Low profile pump motor lead protector

Abstract

A low profile pump motor lead protector with a head guard and a trailing guard, the head guard including a front section with a front end and a rear section with a rear end, the trailing guard having a pin end for insertion in a head guard socket, the lead protector for protecting a motor lead of a pump and motor assembly of a downhole production string for surfacing fluid from a reservoir such as a subterranean oil well.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of protecting a pump motor lead comprising the steps of:
 mounting a pump motor lead protector alongside a pump and motor assembly for installation in a production string that will be inserted in a wellbore;   covering the pump motor lead with the pump motor lead protector including a shoe-shaped head guard and a channel-shaped trailing guard;   covering the pump motor lead where it extends from the motor with the head guard, the trailing guard inserted in the head guard;   covering the pump motor lead where it extends from the head guard with the trailing guard;   holding the head guard to the motor with a plurality of bolts;   holding the trailing guard against at least one of the pump, motor, and production tubing with an encircling band; and,   during lowering of the production string into the wellbore, the pump motor lead protector preventing rubbing of the pump motor lead against adjacent stationary surfaces.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of inserting the band through passages in opposed sides of the channel. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising the step of locating the pump motor lead between the band and an open side of the channel. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein a clearance between the band and one of the pump, motor, and production tubing is larger than a pump motor lead dimension such that the band does not squeeze the pump motor lead. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein a clearance between the band and one of the pump, motor, and production tubing is for preventing damage to the pump motor lead. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising holding the head guard to the motor with at least four bolts. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising thinning of the head guard at locations where bolts pass through the head guard. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising forming an open socket in the head guard for receiving the trailing guard. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising a thinning of the head guard thickness when moving toward a head guard leading cross-sectional area. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the head guard front section includes a wedge-shaped forward slope.