Protection of electric submersible pump while running and retrieving

Abstract

A method for use with a subterranean well can include connecting a tool in a tubing string uphole of an electric submersible pump, the tool including a frangible barrier and a valve, and installing the tubing string in the well, the frangible barrier preventing flow through a central flow passage of the tubing string, and the valve preventing fluid communication between the central flow passage and an annulus external to the tubing string. A system for use with a subterranean well can include an electric submersible pump, a valve connected uphole of the electric submersible pump, the valve selectively preventing and permitting fluid communication between a central flow passage extending through the valve and an annulus external to the valve, and a frangible barrier connected uphole of the electric submersible pump, the frangible barrier preventing fluid flow through the central flow passage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for use with a subterranean well, the method comprising:
 connecting a tool in a tubing string uphole of an electric submersible pump, the tool comprising a frangible barrier and a first valve; and   installing the tubing string in the well, the frangible barrier preventing flow through a central flow passage of the tubing string, and the first valve preventing fluid communication between the central flow passage and an annulus external to the tubing string.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , in which, in the installing, the frangible barrier is positioned uphole of the first valve. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising opening the frangible barrier, thereby permitting fluid flow from the electric submersible pump through the tubing string. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , in which the frangible barrier opening comprises breaking the frangible barrier. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , in which the frangible barrier opening comprises increasing pressure in the central flow passage uphole of the frangible barrier. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising, after the frangible barrier opening, opening the first valve, thereby permitting fluid communication between the central flow passage and the annulus. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , in which the first valve is opened prior to withdrawing the tubing string from the well. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , in which the first valve opening comprises preventing fluid flow through the central flow passage in the first valve. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the connecting comprises connecting a second valve between the electric submersible pump and the first valve, the second valve configured to permit fluid flow through the central flow passage from the electric submersible pump and prevent fluid flow through the central flow passage to the electric submersible pump. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising increasing pressure in the central flow passage uphole of the second valve to a predetermined pressure level, thereby permitting fluid flow through the second valve to the electric submersible pump. 
     
     
         11 . A system for use with a subterranean well, the system comprising:
 an electric submersible pump;   a first valve connected uphole of the electric submersible pump, the first valve selectively preventing and permitting fluid communication between a central flow passage extending through the first valve and an annulus external to the first valve; and   a frangible barrier connected uphole of the electric submersible pump, the frangible barrier preventing fluid flow through the central flow passage.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , in which the frangible barrier is connected uphole of the first valve. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , in which the frangible barrier is configured to open in response to a predetermined pressure differential across the frangible barrier. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , in which the frangible barrier is configured to break in response to a predetermined pressure differential across the frangible barrier. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a plug disposed in the first valve, the plug preventing fluid flow through the central flow passage. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a second valve connected between the frangible barrier and the electric submersible pump. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , in which the second valve permits fluid flow through the central flow passage from the electric submersible pump and prevents fluid flow through the central flow passage to the electric submersible pump. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , in which the second valve comprises a closure member and a seat, the closure member and seat being configured to prevent fluid flow through the central flow passage to the electric submersible pump when the closure member is engaged with the seat, and the closure member and seat being configured to permit fluid flow through the central flow passage to the electric submersible pump when the closure member is disengaged from the seat. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , in which the seat is configured to disengage from the closure member in response to a predetermined pressure differential applied from an uphole side to a downhole side of the seat. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising a biasing device that biases the seat in an uphole direction.