible pump system having an AC motor located in a well for driving a centrifugal pump, power supply means at the surface for supplying AC power over conductors to a motor winding of an AC motor, an improved means for measuring downhole pressure, comprising in combination:

• a downhole pressure transducer having one lead electrically connected to a ground and another lead electrically connected to the motor winding, the pressure transducer being of a type in which the resistance of the pressure transducer varies with the pressure in the well;
• measuring means at the surface for superimposing a DC voltage on one of the power conductors to cause current to flow through the pressure transducer to the ground, and for monitoring the resistance of the pressure transducer;
• filter means connected between the pressure transducer and the motor winding for blocking AC power from the pressure transducer;
• and
• a temperature actuated switch electrically connected below the motor winding in series with the pressure transducer, the switch being open below a selected temperature and closed above the selected temperature, the selected temperature being set at a level above the expected downhole well ambient temperature with the motor shut off but below the expected temperature of the switch which occurs while the motor is warmed up and running, thereby isolating the power conductors and motor winding from ground through the pressure transducer while the motor is shut off and at the ambient temperature of the well.

A method for testing power conductors and motor winding insulation resistance in a submersible pump system of the type having an AC motor located in a well for driving a centrifugal pump, power supply means at the surface for supplying AC power over the conductors to the motor winding of an AC motor, a downhole pressure transducer having one lead electrically connected to ground and another lead electrically connected to the motor winding, measuring means at the surface for superimposing a voltage on one of the power conductors to monitor the resistance of the pressure transducer, which varies with the pressure in the well, the method comprising in combination:

• connecting a temperature actuated switch in series with the pressure transducer, the switch being of a type that is open below a selected temperature and closed above the selected temperature;
• setting the selected temperature at a level above the expected downhole well ambient temperature with the motor shut off but below the expected temperature of the switch which occurs while the motor is warmed up and running;
• and
• while the motor is shut off and the temperature switch open, applying at the surface a DC voltage between the power conductors and the ground and monitoring any insulation leakage current.