PAPER

NUMBER

SOCIETY OF PETROLEUMENGINEERSOF AIME

6300 North Centval Expressway
Dallas6, Texas
THIS IS

SPE

767

PREPRINT--- SUBJECTTO CORRECKIO~

. ,.,

CONSTRUCTION
OF

THE

AND

ECONOMIC

ELECTRIC

ADVANTAGES

SUBMERGIBLE

PUMP

By
SERGEIARUTUNOFF
PublicationRights Reserved
This paper is to be pnesentedat the CaliforniaRegionalNeetingof the Societyof Petroleumlhgineem of AIi$Ein Santa Ba~ba~a,Calif.,on October23-25, 1963S and.is consideredthe propertyof the
Societyof PetroleumEngineers. Permissionto publish is herebyrestrictedto an abstractof not more
than 300 wo~ds, with no illustrations~unless the paper is specificallyreleasedto the press by the
Cditorof the Journalof PetroleumTechnologyOF the ExecutiveSecretary. Such abstractshould contain
conspicuousacknowledgmentof where and by whom the paper is presented. Publicationelsewhereafter
publicationin the Journalof PetroleumTechnologyor Societyof PetroieumEngineersJoumJal is granted
on request,providingproper credit is given that publ~cationand the originalpresentationof the
pape~.
Discussionof this paper is invited. Three copiesof any discussionshouldbe sent to the Society
of PetroleumEngineersoffice. .Suchdiscussionmay be presentedat the above mebtingand considered
for publicationin one of the two SPE magazineswith the paper.
--%

The scope of this-paperwill be limitedto a

discussionof major types of artificiallifting
equipmentand their comparisonto electricalsubmergiblepumpingequipmentunder varyingconditions.

decreasein availabilityof cheap gas and the attendanthigh costs of compressingit for use in a
gas-liftprogram,this paper will not comparethis
methcd of liftingwith other types of artificial
liftingequipment.

The cost-pricesqueezenow prevaJ.ent

throughout the oil industryis composedof many factors.
Among these are inefficientoperatingprocedures~
~ising mate~ialand labcr costs, and a lack of
knowledgeof certaintypes of liftingequipment.
To effect economicsto cffset this continuing
cost-pricesqueeze,and it may safelybe assumed
that continuedrising costs fop explorationand
productionwill rise in greaterproportionthan
crudeoil prices,it is necessarythat systemdesign and productionengineersutilizeall means at
theifldisposal.

The hydraulicpump was the next major.meane

developedfor the artificialliftingof liquid
hydrocarbons. It is capableof p~oducingfrom
the deepe~ horizonsat low capacities,buthaa
limitation at higher capacities.
The limitationsof both the aforementioned
methods cannotsignificantlybe alteredby improvementsin the efficiencyof the pumpingelements. The problemconcerneitself with technologicaldevelopmentof greaterefficiencyof trans
missionof power from its sourceto the pumping
element.

The workingbarreland walkingbeam pump has

By no means a newcomeron the scene is the
long been consideredthe standardof the oil industvy. Refinementsin design and propulsionhave multi-stagecentrifugalsubmergibleelectrical
throughlheyears increasedits efficiency. How- pumpingunit. Since shor%lyafter its initial
.developrnent~
it-haa.en~gyedthe.dub%oug..i?n?r.
of..
eve~g-it-~appaaxw
today--thatl
it-tie-more@anTbe
being a specializedpiece of apparatusfop +ifting
done.toincreaseits operatingrange,either in
capacityor Lift; at least it may be so considered large volumesof fluid from limitedcasing diame-.
ters. The term ~dubious
honort~is here used to
in view of todayseconomicsituation.
j
denotethe specializedpiece of apparatussince
Before its present<highvaluk,gas was widely submergible
electricalpumpingequipmenthas shown
used as a means of lifting-oil. Today,with the - itselfto be economicallyfeasiblefor use in low
volumeproductionin recentyears. This was not
Illustrationsat end of paper.
,.

i
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necessarilydue to startlingtechnologicaladvances,but throughgradualfamiliarityand a desire by productionpersonnelto experimentwith a

so-c;alled
radicalr
means of liftingequipment.
rheir hope, based on performancerecordsof considerablelength,was to determinethe economic
versatilityof multi-stageelectricalpumping
~quipment. Illustrationsand exampleswill later
show some of the resultsobtained.
FOP the benefitof those who may not be faniliarwith the installationand constructionof a
nulti-stag~submergibleelectricalpump, a brief
Descriptionmay be in order,
Fig. 1 picturesthe five basic componentsof
i submergiblepump installation. On the surface
nay be seen a switchboardand the electricalcable
~hichcarriesthe energyto the motor to drive the
?ump. The pump, the protectorand the motor sec:ionscan be seen in the weJ..L.Since the submergiblepumpingunit is essentiallya seriesof
~lectricrotorson one end of a shaft close:oupledto a multi-stagecentrifugalpump, here is
? means of liftingfluid to the surfacewith
Littleloss in mechanicaltransmissionene??gy,

iaublepreviousproductionrates when such a gas

separatoris utilized.
Theprctector section(Fig. 6) is locatedbetweenthe pump ,andthe motor, and servesto
?qualizethe motor internalpressurewith the sub=
nergencepressureof the well resultinginlittle
n? no pressuredifferentialacross the niechanical
j~als. The protectorsectionshown here illustratesa tandem arrangementof two oil chambers
?achcontaininga mechanical_
seal.which excludes
dellfluid from the motor,
yet permits expansion
md contractionof the motor oil as the motor
~eatsand cools on startingand stopping. Lo:atedbetweenthe two oil chambersis a marine
typethrust bearingwhich isolatesthe pump
:hrustfrom the motor bearing.

The electricalsubmergiblemotor (Fig.7) is

>f the squirrelcage inductiontype. The motor
[s filled with di-electricoil to i.:sure
proper
Lubricationand heat dissipation. :~:
Icethe outsidediameterof all componentsof the pumping
lnit is limitedby the standardAPI casingdiameiers,increasedhorsepoweris accomplishedby increasingthe length of the motor to a maximum
Lengthof approximately28 ft. Beyond this
length,problemsof manufactureand installation
The next illustration,Fig. 2, shows the
increaserapidly,so when more power is required
nulti-stagecentrifugalpump. The multi-stage
~ump is manufacturedin a wide range of capacities 3 tandem arrangementof twoor three motors is
?esortedto, All standardmotors are two pole,
to provide,efficiently,the desiredresults in
?achparticularapplication. The pump consistsof 3,450RPM, 60 cycles,with voltagesrangingfrom
230 volts to 2,300 volts, The presentavailable
s series cf stages stackedone above the other.
Each stage consistsof a rotatableelementcalled horsepowerrange for all types of submergible
?lectricalmotors is from 1/3 thru 240 li.P.,in
Ehe impellerand a staticelementcalledthe
individualmotors,or above 240 11.P.when used in
Wfuser.
tandemarrangement.,Equipmentis availablefor
The gas separator(Fig. 3) makes possiblethe >il,water supplyor brine wells equippedwith
+-1/2-in.O.D. casingor larger.
productionOF fluid from gaseouswells and forms
in integralpart of the submergiblemotor-pump
The cable supplyingelectricpower to the
assemblywhen used in lieu of the standard
pump-motorassemblyia manufacturedin compliance
screenedintake. It is interposedbetweenand
connectsthe protectorof the motor with the pump- with exactingstandardsset-upby the oldest
manufacturerof submergibleelectricalequipment.
ing unit (Fig.4), Gas separatorsare available
in any desiredcapacityfor a given diameterwell, The cable is capableof operatingunder the most
Becauseof its design advantages,the gas separa- severe conditionsencountered. 14echanical
protector can be built of any desiredlength for effec- tion is providedby interlockingarmor tape of
tive gas.separationof the mixturecf any gas-oil galvanizedsteel,bronze,or monel as may be dicratio.
tated by the corrosiveaspectsof the particular
well fluids. The cable;which ie availablein
varioussizes,is oil and water resistant. A
In operation,when pumping starts,gassy
fluid is rapidlyrising in the well and passes by flat cable is used-to pvovide sufficientclearance
to extendpast the pump and protectorto the motor
the ledgesof the separator(Fig. 5). (a) The
liquid contentof the mixture refezwesits direc- Sincethe cable is not a weight bearingtype, it
is supportedby periodicallyclampingit to the
tion (b) and flows downward(c) into a reservoir
in the separatortube (d) and is then, by action
tubing duringthe installation.
of the screw impeller,pumped upward (pressure
Dependingupon the desireddegree of automafed), (e) into the intakeof the centrifugalpump
while--the
gas-keepson-raising-tothe-surface;tionendprotection,a-large--selectionof-switch-
boardsor controlpanelsmaybe obtained. These.
Submergiblecentrifugalpumpingunits utiliz- vacy from the simplepush-buttonmagnetic contraing the above describedgas separatorhave
ctorswithoverloadprotect,iontoswitchboardassemblieswith devices such as fused disconnects,
achieved,in many instances,phenomenalperformrecordingammeters$under voltageand overload
ances. It is not unusualto f~nd that high gas/
fluid ratio wells can be producedat more than
protection,timers for intermittentpumping,

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When designingor selectinga submergible
pump for a particularwell, it is necessarythat
the informationconcerningthe well be as accurate
Since becomingmope familiarwith the equip- as poseible,otherwiseit is impossibleto achieve
the longestcontinuousoperatinglife, which in
lentunder discussion,it is now logicalto pro:eedand determinethe cost of such equipment. As turn results in the lowest possibleliftin~ cast.
Specialconsiderations
or recommendationswhich
?ig. 8 indicates,submergiblepumpingequipment
nay be ptn?chasedfrom
slightlyover $2,000,00to a might be made for particularapplicationsw~uld be
as follows:
naximumof $26,000.00with an extremelywide
?angeof capacitiesand lifts. Specialmetallurgy
Gassy Wells: If gas is encounteredsome
For extremeapplicationsmaysomewhatincrease
amountof volumetricefficiencywill be lost. In.
~hesefi~ures. However,prices themselvesmean
thistype of applicationthe use of the gas
Littleunless they may be comparedagainstothe~
separatorintaketogetherwith greate~depth of
types0?2equipment.
submergenceis recommended. If increasedsubmergenceis not available,~.histype separator
Fig. 9:comparesapproximatefirst costs of
submergiblepumpingequipmentve~sus beam pumping will still providethe maximum amount of separaSquipment.as can be seen, submergiblepumping
tion and productionpossible for the given
squipmentcomparesvery favorablyover a wide
conditions.
range.
Sandy Wells: Submergiblepumps ape capabie
Fig. 10* is<a comparisonof lifting costs for of handlinglarge amountsof sand, althoughwear,
submergiblepumping equipmentversus beam pumping of course,is more rapid than when pumpingabrabased sive-freefluid. Past experiencehas proven the
equipment, Lifting cost includeselectricity
selectionof impellershaving a metallurgyof
on l.$/KWH,
pullingand running,repairs~and
amortizationbased on eight years.
iron and 13.5 to 17.5 per cent nickeland special
rubber stage bearingsto be the most abrasive.-
Fig. 11* comparesthe approximatecost of hy- resistanttype of constructionfor submergible
draulicpumpingequipment
versus the approximate pumping
equipmentwhen producingwells containing
cost of submergiblepumpinti
equipment. Here it is ab~asives. It is virtuallyimpossibleto estimat~
the length of run that can be expectedin a sandy
seen that the submergiblethroughoutthe lower
capacitiescomparesve~y favorablyversus the hy- well due to numerousfactorsthat ~eterminethe,
draulicpumpingequipmentunti3.the depths become rate of abrasivewear. Some of these factorsare
greater.
(1) varyingdegreesof sand sharpness,(2) size
of
sand grains, (3) presenceor absenceof lubriWhile,firstcosts are an impox%antfactor in cant in the fluid being produced,and (4) capacit>
selectingequipment,operatingcosts are.morean
availableto thepumprelativeto inanufactiurers
recomrnended
capacityrange for a particularpump
overall
ecoimpartantfactor in determining.the
nomicsof a program. As can be seen from Fig. 12* design.
the hydraulicequipmenthas a favo~ablelifting
CorrosiveWells: Submergiblepumps of standcost (liftingcost includeselectricitybased on
l.C/KWH,
runningand pulling,repairwand amortiza- ard constructionhave relativelygood corrosion
tion - eight years) in low volumesand relatively. ~esistanceas they are constructedwith bronze im.
low lifts;howeve~,the inc??ease
in cost per bar- pellers,diffusershavinga metallurgyof iron
and 13.5 to 17.5 per cent nickel, seamlesssteel
rel of fluid ~isee very rapidlyas the depth inhousingsand K-Monelshafts. When severeeor- ~
creases,whereasthe submergiblepump has a much
~osion is encountered,it is recommendedtliatimslowerrice in cost per barrel of fluid as the
pellersof materialparticularlyappl.icabl.e
to
depth increases.
the chemistryof the liquid be used in the pump il
The generaltrends in Labor cost, gas aqd
additionto a protectivecorrosion-resistant
coatelectricityare shown in Fig. L3. The rising
ing on the pump, protecto>and motor housings.
trends in gas energy and labor ae comparedwith
When extremelyseve~ecozu?osion
is encountered,ii
the level curve of electricalenergy forecast
is necessaryto use monel housingsfor motor,
thatin the future electrical.
installationswith
pump and protector. Monel armoredcable is recom~
Littl.eor
no maintenancelabor would be favorably mended for use in wel~s having a severecomosion
lookedupQn, The possibleansers to why the sub- problem.
me~gibleelectricalpumpingunits comparefavorably with other ~ypesof pumpingequipmentmay be
High Temperaturetiells:Motop ratingsare
foundi< the folltitiinfi
points;

-basedupoti
the-ca~ability-ofa-given
-motor-fFarne-.
to operatewithinthe maximumrecommendedcon% Big-CapacityPumps Solve.ExcessiveWater Probtinuoustempe~atureof the insulation. lhe
con-
Iemw by E, A. WMik69tRiley, The PdX?OkUM Ewitinuoustemperatureis determinedas the sum of.
neer, July - 1961P Pages IWO, %-44, B-48,and
the ambint temperatureplus the motor internal
B-5o
temperatureri.se.Standa~dsubmergiblemotors
are rated for full-loadoperationin ambient
Zignallightsand instrumentsfor automated
>perat
ions.

CONSTRUCTIONAND ECONONICADVANTAG
temperaturesnot to exceed 140 F. To receivethe
maximumlife expectancyfrom the insulation,which
in turn provideslongestmoto~ life, it is necessary to reduce motor-framemtings accordingto
ambienttemperaturesencountered. Submergible
motorsand pumps are successfullyoperatingin
wellszwithambienttemperatu~esof 220 - 3d0 F.
High well temperaturesalso require specialdesignedhigh-temperature
cable,for trouble-free
operation.

OF THE ELECTRICSUBMERGIBLEPUNP

SPE-767

advisable,a housingis placedoutsidethe motor

to allow the fluid to be%directecl
past the motor
into the tubing and then to the surface. For
wells of low bottom-holepressure,but of relative.1.y
high capacity,this bottom-intakearrangement is recommended.,
as it allowsfor maximum
amount of fluid withdrawalwith maximumdrawdown
and could be used in producingwells where it is
desiredtoreducethe bottom-holepressureto the
lowest point.

Anotherarrangement,using electricalsubPa~affinConditions: Paraffindepositions

cause less troublewith submergiblepumpingequip- mergiblepumpingequipment,is to p~oducea lower
zone of a dually completedwell (Fig.15). In
ment than with conventionalpumping equipment.
the centr?i?ugal
pump producesthe
The submergiblemotor impartsheat to the produced this arran.gemen~
fluid,the amount.oftemperaturerise providedby fluid from a lower zone throughthe cross-ove~
the submergiblemotor dependingupon the volumeof packer to the casingarhmlusand thenceto the
surface, By an arrangementof packersthe upper
fluid being pumped. As paraffinbegins coating
the upper portionof the tubing,it heat-insulates zone is pumped simultaneouslyby conventional
beam pumpingequipmentthroughthe tubing to the
the tubing causing
the producedfluid to reach
surface.
the surfaceat sufficientlyhigh temperatureso
that no additionaldepositionforms to block the
Water Supply Wells: Submergiblepumping
passage.
units are used world-wideto putipwater from
Crookedor DeviatedWells: Submergiblepumps supply wells for waterfloodsor pressuremaintenanceprograms. In some pilot floods,subare operatingwith excellentresults in direc
mergibleequipmentis used as the supplypump witl
tionallydrilledwells which are drilled,onthe
sufficientadditionalhead to reinjectthe water
shorelineto reach reservoirsbeneaththe ocean
in the injectionwelj,s,Units vary from small
flooror which are so directionallydrilledto
horsepower,low capacitypumps,to 480 H.P,;
reach reservoirsbeneathpopulatedurban areas.
18,000 BPD capacityunits when consideringstandTheir successmay in part be att~ibutedto the
ard API casings. Larger diameterwells can be
lackof reciprocatingparts.inthe slantedor
curvedbores end to the,useof one tubing string, producedabove this rate.
PumpingViscousCrudes: Experiencehas
provedsubmergiblepumps, when properlyselected,
to be a more efficientmeans of producingviscous
czwdesthan any other type of equipment. Submergiblepumps are pumpingvery satisfactorily
crudesas viscousas 700 - BOO S,S.U. at pumping
temperaturesin Venezuelawells,
SpecialEquipment: Submergiblepumps have
been used extensivelyin wells with 4-1/2 in.
casingto producethe maximumamount of fluid possible from wells with this small diameter. This
is accomplishedby using a bottom i~takepump deliveringfluid above a packer ~d then using the
casingannulusto bring the fluid to the supface
(Fig.14). The pump is locatedat the bottom in
order that the maximumdiameterpump can be installedto give a capacityas high as 2,700 BPD.
The mo,torbeing above the pump allows the cable
to bring powe~ to the motor withoutuse of any
flat cable.

[.

Brine and ChemicalWells: The chemicaland

saltindust~yare widely using submergibleequipment to producesa.1.t
water from which various
chemicalsare recovered..In some placesfresh
water ie injectedinto the salt beds to dissolve
the salt,which is pumped to the su~facewith a
submergibleunit. Submergiblepumps are a.lso
extensivelyused in producingwells with natural
brine.

TodayfsTrend; There ark many advantagesof

submergiblepumpingequipmentthat are being acceptedmore and more every day, In the ~ange of
250 to 500 bbl of total fluid the ~esults have
been demonstratedto be equal to or better in
economicsthan previouslyinstalledequipmentof
other types. Some 9,000 ft wells producing125
BEPDwhen on other equipmentare producingon
electricalsubmergiblepumpingequipmentfrom
8,900 ft 400 BFPD. As capacitiesbecomegreater,
no other liftingmethod can successfullycompete
with the electricalsubmergiblepumpingunit, It
has alwaysbeen our claim that the liftingcost o~
AISCI,for wells having4-1/2 in. casing,
pumps are availablewith capacitiesup to 500 BPD a barrelof fluid will be one cent or less per
of-lift. TKis--is--baseti
aa-poweFecosts
and havinga-lift-of3,400--ft
-arranged
in-the-con--l-fOOO-ft
of one cent per kilowattand the producedfluid
ventionalmanner with the moto~ below the pump.
being relativelyfzwe of sand or other.foreign
material.
This bottom-intakedesignedsubmergible
pumpingequipmentie available,to producemaximum amountof fluid, for wells with larger casing,
In cases,when use of a packer is not considered

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