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: In aspects, the present disclosure provides an apparatus for handling axial thrust in rotating equipment. The apparatus may include a thrust bearing and a runner having a contact surface engaging the thrust bearing. The runner may include passages extending between the contact surface and an opposing surface of the runner. The apparatus may further include a lock ring assembly that has channels in communication with the passages of the runner. In certain embodiments, one or more cavities may be formed on the contact surface of the runner. The cavities may be in communication with the internal passages of the runner. In aspects, the present disclosure provides a method for handling axial thrust in a pump assembly. The pump assembly may include a thrust bearing assembly that may include a runner having a contact surface engaging a thrust bearing pad. The method may include flowing a lubricating fluid to the contact surface using at least one internal passage formed in runner.

Abstract: A submersible well pump assembly has a rotary pump, a motor, and a seal section coupled between the motor and the pump. The seal section has a cylindrical housing having upper and lower adapter and a shaft extending axially through the housing. A guide tube surrounds the shaft and a bellows surrounds the guide tube. A well fluid passage communicates well fluid to a well fluid chamber between the bellows and the housing. A guide tube passage extends axially within the guide tube between an interior and an exterior of the guide tube from an upper portion to a lower portion of the guide tube for communicating lubricant in the motor with lubricant within the bellows.

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 heat exchanger to serve ESP equipment installed on the seabed located in either a caisson or skid. A hot oil line connects the base of the ESP motor with the externally located heat exchanger, allowing hot motor oil to be circulated through coils externally exposed to seawater. The heat from the oil is rejected to the seawater and the cooled oil is reintroduced to the motor via a cold oil line that communicates with the seal section. The heat exchanger arrangement reduces the temperature of an ESP motor, thus allowing the motor to operate longer and more reliably.

Abstract: Systems and methods of cooling a motor of an electrical submersible pump (ESP) assembly employed in an electrical submersible subsea booster pumping system, are provided. A supporting frame structure such as an ESP mounting skid or top end assembly of a caisson having structural members exposed to environmental seawater, is modified or designed to include fluid conduits within the structural members to establish lubricant pathways for lubricant to flow. A heated/hot lubricant line connects between a supporting structure lubricant inlet port and an ESP motor lubricant outlet port. A cooled lubricant line connects between a supporting structure lubricant outlet port and an ESP motor lubricant inlet port. A pump or other fluid moving device circulates lubricant from the ESP motor to the lubricant pathways within the supporting frame structure, whereby the seawater cools the lubricant contained therein, which is then circulated back into the motor to assisting cooling the motor.

Abstract: A labyrinth type seal section for use with an electrical submersible pump assembly having a guide tube with an axial bore to port wellbore fluid to a lower end of the seal section. Lubricating fluid fills substantially all of the seal section above an interface between the lubricating fluid and the wellbore fluid. The guide tube circumscribes a drive shaft that extends between a motor and a pump. The guide tube and shaft form an annulus filled with lubricating fluid that communicates to the well fluid and to the motor, so that pressure in the motor can be equalized to pressure of the ambient well fluid.

Abstract: An expansion chamber to serve ESP equipment installed on the seabed located in either a caisson or a conduit on a skid. The expansion chamber provides an external reservoir for expansion and contraction of motor oil in the ESP equipment. During operation of an ESP, the heat generated in the motor raises the temperature of the motor oil, causing it to expand. The expansion chamber is connected to the ESP equipment via oil lines that allow oil to expand into the expansion chamber when the temperature of the motor oil increases. The expansion chamber has a movable barrier therein that defines primary and secondary chamber. Oil communicates with the primary chamber. Formation fluid within the conduit surrounding the motor communicates with the secondary chamber.

Abstract: A labyrinth type seal section for use with an electrical submersible pump assembly having a guide tube with an axial bore to port wellbore fluid to a lower end of the seal section. Lubricating fluid fills substantially all of the seal section above an interface between the lubricating fluid and the wellbore fluid. The guide tube circumscribes a drive shaft that extends between a motor and a pump. The guide tube and shaft form an annulus filled with lubricating fluid that communicates to the well fluid and to the motor, so that pressure in the motor can be equalized to pressure of the ambient well fluid.

Abstract: An electrical submersible pumping assembly having a seal section and a motor section, and seals that prevent leakage from the seal section and the motor section during assembly. The seals cooperate with a coupling assembly for coupling together shafts from both the seal section and motor section. The coupling assembly outer diameter enlarges at a shoulder that circumscribes its outer surface. In one example, the seal that prevents leakage from the seal assembly provides a sealing interface around the larger diameter portion of the coupling assembly, that is removable by sliding the coupling so its smaller diameter portion is adjacent the seal assembly. The motor section is sealed by another sealing assembly that includes a body that circumscribes the motor shaft to define an annulus, a sealing disk selectively fills the annulus. The sealing disk can also be slid away from within the body while coupling the shafts with the coupling assembly.

Abstract: A submersible well pump assembly has a rotary pump, a motor, and a seal section coupled between the motor and the pump. The seal section has a cylindrical housing having upper and lower adapter and a shaft extending axially through the housing. A guide tube surrounds the shaft and a bellows surrounds the guide tube. A well fluid passage communicates well fluid to a well fluid chamber between the bellows and the housing. A guide tube passage extends axially within the guide tube between an interior and an exterior of the guide tube from an upper portion to a lower portion of the guide tube for communicating lubricant in the motor with lubricant within the bellows.

Abstract: In aspects, the present disclosure provides an apparatus for handling axial thrust in rotating equipment. The apparatus may include a thrust bearing and a runner having a contact surface engaging the thrust bearing. The runner may include passages extending between the contact surface and an opposing surface of the runner. The apparatus may further include a lock ring assembly that has channels in communication with the passages of the runner. In certain embodiments, one or more cavities may be formed on the contact surface of the runner. The cavities may be in communication with the internal passages of the runner. In aspects, the present disclosure provides a method for handling axial thrust in a pump assembly. The pump assembly may include a thrust bearing assembly that may include a runner having a contact surface engaging a thrust bearing pad. The method may include flowing a lubricating fluid to the contact surface using at least one internal passage formed in runner.

Abstract: An improved seal assembly for a downhole electrical submersible pump assembly.

Abstract: Systems and methods of cooling a motor of an electrical submersible pump (ESP) assembly employed in an electrical submersible subsea booster pumping system, are provided. A supporting frame structure such as an ESP mounting skid or top end assembly of a caisson having structural members exposed to environmental seawater, is modified or designed to include fluid conduits within the structural members to establish lubricant pathways for lubricant to flow. A heated/hot lubricant line connects between a supporting structure lubricant inlet port and an ESP motor lubricant outlet port. A cooled lubricant line connects between a supporting structure lubricant outlet port and an ESP motor lubricant inlet port. A pump or other fluid moving device circulates lubricant from the ESP motor to the lubricant pathways within the supporting frame structure, whereby the seawater cools the lubricant contained therein, which is then circulated back into the motor to assisting cooling the motor.

Abstract: An electrical submersible pumping system having a pump, a motor, a shaft connecting the pump and motor, and a mechanical seal assembly on the shaft. The mechanical seal assembly includes a sleeve circumscribing the shaft that is axially movable with respect to the shaft. The shaft is retained within a guide mount, an inner circumference of the guide mount extends radially outward to define a shoulder. An annular seat is disposed on the shoulder. One end of a resilient retention assembly couples on the outer surface of the sleeve with its other end compressively urged against the seat. A resilient member is compressively mounted on one end to the sleeve and on another end to the shaft at a location past the end of the sleeve distal from the seat.

Abstract: An electrical submersible pump has a pump assembly joined to a seal section. The pump assembly shaft, which may experience upthrust axial forces, may joined to the seal section shaft by a detachable coupling. The detachable coupling may have splines on its inner diameter that engage splines on the outer diameters of the pump assembly shaft and the seal section shaft. The detachable coupling can be bolted to one of the shafts. Locking members, such as plates, can be inserted through slots on the coupling to engage a recess on one of the shafts. A retaining device, such as a sleeve, can be used to hold the locking members in place.

Abstract: An expansion chamber to serve ESP equipment installed on the seabed located in either a caisson or a conduit on a skid. The expansion chamber provides an external reservoir for expansion and contraction of motor oil in the ESP equipment. During operation of an ESP, the heat generated in the motor raises the temperature of the motor oil, causing it to expand. The expansion chamber is connected to the ESP equipment via oil lines that allow oil to expand into the expansion chamber when the temperature of the motor oil increases. The expansion chamber has a movable barrier therein that defines primary and secondary chamber. Oil communicates with the primary chamber. Formation fluid within the conduit surrounding the motor communicates with the secondary chamber.

Abstract: A heat exchanger to serve ESP equipment installed on the seabed located in either a caisson or skid. A hot oil line connects the base of the ESP motor with the externally located heat exchanger, allowing hot motor oil to be circulated through coils externally exposed to seawater. The heat from the oil is rejected to the seawater and the cooled oil is reintroduced to the motor via a cold oil line that communicates with the seal section. The heat exchanger arrangement reduces the temperature of an ESP motor, thus allowing the motor to operate longer and more reliably.

Abstract: An electrical submersible pumping assembly having a seal section and a motor section, and seals that prevent leakage from the seal section and the motor section during assembly. The seals cooperate with a coupling assembly for coupling together shafts from both the seal section and motor section. The coupling assembly outer diameter enlarges at a shoulder that circumscribes its outer surface. In one example, the seal that prevents leakage from the seal assembly provides a sealing interface around the larger diameter portion of the coupling assembly, that is removable by sliding the coupling so its smaller diameter portion is adjacent the seal assembly. The motor section is sealed by another sealing assembly that includes a body that circumscribes the motor shaft to define an annulus, a sealing disk selectively fills the annulus. The sealing disk can also be slid away from within the body while coupling the shafts with the coupling assembly.