The AC current is carried from the surface to the motor using either copper or aluminum cable conductors. For ESP applications, four sizes of conductors have been standardized: #1, #2, #4 and #6 AWG.
AWG stands for “American Wire Gauge”.
Power losses and operating temperature decrease by increasing the conductor size for a given current. Moreover, for a given conductor size increasing current will increase both the power losses and cable operating temperature.
As shown in the figure below, the main cable consists of three conductor wires extending from the top of the motor flat lead extension to the wellhead banded to the production tubing. The ESP cable carries current (amperage) from the motor controller at the surface down to the motor.
In this article, the last updated list of API & ISO standards for electrical submersible pump is presented. These standards can be considered as reference documents as well as a basis for training classes in the subject of electrical submersible pump.
The electric submersible motor is simple in construction, rugged and reliable. In this article, the ESP motor compounds are detailed as well as their main functions.
NB: ESP motor is close to the same design type as motors used on beam pumping units. Of course, it must be small in diameter in order to fit inside oil well casing sizes.
The Motor seal is installed below the intake and above the electric motor. It is also named: Equalizer, balance chamber, or Protector. Seal section types, functions, components, and applications are detailed in this article.
In addition to the main function of transferring the motor torque to the pump shaft, the seal section performs four primary functions (Equalization, Expansion, Isolation, & “Aabsorbsion”):
PS: The motor, pump and seal are often submerged below several thousand feet of fluid. The seal section allows the pressure in the motor and the annulus to equalize, so that there is very little pressure across the shaft seals or the pothead connection.
PS: When selecting the protector, we need to be certain that the protector shaft is capable of delivering the full torque required without exceeding its yield strength which could result in a broken shaft.
