Combined Seal Head and Pump Intake for Electrical Submersible Pump

Abstract

An electrical submersible well pump assembly has a motor containing a dielectric lubricant. A seal section is mounted to the motor for reducing pressure differential between the lubricant in the motor and the well bore fluid. The seal section has a head on an end opposite the motor. A pump assembly is mounted to the head of the seal section. An intake is located in the head of the seal section for drawing well bore fluid into the pump assembly.

1 . An apparatus for pumping wellbore fluid, comprising:
 a motor containing a dielectric lubricant;   a seal section mounted to the motor for reducing pressure differential between the lubricant in the motor and wellbore fluid;   the seal section having a head on an end opposite the motor   a pump assembly mounted to the head of the seal section; and   an intake in the head of the seal section for drawing wellbore fluid into the pump assembly.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the head has a flange containing a bolt pattern for bolting the seal section to the pump assembly. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the seal section comprises:
 a tubular housing having a set of internal threads at one end of the housing; and wherein   the head has a set of external threads that engage the internal threads in the housing to secure the head to the housing.   
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the seal section further comprises:
 a seal section shaft extending through the seal section and into the head.   
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a seal section shaft driven by the motor and extending through the seal section into the head;   a pump shaft in the pump assembly; and   a coupling within the head for coupling the seal section shaft to the pump shaft.   
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an axial passage in the head;   a seal section shaft extending through the seal section and the axial passage of the head; and   a seal sealing the seal section shaft in the passage, the seal having lubricant from the motor on one side and wellbore fluid from the intake on the other side.   
   
   
       7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a communication port in the seal section head extending from the exterior of the head to an interior portion of the seal section for communicating wellbore fluid to the seal section.   
   
   
       8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a flange with a bolt pattern on an end of the head; and   a tubular connector on an end of the pump assembly, the connector having a flange with a bolt pattern that mates with the flange on the head to connect the seal section to the pump assembly.   
   
   
       9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the pump assembly comprises a rotary pump. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the pump assembly comprises a gas separator and a rotary pump. 
   
   
       11 . An apparatus for pumping wellbore fluid, comprising:
 a motor containing a dielectric lubricant;   a seal section mounted to the motor, the seal section having a seal section shaft that is driven by the motor, the seal section having a housing containing an equalizer for reducing pressure differential between the lubricant in the motor and wellbore fluid;   the seal section having a head on an end opposite the motor, the head having an interior portion that inserts into and secures to the seal section, the head having an exterior portion with a flange having a bolt pattern;   a pump assembly having a pump shaft and a connector on one end with a flange and bolt pattern that mates with and is bolted to the flange on the head of the seal section;   a coupling located within the head that couples the pump shaft to the seal section shaft; and   an intake in the head of the seal section for drawing wellbore fluid into the pump assembly.   
   
   
       12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the interior portion of the adapter has external threads that engage internal threads in the housing of the seal section. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a communication port in the head, the port extending from an exterior of the head to an interior of the housing for communicating wellbore fluid to the equalizer.   
   
   
       14 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 an axial passage in the head through which the seal section shaft extends; and   a seal sealing the seal section shaft in the passage, the seal having lubricant from the motor on one side and wellbore fluid from the intake on the other side.   
   
   
       15 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the pump assembly comprises a rotary pump. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the pump assembly comprises a gas separator and a rotary pump. 
   
   
       17 . A seal section for an electrical submersible well pump assembly, comprising:
 a seal section housing having a motor end for coupling to an electrical motor containing a dielectric lubricant and an intake end opposite the motor end and having a set of internal threads;   a pressure equalizer located in the housing for reducing a pressure differential of the lubricant and wellbore pressure;   a seal section head having an internal portion that extends into the housing with external threads that engage the internal threads in the housing, the seal section head having an external portion protruding from the housing and having an annular flange with a bolt pattern for bolting to a component of the pump assembly;   a shaft extending through the housing and sealingly into the seal section head; and   an intake port in the seal section head for delivering wellbore fluid to a pump of the pump assembly.   
   
   
       18 . The seal section according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a communication port extending through the seal section head from an exterior portion of the seal section head for communicating wellbore fluid to the pressure equalizer.   
   
   
       19 . The seal section according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a shaft passage extending through the seal section head through which the shaft extends; and   a shaft seal in the shaft passage for sealing around the shaft, the shaft seal sealing lubricant within the equalizer of the seal section from wellbore fluid in the intake.