Below Motor Equalizer of Electrical Submersible Pump and Method for Filling
First Claim
1. An electrical submersible pomp assembly, comprising:
- a pump;
a motor having a rotatable shaft extending along a longitudinal axis and operatively coupled to the pump for driving the pump;
a pressure equalizer coupled to an end of the motor, the equalizer having a movable element for communicating well fluid pressure exterior of the pressure equalizer to motor lubricant in the motor;
an adapter that connects the equalizer to the motor, the adaptor having a motor lubricant passage through which motor lubricant in the motor communicates with motor lubricant in the equalizing element; and
a valve located in the motor lubricant passage that selectively opens and closes the motor lubricant passage.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical submersible pump assembly has a pressure equalizer coupled to a lower end of a motor. The equalizer has a motor lubricant passage through which lubricant in the motor communicates with motor lubricant in the equalizing element. A valve element in the motor lubricant passage has a closed upper position and an open lower position. The valve element has a drive member on an upper end that mates with a shaft drive member on a lower end of the motor shaft while the valve element is in the upper position and disengages from the shaft drive member while the valve element is in the lower position. A locking feature between the valve element and the motor lubricant passage retains the valve element in the upper position and is releasable in response to rotation of the motor shaft in a selected direction.
17 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electrical submersible pomp assembly, comprising:
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a pump; a motor having a rotatable shaft extending along a longitudinal axis and operatively coupled to the pump for driving the pump; a pressure equalizer coupled to an end of the motor, the equalizer having a movable element for communicating well fluid pressure exterior of the pressure equalizer to motor lubricant in the motor; an adapter that connects the equalizer to the motor, the adaptor having a motor lubricant passage through which motor lubricant in the motor communicates with motor lubricant in the equalizing element; and a valve located in the motor lubricant passage that selectively opens and closes the motor lubricant passage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An electrical submersible pump assembly, comprising:
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a pump; a motor having a rotatable shaft extending along a longitudinal axis and operatively coupled to the pump for driving the pump, the shaft having a shaft drive member on a lower end; a pressure equalizer coupled to a lower end of the motor and having a flexible equalizing element that communicates well fluid pressure exterior of the pressure equalizer to motor lubricant in the motor; an adapter at an upper end of the equalizer that connects the equalizer to the lower end of the motor, the adapter having a motor lubricant passage through which motor lubricant in the motor communicates with motor lubricant in the equalizing element; a valve element located in the motor lubricant passage, the valve element having an upper position that blocks flow of lubricant through the motor lubricant passage and a lower position that allows lubricant flow through the motor lubricant passage; a valve element drive member on an upper end of the valve element that mates with the shaft drive member while the valve element is in the upper position and disengages from the shaft drive member while the valve element is in the lower position; and a locking feature between the valve element and the motor lubricant passage that retains the valve element in the upper position, the locking feature being releasable in response to rotation of the motor shaft in a selected direction. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20)
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17. A method of pumping well fluid from a well with an electrical submersible pump assembly having a pump, a motor with a rotatable shaft extending along a longitudinal axis, and a pressure equalizer with a motor lubricant passage through which lubricant in the motor communicates with motor lubricant in the equalizer, the method comprising the following steps:
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(a) providing a valve in the motor lubricant passage; (b) dispensing a selected amount of motor lubricant into the equalizer; (c) with the valve in a closed position, coupling the equalizer to the motor and filling the motor with motor lubricant;
then(d) shifting the valve to an open position and allowing motor lubricant in the motor to communicate with motor lubricant in the equalizer; (e) connecting the pump to the assembly and lowering the assembly into the well; and (f) supplying power to the motor to drive the pump. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification