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 seal section for use in a downhole submersible pumping system includes a lower chamber, an upper chamber and an intermediate guide section between the lower chamber and the upper chamber. The lower chamber includes a seal bag assembly that has a seal bag containing motor oil and an exterior space around the seal bag that contains high density oil that is denser than the motor oil. The upper chamber includes a volume of the high density oil at the bottom of the upper chamber and a gravity trap connected to the exterior space through an intermediate passage in the intermediate guide section. The gravity trap includes an opening submerged in the volume of high density oil in the upper chamber.

Abstract: A fixture has a body that connects to a motor, the body having a bore. The body has a piston in the bore, separating the bore into a pressure chamber and a lubricant chamber in fluid communication with lubricant in the motor. A technician applies pressure to the pressure chamber, which causes the piston to increase pressure of the lubricant in the lubricant chamber and in the motor. The technician monitors a distance of movement of the piston, indicating a presence of residual air in the lubricant. If the movement meets a amount, the technician applies a vacuum to the lubricant chamber and bleeds out residual air from the lubricant in the motor.

Abstract: An electrical submersible well pump assembly has a SAW (surface acoustic wave) sensor on a motor shaft. A SAW electronic circuit mounts to the motor housing. The SAW electronic circuit has an antenna closely spaced to the SAW sensor for monitoring torque on the motor shaft. A controller at an upper end of the well supplies power to the motor. A motor gauge unit mounted to a lower end of the motor transmits signals to the controller. A signal line extends from the SAW electronic circuit to the motor gauge unit for transmitting signals from the SAW electronic circuit to the motor gauge unit, and from the motor gauge unit to the controller.

Abstract: An electric submersible pumping system includes one or more sensors, a sensor module configured to receive and process data from the one or more sensors, and a data memory unit configured to store data received from the one or more sensors. The data memory unit can be used for storing data using methods that shift the frequency at which information is recorded from the sensors. In some embodiments, the method includes the steps of recording data from a sensor within the pumping system at a first frequency, detecting the occurrence of a frequency shifting event, and recording data from the sensor at a second frequency that is higher than the first frequency. The measurement data can be stored in volatile or non-volatile memory to create a record of high resolution measurement data surrounding a frequency shifting event.

Abstract: An electrical submersible well pump (ESP) has a motor electrical connector mounted to an exterior of the motor. A motor sensor connects to an interior side of the motor electrical connector. Seal first and second electrical connectors mount to an exterior of a seal/motor adapter. A seal internal wire within the seal section electrically connects interior sides of the seal first and second electrical connectors together. An external motor jumper wire extends alongside the motor between the motor electrical connector and the seal first electrical connector. A pump electrical connector mounts to an exterior of a pump/seal adapter and connects to a pump sensor within the pump. An external seal jumper wire connects between the seal second electrical connector and the pump electrical connector.

Abstract: A fixture has a body that connects to a motor, the body having a bore. The body has a piston in the bore, separating the bore into a pressure chamber and a lubricant chamber in fluid communication with lubricant in the motor. A technician applies pressure to the pressure chamber, which causes the piston to increase pressure of the lubricant in the lubricant chamber and in the motor. The technician monitors a distance of movement of the piston, indicating a presence of residual air in the lubricant. If the movement meets a amount, the technician applies a vacuum to the lubricant chamber and bleeds out residual air from the lubricant in the motor.

Abstract: A fixture has a body that connects to a motor, the body having a bore. The body has a piston in the bore, separating the bore into a pressure chamber and a lubricant chamber in fluid communication with lubricant in the motor. A technician applies pressure to the pressure chamber, which causes the piston to increase pressure of the lubricant in the lubricant chamber and in the motor. The technician monitors a distance of movement of the piston, indicating a presence of residual air in the lubricant. If the movement meets a amount, the technician applies a vacuum to the lubricant chamber and bleeds out residual air from the lubricant in the motor.

Abstract: A seal section of a submersible well pump assembly has an expandable and contractible bag surrounded by a pressure equalizing chamber. A motor lubricant communication path communicates motor lubricant the bag interior. A well fluid port admits well fluid into the pressure equalizing chamber. A gas vent passage leads from the pressure equalizing chamber to the exterior of the enclosure. At least one membrane in the gas vent passage allows gas contained in the well fluid in the pressure equalizing chamber to vent. The membrane blocks liquid from flowing through the gas vent passage into and out of the pressure equalizing chamber.

Abstract: A submersible pump assembly includes a seal section connected to a motor, the seal section having a housing with an outboard bearing at a housing pump end in radial supporting engagement with a drive shaft. An inboard bearing is also in the housing pump end, axially spaced from the outboard bearing, and in radial supporting engagement with the shaft. A barrier fluid chamber in the housing pump end contains a barrier fluid. A primary shaft seal is located within the barrier fluid chamber and seals the barrier fluid in the barrier fluid chamber from the motor lubricant. A secondary shaft seal is mounted in the barrier fluid chamber between the primary shaft seal and the outboard bearing. The secondary shaft seal seals the barrier fluid in the barrier fluid chamber from well fluid exterior of the housing pump end.

Abstract: An electrical submersible well pump (ESP) has a motor electrical connector mounted to an exterior of the motor. A motor sensor connects to an interior side of the motor electrical connector. Seal first and second electrical connectors mount to an exterior of a seal/motor adapter. A seal internal wire within the seal section electrically connects interior sides of the seal first and second electrical connectors together. An external motor jumper wire extends alongside the motor between the motor electrical connector and the seal first electrical connector. A pump electrical connector mounts to an exterior of a pump/seal adapter and connects to a pump sensor within the pump. An external seal jumper wire connects between the seal second electrical connector and the pump electrical connector.

Abstract: A fixture has a body that connects to a motor, the body having a bore. The body has a piston in the bore, separating the bore into a pressure chamber and a lubricant chamber in fluid communication with lubricant in the motor. A technician applies pressure to the pressure chamber, which causes the piston to increase pressure of the lubricant in the lubricant chamber and in the motor. The technician monitors a distance of movement of the piston, indicating a presence of residual air in the lubricant. If the movement meets a amount, the technician applies a vacuum to the lubricant chamber and bleeds out residual air from the lubricant in the motor.

Abstract: An electrical submersible well pump assembly has a SAW (surface acoustic wave) sensor on a motor shaft. A SAW electronic circuit mounts to the motor housing. The SAW electronic circuit has an antenna closely spaced to the SAW sensor for monitoring torque on the motor shaft. A controller at an upper end of the well supplies power to the motor. A motor gauge unit mounted to a lower end of the motor transmits signals to the controller. A signal line extends from the SAW electronic circuit to the motor gauge unit for transmitting signals from the SAW electronic circuit to the motor gauge unit, and from the motor gauge unit to the controller.

Abstract: A submersible well pump assembly has a communication path for communicating motor lubricant to an interior of a pressure equalizer. A check valve passage with a check valve leads from the communication path to a pressure equalizing chamber. A dip tube has a dip tube inlet at the check valve passage below the check valve and a dip tube outlet in the pressure equalizing chamber. The dip tube is filled with motor lubricant to retard migration of well fluid from the pressure equalizing chamber into contact with the check valve.

Abstract: A seal section of a submersible well pump assembly has an expandable and contractible bag surrounded by a pressure equalizing chamber. A motor lubricant communication path communicates motor lubricant the bag interior. A well fluid port admits well fluid into the pressure equalizing chamber. A gas vent passage leads from the pressure equalizing chamber to the exterior of the enclosure. At least one membrane in the gas vent passage allows gas contained in the well fluid in the pressure equalizing chamber to vent. The membrane blocks liquid from flowing through the gas vent passage into and out of the pressure equalizing chamber.

Abstract: A well pump seal section housing connects between a pump and a motor. Upper and lower retainers at upper and lower ends of the housing have outward facing cylindrical walls. A bladder has an interior in fluid communication with dielectric lubricant in the motor. Rigid upper and lower sleeves are bonded within upper and lower openings of the bladder. The sleeves slide over the cylindrical walls of the retainers and are sealed by seal rings. Fasteners secure the sleeves to the cylindrical walls.

Abstract: A submersible well pump assembly has a communication path for communicating motor lubricant to an interior of a pressure equalizer. A check valve passage with a check valve leads from the communication path to a pressure equalizing chamber. A dip tube has a dip tube inlet at the check valve passage below the check valve and a dip tube outlet in the pressure equalizing chamber. The dip tube is filled with motor lubricant to retard migration of well fluid from the pressure equalizing chamber into contact with the check valve.

Abstract: A submersible pump assembly includes a seal section connected to a motor, the seal section having a housing with an outboard bearing at a housing pump end in radial supporting engagement with a drive shaft. An inboard bearing is also in the housing pump end, axially spaced from the outboard bearing, and in radial supporting engagement with the shaft. A barrier fluid chamber in the housing pump end contains a barrier fluid. A primary shaft seal is located within the barrier fluid chamber and seals the barrier fluid in the barrier fluid chamber from the motor lubricant. A secondary shaft seal is mounted in the barrier fluid chamber between the primary shaft seal and the outboard bearing. The secondary shaft seal seals the barrier fluid in the barrier fluid chamber from well fluid exterior of the housing pump end.

Abstract: A well pump assembly includes a centrifugal pump having a housing with a cylindrical internal side wall. Upper and lower diffusers are located in the housing. A metal-to-metal seal seals an upper end portion of the lower diffuser to the lower end portion of the upper diffuser. The seal also has an outer surface that frictionally engages the internal side wall of the housing. The seal is energized in response to an axial force exerted between the upper and lower diffusers. One version has a metal seal ring located in mating recesses on the outer walls of the diffusers. Another version includes an inner lip on one of the end portions of the diffusers that extends within and deflects an outer lip on the other of the end portions of the diffusers.

Abstract: A submersible well pump assembly has a pump, a motor, and a tubular pressure equalizer housing located between the pump and the motor. A rotatable drive shaft extends within the housing on the axis for driving the pump. A guide tube surrounds the drive shaft, defining an inner annulus between the drive shaft and the guide tube and an outer annulus between the housing and the guide tube. A well fluid inlet path admits well fluid into the outer annulus. A hub assembly is pivotally mounted to the guide tube. The hub assembly has a communication passage with having at least one lateral portion extending away the axis and a communication passage opening spaced from the axis and in fluid communication with the outer annulus. The hub assembly has a counterweight that rotates the communication passage opening to a point above the axis while the axis is horizontal.