Abstract: A seal section for use in a downhole submersible pumping system includes a bag support tube, first and second bag support plates connected at opposite ends of the bag support tube, and a seal bag extending between the first and second bag support plates. The seal section further includes one or more seal bag shields inside the seal bag. The seal bag shields are configured to prevent the seal bag from becoming damaged through contact between the seal bag and the bag support tube or the first and second bag support plates.

Abstract: A shaft coupling for connecting an upper shaft with a lower shaft within a pumping system is designed to handle a large tensile load between the upper and lower shafts. In some embodiments, the upper shaft includes a shaft ring groove and the coupling has a body and a first receiving chamber within the body that receives an end of the upper shaft. The coupling also includes an upper internal groove extending into the body from the first receiving chamber and an upper split ring that is configured to be compressed into a position occupying both the upper internal groove and the shaft ring groove of the upper shaft. Set screws compress the upper split ring into the shaft ring groove of the upper shaft. In another embodiment, the coupling includes a plurality of locking screws that extend through the body into corresponding lock screw grooves in the upper and lower shafts.

Abstract: A submersible pump electrical motor has a stator with a stator bore, a shaft with rotor sections in the stator bore, and a shaft bearing between rotor sections. The bearing has a bearing body having a hub and centralizing arms circumferentially spaced around the hub. Each of the arms curves and is biased against the stator bore wall. A tab on at least one of the arms engages a slot in the stator bore wall. The bearing body, the hub, and the arms are formed of a single-piece monolithic metal that undergoes elastic deflection of the arms when the bearing body is installed in the stator bore.

Abstract: A string of coiled tubing having a power cable therein supports and supplies power to an electrical submersible well pump assembly in a well. The coiled tubing has an upper section and a lower section joining each other, the upper section having a smaller inner diameter than the lower section. The power cable has an upper portion installed in the upper section of the coiled tubing and a lower portion installed in the lower section of the coiled tubing. The power cable has three insulated electrical conductors embedded within an elastomeric jacket. A metal armor strip has turns wrapped helically around the jacket. The armor strip is compressed between the jacket and the coiled tubing both in the upper section and in the lower section of the coiled tubing.

Abstract: A connector secures an ESP to coiled tubing containing a power cable. Upper and lower barriers in the connector housing define an upper chamber, a lower chamber, and a center chamber. An upper chamber dielectric fluid in the upper chamber is in fluid communication with the interior of the coiled tubing. A lower chamber dielectric fluid in the lower chamber is in fluid communication with motor lubricant in the motor of the ESP. Center chamber dielectric fluid in the center chamber is sealed from contact with the upper and lower chamber dielectric fluids by the upper and lower barriers. A thermal expansion device has a container portion for allowing center chamber dielectric fluid to expand into the container.

Abstract: A method for installing an electrical submersible pump (ESP) in a well containing a production conduit includes securing an ESP to a lower end of a coiled tubing segment containing an electrical power cable. An operator secures a load transfer device with a gripping member to the coiled tubing segment above the ESP. The operator lowers the coiled tubing segment into the well along with the ESP and the load transfer device. The load transfer device contacts an interior side wall of the production conduit with the gripping member and transfers a load on the coiled tubing segment to the production conduit. When powered, the ESP causes well fluid to flow upward from the ESP through the load transfer device up the production conduit.

Abstract: A string of coiled tubing for an electrical submersible well pump has insulated power conductors encased in an elastomeric jacket within the coiled tubing. A textured interface between the jacket and the inner side wall of the coiled tubing enhances frictional engagement between the jacket and the coiled tubing. The textured interface may be formed on the inner side wall of the coiled tubing and consist of a roughened or knurled surface. A tape may be wrapped helically around the jacket, the tape having an outer side with a textured surface in contact with the inner side wall of the coiled tubing. The textured interface may extend continuously for the length of the coiled tubing.

Abstract: A shaft coupling for connecting an upper shaft with a lower shaft within a pumping system is designed to handle a large tensile load between the upper and lower shafts. In some embodiments, the upper shaft includes a shaft ring groove and the coupling has a body and a first receiving chamber within the body that receives an end of the upper shaft. The coupling also includes an upper internal groove extending into the body from the first receiving chamber and an upper split ring that is configured to be compressed into a position occupying both the upper internal groove and the shaft ring groove of the upper shaft. Set screws compress the upper split ring into the shaft ring groove of the upper shaft. In another embodiment, the coupling includes a plurality of locking screws that extend through the body into corresponding lock screw grooves in the upper and lower shafts.

Abstract: A submersible pump electrical motor has a stator with a stator bore, a shaft with rotor sections in the stator bore, and a shaft bearing between rotor sections. The bearing has a bearing body having a hub and centralizing arms circumferentially spaced around the hub. Each of the arms curves and is biased against the stator bore wall. A tab on at least one of the arms engages a slot in the stator bore wall. The bearing body, the hub, and the arms are formed of a single-piece monolithic metal that undergoes elastic deflection of the arms when the bearing body is installed in the stator bore.

Abstract: A splice connects segments of coiled tubing and power cable together. The splice has a base and a head, each having an interior conical surface and a collet with fingers that deflect inward in gripping engagement with one of the segments in response to axial movement of the head collet and the base collet. A compression sleeve extends between the base collet and the head collet and exerts forces on the collets while the base and head are being secured together. An insulator tube slides over each of the power conductors. A retainer ring for each insulator tube grips one of the power conductors and abuts a shoulder in the insulator tube to prevent movement of the insulator tube along the power conductor.

Abstract: A connector secures an ESP to coiled tubing containing a power cable. Upper and lower barriers in the connector housing define an upper chamber, a lower chamber, and a center chamber. An upper chamber dielectric fluid in the upper chamber is in fluid communication with the interior of the coiled tubing. A lower chamber dielectric fluid in the lower chamber is in fluid communication with motor lubricant in the motor of the ESP. Center chamber dielectric fluid in the center chamber is sealed from contact with the upper and lower chamber dielectric fluids by the upper and lower barriers. A thermal expansion device has a container portion for allowing center chamber dielectric fluid to expand into the container.

Abstract: A splice connects a lower coiled tubing segment containing a lower power cable segment to an upper coiled tubing segment containing an upper power cable segment. The splice has a lower terminal electrically connecting together upper ends of lower power conductors. An upper terminal electrically connects together lower ends of upper power conductors. An electrical intermediate connector has an upper end that stabs into engagement with the upper electrical terminal and a lower end that stabs into engagement with the lower electrical terminal. A load supporting member surrounds the intermediate connector and joins to upper and lower ends, respectively, of the lower coiled tubing segment and the upper coiled tubing segment.

Abstract: A string of coiled tubing having a power cable therein supports and supplies power to an electrical submersible well pump assembly in a well. The coiled tubing has an upper section and a lower section joining each other, the upper section having a smaller inner diameter than the lower section. The power cable has an upper portion installed in the upper section of the coiled tubing and a lower portion installed in the lower section of the coiled tubing. The power cable has three insulated electrical conductors embedded within an elastomeric jacket. A metal armor strip has turns wrapped helically around the jacket. The armor strip is compressed between the jacket and the coiled tubing both in the upper section and in the lower section of the coiled tubing.

Abstract: A splice connects segments of coiled tubing and power cable together. The splice has a base and a head, each having an interior conical surface and a collet with fingers that deflect inward in gripping engagement with one of the segments in response to axial movement of the head collet and the base collet. A compression sleeve extends between the base collet and the head collet and exerts forces on the collets while the base and head are being secured together. An insulator tube slides over each of the power conductors. A retainer ring for each insulator tube grips one of the power conductors and abuts a shoulder in the insulator tube to prevent movement of the insulator tube along the power conductor.

Abstract: A method for installing an electrical submersible pump (ESP) in a well containing a production conduit includes securing an ESP to a lower end of a coiled tubing segment containing an electrical power cable. An operator secures a load transfer device with a gripping member to the coiled tubing segment above the ESP. The operator lowers the coiled tubing segment into the well along with the ESP and the load transfer device. The load transfer device contacts an interior side wall of the production conduit with the gripping member and transfers a load on the coiled tubing segment to the production conduit. When powered, the ESP causes well fluid to flow upward from the ESP through the load transfer device up the production conduit.

Abstract: A splice connects a lower coiled tubing segment containing a lower power cable segment to an upper coiled tubing segment containing an upper power cable segment. The splice has a lower terminal electrically connecting together upper ends of lower power conductors. An upper terminal electrically connects together lower ends of upper power conductors. An electrical intermediate connector has an upper end that stabs into engagement with the upper electrical terminal and a lower end that stabs into engagement with the lower electrical terminal. A load supporting member surrounds the intermediate connector and joins to upper and lower ends, respectively, of the lower coiled tubing segment and the upper coiled tubing segment.

Abstract: A string of coiled tubing for an electrical submersible well pump has insulated power conductors encased in an elastomeric jacket within the coiled tubing. A textured interface between the jacket and the inner side wall of the coiled tubing enhances frictional engagement between the jacket and the coiled tubing. The textured interface may be formed on the inner side wall of the coiled tubing and consist of a roughened or knurled surface. A tape may be wrapped helically around the jacket, the tape having an outer side with a textured surface in contact with the inner side wall of the coiled tubing. The textured interface may extend continuously for the length of the coiled tubing.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an arrangement for cutting contours in a workpiece with a router and includes a supporting structure and a pair of elongated vise members mounted on the supporting structure. The vise members are disposed in side by side relation to each other with at least one of the vise members defining a substantially smooth upper surface upon which the workpiece can be placed. At least one of the vise members is mounted on the supporting structure so as to be movable relative to the other one of the vise members. An elongated fence member adapted for insertion between the vise members is also provided. A clamping arrangement is included for adjusting the vise members with respect to each other to clamp the fence member therebetween. A mounting structure accommodates a router and is mounted on the fence member so that the mounting plate, the fence member and the upper surface of the workbench conjointly define a path for passing the workpiece therealong.