Protector-less artificial lift technology for downhole rotating devices

摘要

Design helps eliminate failure modes of the ESP protector components. The basic architecture of electric submersible pumps (ESP) has remained unchanged for many decades, typically consisting of a pump, motor and protector. The protector plays a critical role in the ESP, ensuring that the electric motor can function in the hostile downhole environment with extreme temperatures, pressures and corrosiveness, but the protector is a persistent source of ESP failure. If the protector could be eliminated, overall system reliability would be greatly enhanced.