Encapsulated bottom intake pumping system

Abstract

Disclosed is a bottom-intake pumping system that includes a pump assembly and a motor that drives the pump assembly with a driveshaft assembly. The bottom-intake pumping system includes a first thrust bearing that supports the driveshaft assembly on a first side of the pump assembly and a second thrust bearing that supports the driveshaft assembly on a second side of the pump assembly. The bottom-intake pumping system also includes a shroud assembly and a discharge pipe. The shroud assembly has a lower shroud hanger configured for rigid attachment at a selected location on the pump assembly, a shroud body connectable to the lower shroud hanger and an upper shroud hanger connectable to the shroud body. The upper shroud hanger is configured for sliding engagement with a discharge pipe.

1 . A bottom-intake pumping system comprising: 
 a pump assembly, wherein the pump assembly has an intake end and a discharge end;    a motor;    an upper seal section between the motor and the discharge end of the pump assembly;    a lower seal section adjacent the intake end of the pump assembly; and,    a shroud assembly.    
   
   
       2 . The bottom-intake pumping system of  claim 1 , wherein the shroud assembly is configured to encapsulate the motor, the upper seal assembly and the discharge end of the pump assembly.  
   
   
       3 . The bottom-intake pumping system of  claim 2 , wherein the shroud assembly further comprises: 
 a lower shroud hanger;    a shroud body; and    an upper shroud hanger, wherein the upper shroud hanger includes a central bore that is configured to slidingly receive a discharge pipe.    
   
   
       4 . The bottom-intake pumping system of  claim 3 , wherein the upper shroud hanger includes a plurality of o-rings coaxial with the central bore that are configured to engage the discharge pipe.  
   
   
       5 . The bottom-intake pumping system of  claim 3 , wherein the upper shroud hanger includes at least one penetrator assembly.  
   
   
       6 . The bottom-intake pumping system of  claim 1 , wherein the lower seal section includes a lower thrust bearing configured to oppose downthrust produced in a pumping operation.  
   
   
       7 . The bottom-intake pumping system of  claim 1 , wherein the upper seal section includes an upper thrust bearing configured to oppose downthrust produced in a pumping operation.  
   
   
       8 . The bottom-intake pumping system of  claim 1 , wherein the shroud assembly isolates the discharge end of the pump assembly from the wellbore.  
   
   
       9 . A bottom-intake pumping system comprising: 
 a pump assembly, wherein the pump assembly has an intake end and a discharge end;    a motor;    an upper seal section between the motor and the discharge end of the pump assembly; and    a lower seal section adjacent the intake end of the pump assembly.    
   
   
       10 . The bottom-intake pumping system of  claim 9 , wherein the lower seal section includes a lower thrust bearing configured to oppose downthrust produced in a pumping operation.  
   
   
       11 . The bottom-intake pumping system of  claim 10 , wherein the upper seal section includes an upper thrust bearing configured to oppose downthrust produced in a pumping operation.  
   
   
       12 . The bottom-intake pumping system of  claim 9 , further comprising a shroud assembly, wherein the shroud assembly is configured to encapsulate the motor, the upper seal assembly and the discharge end of the pump assembly.  
   
   
       13 . The bottom-intake pumping system of  claim 12 , wherein the shroud assembly further comprises: 
 a lower shroud hanger;    a shroud body; and    an upper shroud hanger, wherein the upper shroud hanger includes a central bore that is configured to slidingly receive a discharge pipe.    
   
   
       14 . The bottom-intake pumping system of  claim 13 , wherein the upper shroud hanger includes a plurality of o-rings coaxial with the central bore that are configured to engage the discharge pipe.  
   
   
       15 . The bottom-intake pumping system of  claim 13 , wherein the upper shroud hanger includes at least one penetrator assembly.  
   
   
       16 . The bottom-intake pumping system of  claim 1 , wherein the shroud assembly isolates the discharge end of the pump assembly from the wellbore.  
   
   
       17 . A bottom-intake pumping system comprising: 
 a pump assembly;    a motor configured to drive the pump assembly;    a driveshaft assembly for delivering power from the motor to the pump assembly;    a first thrust bearing that supports the driveshaft assembly above the pump assembly; and    a second thrust bearing that supports the driveshaft assembly below the pump assembly.    
   
   
       18 . A shroud assembly for use in a bottom-intake pumping system having a pump assembly and a discharge pipe, the shroud assembly comprising: 
 a lower shroud hanger configured for rigid attachment at a selected location on the pump assembly;    a shroud body connectable to the lower shroud hanger; and    an upper shroud hanger connectable to the shroud body, wherein the upper shroud hanger is configured for sliding engagement with the discharge pipe.