Inverted electrical submersible pump and pumping system

Abstract

An electrical submersible pump for use in an electrical submersible pumping (ESP) system includes one or more pump stages, a thrust chamber having a thrust bearing for countering a thrust force generated by the one or more pump stages, and a unitary housing which encloses the pump stages and the thrust chamber so that the thrust mechanism and the pump stages are housed together.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrical submersible pump for use in an electrical submersible pumping (ESP) system, the electrical submersible pump comprising:
 a pump shaft;   one or more pump stages each comprising an impeller or a diffuser;   a pump intake configured to suction production fluid into the electrical submersible pump;   a pump discharge configured to expel production fluid from the electrical submersible pump;   a thrust chamber comprising a thrust bearing configured to counter a thrust force generated by the one or more pump stages;   one or more seals configured to separate the thrust chamber from the one or more pump stages; and   a unitary housing which encloses the one or more pump stages, the thrust chamber, the one or more seals, and at least a portion of the pump shaft so that the thrust bearing, the one or more seals, and the one or more pump stages are housed together.   
     
     
         2 . The electrical submersible pump of  claim 1 , wherein the pump shaft is a unitary shaft extending along a longitudinal axis of the electrical submersible pump and through the one or more pump stages, the one or more seals, and the thrust chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The electrical submersible pump of  claim 2 , wherein the pump shaft is configured to attach to a motor shaft of an adjacent motor. 
     
     
         4 . The electrical submersible pump of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical submersible pump is configured to connect to an adjacent motor and a motor shaft positioned directly above the electrical submersible pump so that a top of the electrical submersible pump attaches to a bottom of the adjacent motor. 
     
     
         5 . The electrical submersible pump of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more seals comprise a primary seal and a secondary seal. 
     
     
         6 . The electrical submersible pump of  claim 5 , further comprising one or more breathing compartments, formed between the primary seal and the secondary seal, to adapt to a volume change of lubrication oil resulting from changes in temperature. 
     
     
         7 . The electrical submersible pump of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more breathing compartments are positioned above the one or more pump stages and below the thrust chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The electrical submersible pump of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more breathing compartments comprises at least one of elastomer bags or metal bellows. 
     
     
         9 . The electrical submersible pump of  claim 1 , wherein the thrust bearing comprises a bearing runner, an upper bearing, or a lower bearing. 
     
     
         10 . The electrical submersible pump of  claim 1 , wherein the pump discharge comprises pump discharge holes formed at an upper portion of the electrical submersible pump above the one or more pump stages, and the pump intake is formed at a lower portion of the electrical submersible pump below the one or more pump stages. 
     
     
         11 . The electrical submersible pump of  claim 1 , wherein the pump discharge comprises pump discharge holes formed at a lower portion of the electrical submersible pump below the one or more pump stages, and the pump intake is formed at an upper portion of the electrical submersible pump above the one or more pump stages. 
     
     
         12 . An electrical submersible pump for use in an electrical submersible pumping (ESP) system, the electrical submersible pump comprising:
 one or more pump stages;   a thrust chamber comprising a thrust bearing configured to counter a thrust force generated by the one or more pump stages; and   a unitary housing which encloses the one or more pump stages and the thrust chamber so that the thrust bearing and the one or more pump stages are housed together.   
     
     
         13 . The electrical submersible pump of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a primary seal;   a secondary seal; and   one or more breathing compartments, formed between the primary seal and the secondary seal, to adapt to a volume change of lubrication oil resulting from changes in temperature.   
     
     
         14 . The electrical submersible pump of  claim 12 , wherein the thrust bearing comprises at least one of a bearing runner, an upper bearing, and a lower bearing. 
     
     
         15 . The electrical submersible pump of  claim 12 , wherein the electrical submersible pump is configured to connect to an adjacent motor and a motor shaft positioned directly above the electrical submersible pump so that a top of the electrical submersible pump attaches to a bottom of the adjacent motor. 
     
     
         16 . An inverted electrical submersible pumping (ESP) system, comprising:
 a pump comprising:
 a pump shaft; 
 one or more pump stages; 
 a thrust chamber comprising a thrust bearing configured to counter a thrust force generated by the one or more pump stages; and 
 a unitary housing which encloses the one or more pump stages and the thrust chamber so that the thrust bearing and the one or more pump stages are housed together; and 
   a motor comprising a motor shaft.   
     
     
         17 . The inverted ESP system of  claim 16 , further comprising a power connection head and a motor protector positioned above the motor. 
     
     
         18 . The inverted ESP system of  claim 16 , wherein the pump is attached directly to the motor with no other units positioned therebetween, and the pump shaft is attached directly to the motor shaft. 
     
     
         19 . The inverted ESP system of  claim 16 , wherein the pump further comprises:
 a primary seal;   a secondary seal; and   one or more breathing compartments, formed between the primary seal and the secondary seal, to adapt to a volume change of lubrication oil resulting from changes in temperature.   
     
     
         20 . The inverted ESP system of  claim 16 , wherein the thrust offsetting mechanism of the pump comprises a bearing runner, an upper bearing, or a lower bearing.