Abstract: A press-fit bearing locking system, apparatus and method is described. A press-fit bearing locking system includes a diffuser having a diffuser groove on an inner diameter (ID), a bushing comprising an outer diameter (OD) press-fit into the grooved ID of the diffuser, the OD of the bushing having a bushing groove tracing a path of the diffuser groove, and a high thermal expansion material (HTEM) key seated within the bushing groove. A press-fit bearing locking method includes seating a HTEM key inside a groove on an OD of a bushing, press-fitting the bushing with HTEM key into a diffuser such that the bushing groove is opposite a groove on an ID of the diffuser, operating an electric submersible pump assembly including the diffuser during a temperature rise, and allowing the HTEM key to expand into the diffuser groove during the temperature rise to lock the bushing against the diffuser.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump for handling abrasive-laden fluid is described. A centrifugal pump system for handling abrasive-laden fluid includes an impeller including an annular balance ring extending longitudinally on a top side of the impeller and an annular skirt extending longitudinally on a bottom side of the impeller, one of the annular balance ring, the annular skirt or a combination thereof having portions defining a plurality of apertures, wherein the plurality of apertures form an abrasive-media relief path that bypasses at least a portion of a clearance gap and merges with a primary working-fluid flow path. A centrifugal pump impeller includes a bottom shroud, an annular skirt extending longitudinally upstream from the bottom shroud, the annular skirt encircling a central hub, and the annular skirt having an aperture extending through a thickness of the annular skirt.

Abstract: An electric submersible pump (ESP) inverted shroud assembly is described. An ESP assembly includes an inverted shroud separating an ESP pump from a well casing, the ESP pump rotatably coupled to an ESP motor, the inverted shroud having an opening on an upstream terminal side, at least a portion of the ESP motor extending through the opening, the portion of the ESP motor extending through the opening exposed to working fluid, and the opening sealed to the working fluid. An ESP assembly includes an inverted shroud, and an ESP motor including a head, housing and base, the head of the ESP motor at least partially inside the inverted shroud, and the housing and base of the ESP motor at least partially outside the inverted shroud.

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 electric submersible pump (ESP) inverted shroud assembly is described. An ESP assembly includes an inverted shroud separating an ESP pump from a well casing, the ESP pump rotatably coupled to an ESP motor, the inverted shroud having an opening on an upstream terminal side, at least a portion of the ESP motor extending through the opening, the portion of the ESP motor extending through the opening exposed to working fluid, and the opening sealed to the working fluid. An ESP assembly includes an inverted shroud, and an ESP motor including a head, housing and base, the head of the ESP motor at least partially inside the inverted shroud, and the housing and base of the ESP motor at least partially outside the inverted shroud.

Abstract: An electric submersible pump (ESP) assembly bearing is described. A bearing set for an ESP assembly includes a rotatable sleeve, and a bushing outward of the rotatable sleeve, the bushing including a tubular portion, and a radial flange extending around a downstream side of the tubular portion. An ESP assembly includes a rotatable shaft, at least one stage stacked in series on the rotatable shaft, each stage including a diffuser, a stationary bearing member including a tubular portion secured within a working fluid exit of the diffuser, a stationary member flange extending radially outward from a top of the tubular portion, and a rotatable sleeve inward of the stationary bearing member and secured to the rotatable shaft. A bearing set for an ESP assembly includes a bushing including a tubular portion, and an annular retaining ring groove extending around an outer surface of the tubular portion.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump for handling abrasive-laden fluid is described. A centrifugal pump system for handling abrasive-laden fluid includes an impeller including an annular balance ring extending longitudinally on a top side of the impeller and an annular skirt extending longitudinally on a bottom side of the impeller, one of the annular balance ring, the annular skirt or a combination thereof having portions defining a plurality of apertures, wherein the plurality of apertures form an abrasive-media relief path that bypasses at least a portion of a clearance gap and merges with a primary working-fluid flow path. A centrifugal pump impeller includes a bottom shroud, an annular skirt extending longitudinally upstream from the bottom shroud, the annular skirt encircling a central hub, and the annular skirt having an aperture extending through a thickness of the annular skirt.

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 abrasive handling submersible pump assembly diffuser is described. An electric submersible pump assembly stage comprises a rotatable impeller, and a co-axially mounted diffuser comprising a diffuser bowl, the diffuser bowl comprising a plurality of diffuser bowl wedges having a blunted pie-shape, each of the plurality of diffuser bowl wedges protruding axially from a diffuser bowl floor into a cavity between the rotatable impeller and the co-axially mounted diffuser such that each of the plurality of diffuser bowl wedges protrudes into a path of pumped solid-laden fluid, wherein the blunted pie-shaped wedges extend radially between an inner wall and an outer wall of the diffuser bowl and a thickness of the blunted pie-shaped wedges in a circumferential direction increases towards the outer wall.

Abstract: A motor shroud for an electric submersible pump is described. A motor shroud includes a shroud collar secured around a base of a centrifugal pump, the shroud collar including a plurality of sealant pathways extending around an inner surface and an outer surface of the shroud collar, wherein at least one of the plurality of sealant pathways has an aperture extending radially through the shroud collar between the inner surface and the outer surface, a shroud hanger tubularly surrounding the outer surface and fixedly coupled to a shroud jacket, the shroud hanger including a sealant entry port, and a sealant occupying a first space between the shroud hanger and the shroud collar and a second space between the shroud collar and an intake of the centrifugal pump, wherein the sealant cures from an aerosol spray to form a hardened foam barrier to a flow of well fluid.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for reducing gas to liquid ratios in submersible pump applications are described. A method for reducing a gas to liquid ratio (GLR) in a pumped fluid includes pumping a gas laden fluid to a surface of a subsurface formation using a downhole electric submersible pump (ESP) assembly including an ESP pump and an ESP motor, monitoring one of a load of the ESP motor, intake pressure of the ESP pump, temperature of the gas laden fluid, or a combination thereof to obtain ESP assembly condition data, determining whether a GLR of the gas laden fluid exceeds a predetermined allowable maximum based on the ESP assembly condition data, injecting liquid from an external source into the gas laden fluid, and varying a rate that the external liquid is injected based on the GLR so determined.

Abstract: An abrasive handling submersible pump assembly diffuser is described. An electric submersible pump assembly stage comprises a rotatable impeller, and a co-axially mounted diffuser comprising a diffuser bowl, the diffuser bowl comprising a plurality of diffuser bowl wedges having a blunted pie-shape, each of the plurality of diffuser bowl wedges protruding axially from a diffuser bowl floor into a cavity between the rotatable impeller and the co-axially mounted diffuser such that each of the plurality of diffuser bowl wedges protrudes into a path of pumped solid-laden fluid, wherein the blunted pie-shaped wedges extend radially between an inner wall and an outer wall of the diffuser bowl and a thickness of the blunted pie-shaped wedges in a circumferential direction increases towards the outer wall.

Abstract: A motor shroud for an electric submersible pump is described. A motor shroud comprises a shroud collar secured around a base of a centrifugal pump, the shroud collar comprising a plurality of sealant pathways extending around an inner surface and an outer surface of the shroud collar, wherein at least one of the plurality of sealant pathways has an aperture extending radially through the shroud collar between the inner surface and the outer surface, a shroud hanger tubularly surrounding the outer surface and fixedly coupled to a shroud jacket, the shroud hanger comprising a sealant entry port, and a sealant occupying a first space between the shroud hanger and the shroud collar and a second space between the shroud collar and an intake of the centrifugal pump, wherein the sealant cures from an aerosol spray to form a hardened foam barrier to a flow of well fluid.

Abstract: An abrasive handling submersible pump assembly diffuser is described. An electric submersible pump assembly stage comprises a rotatable impeller, and a co-axially mounted diffuser comprising a diffuser bowl, the diffuser bowl comprising a plurality of diffuser bowl wedges having a blunted pie-shape, each of the plurality of diffuser bowl wedges protruding axially from a diffuser bowl floor into a cavity between the rotatable impeller and the co-axially mounted diffuser such that each of the plurality of diffuser bowl wedges protrudes into a path of pumped solid-laden fluid, wherein the blunted pie-shaped wedges extend radially between an inner wall and an outer wall of the diffuser bowl and a thickness of the blunted pie-shaped wedges in a circumferential direction increases towards the outer wall.

Abstract: An abrasive handling submersible pump assembly diffuser is described. An electric submersible pump assembly stage comprises a rotatable impeller, and a co-axially mounted diffuser comprising a diffuser bowl, the diffuser bowl comprising a plurality of diffuser bowl wedges having a blunted pie-shape, each of the plurality of diffuser bowl wedges protruding axially from a diffuser bowl floor into a cavity between the rotatable impeller and the co-axially mounted diffuser such that each of the plurality of diffuser bowl wedges protrudes into a path of pumped solid-laden fluid, wherein the blunted pie-shaped wedges extend radially between an inner wall and an outer wall of the diffuser bowl and a thickness of the blunted pie-shaped wedges in a circumferential direction increases towards the outer wall.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for reducing gas intake in horizontal submersible pump assemblies are described. A horizontal electric submersible pump (ESP) system for pumping gaseous fluid comprises a multi-stage centrifugal pump, an electric motor operatively coupled to the centrifugal pump, and an intake section upstream of the pump comprising a tapered core further comprising a sloped outer surface extending between a downstream side and an upstream side, a first intake port for the intake of well fluid in an ESP assembly, the first intake port located on a top portion of the tapered core and proximate to the downstream side, a gravity-actuated closing member moveably attached on the sloped outer surface, wherein the gravity-actuated closing member closes the first intake port, and a second intake port located on a bottom portion of the tapered core, the second intake port open to the well fluid.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for reducing gas intake in horizontal submersible pump assemblies are described. A horizontal electric submersible pump (ESP) system for pumping gaseous fluid comprises a multi-stage centrifugal pump, an electric motor operatively coupled to the centrifugal pump, and an intake section upstream of the pump comprising a tapered core further comprising a sloped outer surface extending between a downstream side and an upstream side, a first intake port for the intake of well fluid in an ESP assembly, the first intake port located on a top portion of the tapered core and proximate to the downstream side, a gravity-actuated closing member moveably attached on the sloped outer surface, wherein the gravity-actuated closing member closes the first intake port, and a second intake port located on a bottom portion of the tapered core, the second intake port open to the well fluid.