Abstract: A labyrinth seal assembly for an electrical submersible pumping system that communicates downhole pressure to a pump motor while sealing wellbore fluids from the motor. The labyrinth seal assembly includes a chamber circumscribing a pump shaft, labyrinth tubes, upper and lower shaft seals, and inner and outer guide tubes coaxially circumscribing the shaft. One labyrinth tube has an end in fluid communication with the wellbore fluid and another has an end in fluid communication with the pump motor. The labyrinth tubes extend into the chamber from opposite directions and each have an opening distal from where they enter the chamber. A port is provided in the inner guide tube distal from the upper shaft seal, and a port in the outer guide tube is provided proximate the upper shaft seal. Thus a labyrinth path is provided between the upper shaft seal and the chamber.