Motor winding wire for a hydrocarbon application

Abstract

A motor winding wire. The motor winding wire may be configured for use in, and direct exposure to, a hydrocarbon environment. The motor winding wire may be electrically insulated by one polymer layer, whereas another, outer, polymer layer is employed to provide moisture resistance as well as other contaminant and hydrocarbon environment shielding to the underlying layer. Additionally, this manner of polymer layering over the motor winding wire is achieved in a manner cognizant of the limited dimension of the motor winding wire.

1 . A method of pumping a fluid from a hydrocarbon well, the method comprising:
 positioning an electric submersible pump downhole in the well; and   employing a motor of the electric submersible pump to drive the pumping substantially continuously for at least about the productive life of the well, the motor having motor winding wire with a conductive core surrounded by an electrically insulating polymer layer, the insulating polymer layer surrounded by a contaminant resistant outer polymer layer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the productive life of the well exceeds about two years. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the conductive core is greater than about 18 gauge and the insulating polymer layer has a thickness of at least about 1 mil. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the conductive core is less than about 18 gauge and the insulating polymer layer has a thickness less than about 2 mils. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the motor winding wire additionally comprises a tie layer between the insulating polymer layer and the outer polymer layer. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the conductive core of the motor winding wire comprises a diameter less than approximately 0.01 inch (30 AWG) and wherein the motor winding wire comprises a breakdown voltage in a five percent salt in water solution of approximately 1000 V AC. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the insulating polymer layer comprises a polyimide. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the insulating polymer layer comprises a polyimide and wherein the outer polymer layer comprises expanded PTFE. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the conductive core of the motor winding wire comprises a diameter less than approximately 0.01 inch (30 AWG) and further comprising conducting electricity in the motor winding wire in a five percent salt in water solution up to a voltage of approximately 10000 V AC. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the conductive core is less than about 30 gauge, and wherein the insulting polymer layer comprises a thickness of approximately 0.001 inch and wherein the outer polymer layer comprises a thickness of approximately 0.0005 inch. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the conductive core is less than about 30 gauge.