Esp motor oil quality monitoring gauge

Abstract

An assembly for collecting data related to the condition of a lubricant inside of an electric motor including a gauge having an oil condition sensing probe extending into an interior of the electric motor so as to be immersed in the lubricant to determine at least one property of the lubricant and generate an electric signal in response thereto.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An assembly for collecting data related to the condition of a lubricant inside of an electric motor comprising:
 a gauge in proximity to the electric motor such that an oil condition sensing probe extending from the gauge into an interior of the electric motor is immersed in the lubricant inside the electric motor, the oil condition sensing probe capable of determining at least one property of the lubricant and generating an electric signal in response thereto.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the electric signal is a voltage signal. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the gauge is mechanically affixed to the electric motor. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1  further comprising an electric submersible pumping system, wherein the gauge is part of the electric submersible pumping system. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 4  wherein the gauge is a base gauge of the electric submersible pumping system. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 4  wherein the electric submersible pumping system comprises a pump and a motor protector, the pump being powered by the electric motor, the gauge being coupled with the electric motor. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the electric submersible pumping system comprises a plurality of sensors in addition to the oil condition sensing probe. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a pressure sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a temperature sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a vibration sensor. 
     
     
         11 . A method, comprising:
 preparing a base gauge with an oil condition sensing probe;   coupling the base gauge into a downhole pumping system such that the oil condition sensing probe is in contact with oil that flows within an electric motor of the downhole pumping system;   deploying the downhole pumping system, with the base gauge, down into a wellbore;   detecting a property of the oil that flows within the electric motor with the oil condition sensing probe; and   using the oil condition sensing probe to generate an electric signal in response to detecting the property.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein using the oil condition sensing probe to generate an electric signal comprises generating a voltage signal. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising providing the electric signal to an electronics package. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising placing the electronics package in the base gauge. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising operating the electronics package to process the electric signal and to transmit a processed signal to a surface acquisition system to enable evaluation of the property of the oil. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising mechanically affixing the base gauge to the electric motor. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein coupling the base gauge into the downhole pumping system comprises coupling the base gauge into an electric submersible pumping system having a pump powered by the electric motor and a motor protector. 
     
     
         18 . A system, comprising:
 an electric submersible pumping system having:
 an electric motor; 
 a pump powered by the electric motor; 
 a motor protector; 
 a gauge in proximity to the electric motor to facilitate collection of data related to a condition of a lubricant inside the electric motor; and 
 an oil condition sensing probe extending from the gauge into an interior of the electric motor, the oil condition sensing probe being immersed in the lubricant inside the electric motor, the oil condition sensing probe being configured to detect at least one property of the lubricant and to generate an electric signal in response thereto. 
   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the electric signal is a voltage signal. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the gauge is mechanically affixed to the electric motor.