Abstract: A well pump assembly includes a pump and a motor that contains a dielectric motor lubricant and a pressure equalizer containing a bellows. The bellows has an interior in fluid communication with the motor lubricant and an exterior immersed in well fluid. The bellows is axially extendable and contractible in response to a pressure differential between the well fluid and the motor lubricant. A tube has a lower end secured to a tube port in the pressure equalizer housing and an upper end secured to a lower end of the bellows. The tube has a center line that makes at least one curved flexible bend between the tube upper end and the tube lower end to enable the tube to flex as the bellows extends and contracts.

Abstract: A well fluid submersible pump assembly includes a pump operatively coupled to a motor and a seal section located between the motor and the pump. The seal section has a single piece tubular housing with adapters secured to opposite ends of the housing. A shaft extends axially through the housing for driving the pump. An auxiliary seal carrier located in the housing has a central bore through which the shaft extends and has an outer diameter portion that seals to the bore of the housing. Opposed check valves in the seal carrier allow lubricant to flow from one side of the auxiliary carrier to an opposite side of the seal carrier in response to a selected pressure differential. A mechanical face seal mounts to the auxiliary seal carrier and seals around the shaft.

Abstract: A well pump includes a plunger reciprocally carried within a barrel between up stroke and down stroke positions. A tubular linear actuator housing located below the barrel has a rotatable rotor. An array of rotor magnets is mounted to the rotor, directing rotor magnetic fields in an outward direction. A cage is fixed against rotation relative to the housing and carried within the housing for axial movement relative to the rotor and the housing. The cage has a cylindrical inner sidewall surrounding the outer sidewall of the rotor. An array of cage magnets is mounted to the inner sidewall of the cage. The cage magnets direct cage magnetic fields in an inward direction relative to the axis. The cage and rotor magnetic fields interact such rotation of the rotor causes axial movement of the cage. A motor rotates the rotor.

Abstract: A well pump assembly includes a pump and a motor that contains a dielectric motor lubricant and a pressure equalizer containing a bellows. The bellows has an interior in fluid communication with the motor lubricant and an exterior immersed in well fluid. The bellows is axially extendable and contractible in response to a pressure differential between the well fluid and the motor lubricant. A tube has a lower end secured to a tube port in the pressure equalizer housing and an upper end secured to a lower end of the bellows. The tube has a center line that makes at least one curved flexible bend between the tube upper end and the tube lower end to enable the tube to flex as the bellows extends and contracts.

Abstract: A well pump includes a plunger reciprocally carried within a barrel between up stroke and down stroke positions. A tubular linear actuator housing located below the barrel has a rotatable rotor. An array of rotor magnets is mounted to the rotor, directing rotor magnetic fields in an outward direction. A cage is fixed against rotation relative to the housing and carried within the housing for axial movement relative to the rotor and the housing. The cage has a cylindrical inner sidewall surrounding the outer sidewall of the rotor. An array of cage magnets is mounted to the inner sidewall of the cage. The cage magnets direct cage magnetic fields in an inward direction relative to the axis. The cage and rotor magnetic fields interact such rotation of the rotor causes axial movement of the cage. A motor rotates the rotor.

Abstract: A submersible pump assembly has modules, including a rotary pump, an electrical motor, and a seal section located between the motor and the pump. The seal section has a tubular housing with a lower adapter secured to the housing and joining the seal section with the motor. An upper adapter is secured to the housing and joins the seal section with another one of the modules. An inlet port in the upper adapter admits well fluid into the housing. A tubular, flexible compensator element has an upper end sealed to the upper adapter and a lower end sealed to the lower adapter. A communication passage in the lower adapter admits lubricant from the motor into the compensator element. A cap is mounted around the upper end of the compensator element. The cap has a skirt extending radially outward to limit upward expansion of the compensator element.

Abstract: A well fluid submersible pump assembly includes a pump operatively coupled to a motor and a seal section located between the motor and the pump. The seal section has a single piece tubular housing with adapters secured to opposite ends of the housing. A shaft extends axially through the housing for driving the pump. An auxiliary seal carrier located in the housing has a central bore through which the shaft extends and has an outer diameter portion that seals to the bore of the housing. Opposed check valves in the seal carrier allow lubricant to flow from one side of the auxiliary carrier to an opposite side of the seal carrier in response to a selected pressure differential. A mechanical face seal mounts to the auxiliary seal carrier and seals around the shaft.

Abstract: An electrical submersible pump assembly has a centrifugal pump with stages, each having an impeller and a diffuser. A shaft extending from an electrical motor rotates the impellers. In the stages, a thrust runner is coupled to the shaft for rotation in unison. A bushing is non rotatably mounted in a receptacle in the diffuser. The bushing has a bore that receives the body of the runner in sliding, rotating engagement. The bushing has a thrust receiving end engaged by the thrust face of the runner in rotating, sliding engagement to transfer thrust from the runner to the diffuser. An elastomeric compliant member between a cylindrical exterior of the bushing and the receptacle allows limited radial movement of the bushing relative to the diffuser.

Abstract: An electrical submersible pump assembly has a centrifugal pump with stages, each having an impeller and a diffuser. A shaft extending from an electrical motor rotates the impellers. In the stages, a thrust runner is coupled to the shaft for rotation in unison. A bushing is non rotatably mounted in a receptacle in the diffuser. The bushing has a bore that receives the body of the runner in sliding, rotating engagement. The bushing has a thrust receiving end engaged by the thrust face of the runner in rotating, sliding engagement to transfer thrust from the runner to the diffuser. An elastomeric compliant member between a cylindrical exterior of the bushing and the receptacle allows limited radial movement of the bushing relative to the diffuser.

Abstract: An electrical submersible pump assembly has a centrifugal pump with stages, each having an impeller and a diffuser. A shaft extending from an electrical motor rotates the impellers. In the stages, a thrust runner is coupled to the shaft for rotation in unison. A bushing is non rotatably mounted in a receptacle in the diffuser. The bushing has a bore that receives the body of the runner in sliding, rotating engagement. The bushing has a thrust receiving end engaged by the thrust face of the runner in rotating, sliding engagement to transfer thrust from the runner to the diffuser. An elastomeric compliant member between a cylindrical exterior of the bushing and the receptacle allows limited radial movement of the bushing relative to the diffuser.

Abstract: An electrical submersible pump assembly has a pump, a motor and a seal section with a labyrinth chamber. A guide tube surrounds a drive shaft in the seal section and contains lubricant in fluid communication with lubricant in the motor. The guide tube has a guide tube port adjacent the downstream end of the labyrinth chamber. A. labyrinth tube has an open inlet end in the downstream end of the labyrinth chamber and an open outlet end near the upstream end of the labyrinth chamber. The labyrinth communicates well fluid on the exterior of the seal section into the labyrinth chamber in contact with the lubricant in the labyrinth chamber. A non rotating helical blade in the labyrinth chamber encircles the guide tube, defining a helical flow path between the outlet end of the labyrinth tube and the guide tube port of the guide tube.

Abstract: A submersible pump assembly has modules, including a rotary pump, an electrical motor, and a seal section located between the motor and the pump. The seal section has a tubular housing with a lower adapter secured to the housing and joining the seal section with the motor. An upper adapter is secured to the housing and joins the seal section with another one of the modules. An inlet port in the upper adapter admits well fluid into the housing. A tubular, flexible compensator element has an upper end sealed to the upper adapter and a lower end sealed to the lower adapter. A communication passage in the lower adapter admits lubricant from the motor into the compensator element. A cap is mounted around the upper end of the compensator element. The cap has a skirt extending radially outward to limit upward expansion of the compensator element.

Abstract: A system for producing wellbore fluids. The system includes a pumping system deployable into tubing disposed in a wellbore, the pumping system includes a pump, a pump motor, a reservoir for containing purging fluid, and conductors in electrical communication with the pump motor. Electrical supply contacts are provided in the tubing and are connected to a downhole electrical power supply via a power cable extending along the tubing length from the surface. The conductors are engageable with the electrical supply contacts when the pumping system is landed within the tubing. Purging fluid in the reservoir can be flowed between the conductors and the supply contacts to remove conductive fluid prior to engaging the conductors and supply contacts. The conductors are selectively extended from a retracted position in the pumping system. In an alternative embodiment, the electrical supply contacts are provided at locations along the length of the tubing.

Abstract: An electrical submersible pump assembly has a pump discharge head with an integrally formed pump discharge pressure port. The discharge head is mounted directly to the pump and couples the pump to production tubing. A static pressure port extends directly through the side wall of the discharge head. The pressure port includes a tubing connector for hydraulic tubing to run down to the gauge. Inside the discharge head, a flow limiter is located in the pressure port to stop the loss of fluid if there is a break in the tubing connector or hydraulic line. Alternatively, the discharge head may incorporate a venturi or other pressure drop structure to allow the fluid flow to be measured via a pressure drop across an orifice. The venturi may be configured as an insert to permit it to be replaced after it has become worn by abrasive flow.

Abstract: A submersible pumping system for use downhole, wherein the system includes a first pump, a second pump, a recirculation coupling between the first and second pumps, and a recirculation line for directing cooling flow across the pump motor. The pumps and coupling are independent modular items connected together. Optionally, a multi-stage pump may be retrofitted with the coupling for creating a cooling flow.

Abstract: A system for producing wellbore fluids. The system includes a pumping system deployable into tubing disposed in a wellbore, the pumping system includes a pump, a pump motor, a reservoir for containing purging fluid, and conductors in electrical communication with the pump motor. Electrical supply contacts are provided in the tubing and are connected to a downhole electrical power supply via a power cable extending along the tubing length from the surface. The conductors are engageable with the electrical supply contacts when the pumping system is landed within the tubing. Purging fluid in the reservoir can be flowed between the conductors and the supply contacts to remove conductive fluid prior to engaging the conductors and supply contacts. The conductors are selectively extended from a retracted position in the pumping system. In an alternative embodiment, the electrical supply contacts are provided at locations along the length of the tubing.

Abstract: A system for producing wellbore fluids. The system includes a pumping system deployable into tubing disposed in a wellbore, the pumping system includes a pump, a pump motor, a reservoir for containing purging fluid, and conductors in electrical communication with the pump motor. Electrical supply contacts in the tubing are connected to a downhole electrical power supply via a power cable extending along the tubing length from the surface. The conductors are engageable with the electrical supply contacts when the pumping system is landed within the tubing. Purging fluid in the reservoir can be flowed between the conductors and the supply contacts to remove conductive fluid prior to engaging the conductors and supply contacts. The conductors are selectively extended from a retracted position in the pumping system.

Abstract: An electrical submersible pump assembly has a pump discharge head with an integrally formed pump discharge pressure port. The discharge head is mounted directly to the pump and couples the pump to production tubing. A static pressure port extends directly through the side wall of the discharge head. The pressure port includes a tubing connector for hydraulic tubing to run down to the guage. Inside the discharge head, a flow limiter is located in the pressure port to stop the loss of fluid if there is a break in the tubing connector or hydraulic line. Alternatively, the discharge head may incorporate a venturi or other pressure drop structure to allow the fluid flow to be measured via a pressure drop across an orifice. The venturi may be configured as an insert to permit it to be replaced after it has become worn by abrasive flow.

Abstract: A combined gas separator and pump in an electrical submersible pump assembly is disclosed. An integral discharge connector threadingly couples the gas separator and pump. The connector contains discharge ports for the discharge of the separated gas. The pump shaft and gas separator shaft are also coupled. Alternatively, a single pump shaft extends from the pump into the gas separator. In another alternative, the gas separator is completely integrated into the pump housing. The pump is modified by removing the intake of the pump and a sufficient number of pump stages to accommodate the gas separator components. A diverter tube is located in the pump housing and the pump housing is modified to include gas exit ports. All of the gas separator components are located in the modified pump housing, and the original pump intake is reattached at its original location.

Abstract: A submersible pumping system for use downhole, wherein the system includes a first pump, a second pump, a recirculation coupling between the first and second pumps, and a recirculation line for directing cooling flow across the pump motor. The pumps and coupling are independent modular items connected together. Optionally, a multi-stage pump may be retrofitted with the coupling for creating a cooling flow.