Abstract: A submersible pumping system for producing a fluid from a wellbore through production tubing to a wellhead includes a motor controlled by a motor drive, a pump driven by the motor, and one or more downhole sensors configured to measure conditions at the motor and pump. An intake fluid density control system has a control fluid reservoir positioned above the pump that is configured to release a density control fluid to the intake of the pump under the force of gravity. The release of the density control fluid can be controlled by a dump valve that automatically moves between open, closed, and intermediate positions in response to a control signal based on measurements made by the downhole sensors or motor drive.

Abstract: A pump that is configured to lift fluids through a tubing string includes a gas mitigation system and a screen flush module. The gas mitigation system has a canister with an interior and an intake screen. The gas mitigation system further includes an intake tube that extends into the canister. The screen flush module is configured to flush solids particles trapped in the intake screen.

Abstract: A pumping system is configured to be deployed in a well that has a vertical portion and a lateral portion. The pumping system includes a pump positioned in the vertical portion, a velocity tube assembly that extends from the vertical portion into the lateral portion and a multiphase diverter connected between the pump and the velocity tube assembly. The multiphase diverter includes a housing and a plurality of ejection ports that extend through the housing at a downward angle.

Abstract: A gas mitigation system for use in connection with a subsurface pump includes a shroud hanger that has one or more orifices that permit the passage of fluids through the shroud hanger. A canister connected to the shroud hanger has an open upper end. An intake tube connected to the tubing string extends into the canister. The canister is sized and configured to cause fluids passing around the outside of the canister to accelerate, thereby encouraging the separation of gas and liquid components. The open shroud hanger and open upper end of the canister allow heavier liquid components to fall into the canister, where the liquid-enriched fluid can be drawn into the subsurface pump.

Abstract: A pumping system is configured to be deployed in a well that has a vertical portion and a lateral portion. The pumping system includes a pump positioned in the vertical portion, a velocity tube assembly that extends from the vertical portion into the lateral portion and a multiphase diverter connected between the pump and the velocity tube assembly. The multiphase diverter includes a housing and a plurality of ejection ports that extend through the housing at a downward angle.

Abstract: A horizontal pumping system has a motor, a pump driven by the motor and a priming module. The pump has a discharge on a first end of the pump, a suction end on a second end of the pump, and a plurality of stages between the suction end and the discharge. Each of the plurality of stages includes an impeller and a diffuser that encases the impeller. Each diffuser is an independent pressure vessel. The priming module may be a wet priming module or a dry priming module. The priming module permits the use of the horizontal pumping system in many applications in which the liquid is not naturally present at the pump intake.

Abstract: A pump that is configured to lift fluids through a tubing string includes a gas mitigation system and a screen flush module. The gas mitigation system has a canister with an interior and an intake screen. The gas mitigation system further includes an intake tube that extends into the canister. The screen flush module is configured to flush solids particles trapped in the intake screen.

Abstract: A gas mitigation system for use in connection with a subsurface pump includes a shroud hanger that has one or more orifices that permit the passage of fluids through the shroud hanger. A canister connected to the shroud hanger has an open upper end. An intake tube connected to the tubing string extends into the canister. The canister is sized and configured to cause fluids passing around the outside of the canister to accelerate, thereby encouraging the separation of gas and liquid components. The open shroud hanger and open upper end of the canister allow heavier liquid components to fall into the canister, where the liquid-enriched fluid can be drawn into the subsurface pump.

Abstract: A method for analysing function of a biosystem (16) based on analysis of a sample (12) taken from a portion of said biosystem (18); said method comprising exposing said sample to incident energy (10) derived from an energy source (11); receiving radiated energy from said sample consequent to impingement of said incident energy on said sample; passing at least a portion of said radiated energy through a transducer (13) thereby to derive an information signal (15) which characterises an aspect of said sample (12); analysing said information signal to produce biosystem data which can be used to identify said aspect of said sample (12).

Abstract: A multi-diameter bellows for use in a seal section of a submersible pump. The bellows is adapted to surround a shaft that communicates the motor with the pump. The bellows is made of a first collapsible section and a second collapsible section. The volume of the bellows is varied by moving a coupling member that attaches the first collapsible section to the second collapsible section. The coupling member has an outside portion for connecting to the second collapsible section and an inside portion for connecting to the first collapsible section. The coupling member additionally has a transitional section between the outside portion and the inside portion. The transitional portion of the coupling member allows the inside portion to be located within the second collapsible section, i.e., allows the collapsible sections to be “nested”, which increases displaced volume for a given stroke length of the coupling member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus (21, 150) is disclosed for identifying tissue which is suspected of being physiologically changed as a result of pre-cancerous or cancerous activity. The apparatus (21, 150) includes a probe (1, 10; 151) configured to contact the tissue and which includes an arrangement (3-7, 17-47; 158-163) to subject the tissue to a plurality of different stimuli such as electrical, light, heat, sound, magnetic and to detect plural physical responses to the stimuli. The probe (1, 10; 151) connects to an analogue section (23; 152) which buffers signals between the probe (1, 10; 151) and a processor (22; 153). The processor (22; 153) processes the responses in combination in order to categorise the tissue, and then compares the categorisation with a catalogue of expected tissue to identify the tissue, the processing occurring in real-time with an indication of the tissue type (eg. normal, pre-cancerous/cancerous, or unknown) being provided to an operator of the apparatus.