Electrical Submersible Pump: components & Principle Work

Electrical Submersible Pump (ESP) is a widely used type of artificial lift system in the oil and gas industry. It is the most artificial lifting method that achieves the highest rate of crude oil production in the world:

1. Surface Components:

• Transformer: The transformer is used to step up or step down the voltage of the electrical power supply to the appropriate level required by the ESP system.

  
  

• Junction Box: It provides a connection point for power cables coming from the transformer and the downhole cable that goes to the motor.

  
  

• Switchboard: The switchboard is the main control and distribution panel for the electrical power supply to the ESP system and other equipment. It allows the operator to turn on/off, monitor, and manage the electrical power to the ESP motor and other components.

2. Subsurface Components:

• Pump: The pump consists of a series of stages each containing an impeller and a diffuser. The pump is submerged in the fluid being pumped. When the impeller rotates at a high speed imparting kinetic energy to the fluid. The fluid is then directed into the diffuser which converts the kinetic energy into pressure energy. This pressure increase allows the fluid to be pumped to the desired location.

  
  

• Intake: It can be a gas separator if the gas oil ratio (GOR) in the well is high

3. Protector (Seal):

• This component protects the motor from well fluids and equalizes pressure to ensure the motor operates correctly

  
  

• Motor: The motor is drives the ESP pump allowing it to lift the fluids from the reservoir to the surface It is usually a three-phase induction motor specially designed to operate in the harsh downhole environment.

  
  

• Cable: The cable is the electrical connection that runs from the surface components down to the subsurface ESP motor.

4. Advantages:

• High volume and depth capability compared to positive displacement types pumps for vertical and deviated wells

  
  

• There are a variety of sizes, capacities, horsepower's, and voltage ranges available in various operating ranges.

  
  

• Minor surface equipment needs

5. Limitations:

• They require a source of high-voltage electric power at the surface to compensate for the voltage drop in the power cable, which can be significant in deep installations requiring long power cables.

  
  

• The presence of a power cable alongside the tubing string can make it more difficult to run or pull especially in deviated wells

  
  

• They are not particularly good at handling high viscosity and solids production.

  
  

• High temperature conditions will effect on Motor and power cable performance and running lives

  
  

• Limited adaptability to major changes in reservoir

  
  

• Difficult to repair in the field

  
  

• Higher pulling costs.

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