Abstract: An apparatus and system for sealing an electrical submersible pump (ESP) assembly are described. An ESP system includes a top portion of a seal section including a sand barrier portion defined by a sand barrier stop secured between the ESP intake and an adapter portion, the sand barrier portion including a sand barrier wedged between the sand barrier stop and the adapter portion, the adapter portion encasing a mechanical seal and secured between the sand barrier portion and a head portion, the head portion secured between the adapter portion and a seal section housing, the head portion including a thrust bearing and a thrust runner, wherein each of the thrust bearing and the thrust runner includes at least one pad having a diamond-like carbon (DLC) layer on an outer surface.

Abstract: An apparatus and system for a thrust-absorbing horizontal surface pump assembly. A thrust-absorbing horizontal surface pump system includes an intake chamber including a stationary thrust bearing paired with a rotatable thrust runner to form a thrust bearing set, wherein a first face of the stationary thrust bearing positioned towards the rotatable thrust runner is at least partially diamond-coated, and wherein a second face of the rotatable thrust runner positioned towards the stationary thrust bearing is at least partially diamond-coated, a fluid entrance that receives fluid into the intake chamber, and a pump inlet that receives the fluid into the multi-stage centrifugal pump, wherein the thrust bearing set is arranged around the intake shaft such that during operation of the electric motor the thrust bearing is in a pathway of the fluid as the fluid flows between the fluid entrance and the pump inlet.

Abstract: A torque transmitting key for electrical submersible pumps (ESP). An ESP system includes a rotatable shaft and a sleeve coupled to the rotatable shaft by an elongate key, the elongate key made of a carbide composite material, the carbide composite material including a carbide selected from the group consisting of tungsten carbide, titanium carbide and silicon carbide, and a composite material selected from the group consisting of cobalt, nickel and a combination of cobalt and nickel. An ESP system includes an elongate torque transmitting key, the elongate key coupling an ESP rotatable component to an ESP shaft such that the ESP rotatable component rotates with the ESP shaft, the elongate torque transmitting key seated in a keyway of the ESP rotatable component and a keyway of the ESP shaft, and the elongate torque transmitting key having a load optimizing cross-sectional shape.

Abstract: An apparatus and system for a thrust-absorbing horizontal surface pump assembly is described. A thrust-absorbing horizontal surface pump system includes an intake chamber including a stationary thrust bearing paired with a rotatable thrust runner to form a thrust bearing set, wherein a first face of the stationary thrust bearing positioned towards the rotatable thrust runner is at least partially diamond-coated, and wherein a second face of the rotatable thrust runner positioned towards the stationary thrust bearing is at least partially diamond-coated, a fluid entrance that receives a fluid into the intake chamber, and a pump inlet that receives the fluid into the multi-stage centrifugal pump, wherein the thrust bearing set is arranged around the intake shaft such that during operation of the electric motor the thrust bearing is in a pathway of the fluid as the fluid flows between the fluid entrance and the pump inlet.

Abstract: Abrasion resistance in well fluid wetted assemblies is described. A method of enhancing an abrasion resistance of submersible assemblies includes polishing a first running surface of a sleeve and a second running surface of a bushing until the first running surface and the second running surface have a roughness average of four micro-inches roughness average (Ra) or less, coating the polished first running surface and the polished second running surface with one of titanium nitride, titanium aluminum nitride or a combination thereof, and placing the sleeve and the bushing in an electric submersible pump (ESP) assembly component such that the first running surface faces the second running surface and the first running surface rotates with respect to the second running surface, and pumping a fluid from an underground formation to a surface location using the ESP assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus and system for a thrust-absorbing horizontal surface pump assembly is described. A thrust-absorbing horizontal surface pump system includes an intake chamber including a stationary thrust bearing paired with a rotatable thrust runner to form a thrust bearing set, wherein a first face of the stationary thrust bearing positioned towards the rotatable thrust runner is at least partially diamond-coated, and wherein a second face of the rotatable thrust runner positioned towards the stationary thrust bearing is at least partially diamond-coated, a fluid entrance that receives a fluid into the intake chamber, and a pump inlet that receives the fluid into the multi-stage centrifugal pump, wherein the thrust bearing set is arranged around the intake shaft such that during operation of the electric motor the thrust bearing is in a pathway of the fluid as the fluid flows between the fluid entrance and the pump inlet.

Abstract: An apparatus and system for sealing an electrical submersible pump (ESP) assembly are described. An ESP system includes a top portion of a seal section including a sand barrier portion defined by a sand barrier stop secured between the ESP intake and an adapter portion, the sand barrier portion including a sand barrier wedged between the sand barrier stop and the adapter portion, the adapter portion encasing a mechanical seal and secured between the sand barrier portion and a head portion, the head portion secured between the adapter portion and a seal section housing, the head portion including a thrust bearing and a thrust runner, wherein each of the thrust bearing and the thrust runner includes at least one pad having a diamond-like carbon (DLC) layer on an outer surface.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for sealing an electrical submersible pump assembly are described. An electric submersible pump (ESP) system for pumping solid-laden fluid comprises a thrust chamber of an ESP seal section, the thrust chamber sealed from well fluid on a downstream side by a stationary sand barrier and on an upstream side by a mechanical seal, the thrust chamber further comprising, a rotatable shaft extending axially through the thrust chamber, a head tubularly encasing the thrust chamber and threadedly coupled to a centrifugal pump intake, and a diamond-coated hydrodynamic bearing set inside the thrust chamber, wherein well fluid enters and exits the chamber through cross-drilled apertures in the head of the chamber, and wherein the well fluid forms a hydrodynamic film between the bearing set.

Abstract: An apparatus and system for a thrust-absorbing horizontal surface pump assembly is described. A thrust-absorbing horizontal surface pump system includes an intake chamber including a stationary thrust bearing paired with a rotatable thrust runner to form a thrust bearing set, wherein a first face of the stationary thrust bearing positioned towards the rotatable thrust runner is at least partially diamond-coated, and wherein a second face of the rotatable thrust runner positioned towards the stationary thrust bearing is at least partially diamond-coated, a fluid entrance that receives a fluid into the intake chamber, and a pump inlet that receives the fluid into the multi-stage centrifugal pump, wherein the thrust bearing set is arranged around the intake shaft such that during operation of the electric motor the thrust bearing is in a pathway of the fluid as the fluid flows between the fluid entrance and the pump inlet.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for sealing an electrical submersible pump assembly are described. An electric submersible pump (ESP) system for pumping solid-laden fluid comprises a thrust chamber of an ESP seal section, the thrust chamber sealed from well fluid on a downstream side by a stationary sand barrier and on an upstream side by a mechanical seal, the thrust chamber further comprising, a rotatable shaft extending axially through the thrust chamber, a head tubularly encasing the thrust chamber and threadedly coupled to a centrifugal pump intake, and a diamond-coated hydrodynamic bearing set inside the thrust chamber, wherein well fluid enters and exits the chamber through cross-drilled apertures in the head of the chamber, and wherein the well fluid forms a hydrodynamic film between the bearing set.