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.

Abstract: A well pump assembly includes a pump and a motor that contains a dielectric motor lubricant and a pressure equalizer containing a bellows. The bellows has an interior in fluid communication with the motor lubricant and an exterior immersed in well fluid. The bellows is axially extendable and contractible in response to a pressure differential between the well fluid and the motor lubricant. A tube has a lower end secured to a tube port in the pressure equalizer housing and an upper end secured to a lower end of the bellows. The tube has a center line that makes at least one curved flexible bend between the tube upper end and the tube lower end to enable the tube to flex as the bellows extends and contracts.

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.

Abstract: A well pump assembly includes a pump and a motor that contains a dielectric motor lubricant and a pressure equalizer containing a bellows. The bellows has an interior in fluid communication with the motor lubricant and an exterior immersed in well fluid. The bellows is axially extendable and contractible in response to a pressure differential between the well fluid and the motor lubricant. A tube has a lower end secured to a tube port in the pressure equalizer housing and an upper end secured to a lower end of the bellows. The tube has a center line that makes at least one curved flexible bend between the tube upper end and the tube lower end to enable the tube to flex as the bellows extends and contracts.

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: An ESP assembly is broken into subassemblies to fit through a lubricator for live well deployment. A lifting device has a shaft transmission feature and associated housing rotational lock for use at the top of the first subassembly and to be left in position for engagement of the next assembly. The subassemblies can be delivered on wireline or slickline. A wet connect can be at the lower end of the initial subassembly to connect to a cable run alongside the production tubing. The ESP subassemblies all are interconnected in the live well and function as they would if assembled at the surface. The ability to break down the assembly and run it in segments lets the components fit through a length limited lubricator for live well deployment.

Abstract: An electrical submersible pump assembly has a pump, a motor and a seal section with a labyrinth chamber. A guide tube surrounds a drive shaft in the seal section and contains lubricant in fluid communication with lubricant in the motor. The guide tube has a guide tube port adjacent the downstream end of the labyrinth chamber. A. labyrinth tube has an open inlet end in the downstream end of the labyrinth chamber and an open outlet end near the upstream end of the labyrinth chamber. The labyrinth communicates well fluid on the exterior of the seal section into the labyrinth chamber in contact with the lubricant in the labyrinth chamber. A non rotating helical blade in the labyrinth chamber encircles the guide tube, defining a helical flow path between the outlet end of the labyrinth tube and the guide tube port of the guide tube.

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.