Hermetically Sealed Motor Lead Tube

• US 20090068037A1
• Filed: 09/10/2008
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Holdings LLC (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Cain, Sean A., Neuroth, David H., Shaw, Chris K., Dalrymple, Larry V., Yingst, Bradley Ellis
• Granted Patent: US 7,857,604 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/423.300
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/128 Adaptation of pump systems with down-hole electric drives
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/0693 Details or arrangements of the wiring
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/10 adapted for use in mining bore holes

Abstract

An electrical submersible pump assembly has a motor cooperatively engaged with a pump for driving the pump and a motor lead extending to the motor for supplying power to the motor. The motor lead has an electrical conductor enclosed within a tube. The tube is sealed from an exterior environment of the motor and contains a dielectric fluid. The motor may be filled with a dielectric lubricant and the interior of the tube of the motor lead may be in fluid communication with the dielectric lubricant. Alternatively, the motor may filled with a dielectric lubricant and the dielectric fluid within the interior of the tube of the motor lead may be sealed from the dielectric lubricant.

Claims

1. An electrical submersible pump assembly, comprising:

a motor cooperatively engaged with a pump for driving the pump; and

a motor lead extending to the motor for supplying power to the motor, the motor lead comprising an electrical conductor enclosed within a tube, the tube being sealed from an exterior environment of the motor and containing a dielectric fluid.

2. The pump assembly according to claim 1, wherein the motor is filled with a dielectric lubricant and the interior of the tube of the motor lead is in fluid communication with the dielectric lubricant.

3. The pump assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

the motor is filled with a dielectric lubricant;

the interior of the tube of the motor lead is in fluid communication with the dielectric lubricant; and

the dielectric fluid within the tube comprises the dielectric lubricant.

4. The pump assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

the motor is filled with a dielectric lubricant;

the interior of the tube of the motor lead is in fluid communication with the dielectric lubricant; and

the dielectric fluid within the tube comprises a grease.

5. The pump assembly according to claim 1, wherein the motor is filled with a dielectric lubricant and the dielectric fluid within the interior of the tube of the motor lead is sealed from the dielectric lubricant.

6. The pump assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

the motor is filled with a dielectric lubricant and the dielectric fluid within the interior of the tube of the motor lead is sealed from the dielectric lubricant; and

a pressure compensator is located within the tube to equalize the pressure of the dielectric fluid within the tube with that of the exterior within the flowline jumper.

7. The pump assembly according to claim 1, further comprising:

a tubular housing enclosing the motor and the pump, the housing having an intake for receiving well fluid, the pump having an intake within the housing for receiving the well fluid and a discharge extending sealingly out of the housing;

a power cable for connection to a power source exterior of the housing and extending to an exterior end of a penetrator mounted in a portion of a wall of the housing; and

wherein

the motor lead extends within the housing from the motor to an interior end of the penetrator.

8. The pump assembly according to claim 1, further comprising:

a tubular housing enclosing the motor and the pump, the housing having an intake for receiving well fluid, the pump having an intake within the housing for receiving the well fluid and a discharge extending sealingly out of the housing;

a power cable for connection to a power source exterior of the housing and extending to an exterior end of a penetrator mounted in a portion of a wall of the housing; and

wherein

the motor lead is metal and extends within the housing from the motor to an interior end of the penetrator.

9. The pump assembly according to claim 1, further comprising:

a tubular housing enclosing the motor and the pump, the housing having an intake for receiving well fluid, the pump having an intake within the housing for receiving the well fluid and a discharge extending sealingly out of the housing;

a power cable for connection to a power source exterior of the housing and extending to an exterior end of a penetrator mounted in a portion of a wall of the housing;

wherein

the motor lead extends within the housing from the motor to an interior end of the penetrator; and

the tubular housing is a flowline jumper for location on the sea floor.

10. An electrical submersible pump assembly, comprising:

a motor cooperatively engaged with a pump for driving the pump;

a motor lead extending to the motor for supplying power to the motor, the motor lead comprising an electrical conductor enclosed within a tube, the tube being sealed from an exterior environment of the motor and containing a dielectric fluid; and

wherein the motor is filled with a dielectric lubricant and the dielectric fluid in the interior of the tube of the motor lead is in fluid communication with the dielectric lubricant.

11. The pump assembly according to claim 10, wherein the dielectric fluid within the tube comprises the dielectric lubricant.

12. The pump assembly according to claim 10, wherein the dielectric fluid within the tube comprises a grease.

13. The pump assembly according to claim 10, wherein the tube is metal.

14. The pump assembly according to claim 10, further comprising:

a tubular housing enclosing the motor and the pump, the housing having an intake for receiving well fluid, the pump having an intake within the housing for receiving the well fluid and a discharge extending sealingly out of the housing;

a power cable for connection to a power source exterior of the housing and extending to an exterior end of a penetrator mounted in a portion of a wall of the housing; and

wherein

the motor lead extends within the housing from the motor to an interior end of the penetrator.

15. The pump assembly according to claim 10, further comprising:

a tubular housing enclosing the motor and the pump, the housing having an intake for receiving well fluid, the pump having an intake within the housing for receiving the well fluid and a discharge extending sealingly out of the housing;

a power cable for connection to a power source exterior of the housing and extending to an exterior end of a penetrator mounted in a portion of a wall of the housing;

wherein

the motor lead extends within the housing from the motor to an interior end of the penetrator; and

the tubular housing is a flowline jumper for location on the sea floor.

17. The pump assembly according to claim 10, wherein the dielectric fluid within the tube comprises the dielectric lubricant.

18. The pump assembly according to claim 10, wherein the dielectric fluid within the tube comprises a grease.

19. The pump assembly according to claim 10, further comprising a pressure compensator located within the tube to equalize the pressure of the dielectric liquid within the tube with that of the exterior within the flowline jumper.

16. An electrical submersible pump assembly, comprising:

a motor cooperatively engaged with a pump for driving the pump;

a tubular housing enclosing the motor and the pump, the housing having an intake for receiving well fluid, the pump having an intake within the housing for receiving the well fluid and a discharge extending sealingly out of the housing;

a power cable for connection to a power source exterior of the housing and extending to an exterior end of a penetrator mounted in a portion of a wall of the housing;

a motor lead extending within the housing from the motor to an interior end of the penetrator, for supplying power to the motor, the motor lead comprising an electrical conductor enclosed within a tube, the tube being sealed from an exterior environment of the motor and containing a dielectric fluid;

wherein

the motor is filled with a dielectric lubricant and the dielectric fluid within the interior of the tube of the motor lead is sealed from the dielectric lubricant; and

the tubular housing is a flowline jumper for location on the sea floor.