Patent ID: 8757881
Filing Date: 2014-06-24
Classification: F16C

Abstract:
1. A bearing package for a progressive cavity pump in a production tubing string, the pump having a rotor, the rotor rotatable within a stator and along an eccentric path, the rotor being driven by a rod string rotatable in the production tubing for pumping wellbore fluid, the bearing package comprising: a tubular housing for connection in the production tubing string and spaced above the pump stator; a rotatable rotor shaft for connection within the rod string uphole from the pump rotor, the rotatable shaft extending through the tubular housing forming a main annulus therebetween; and a bearing assembly mounted in the main annulus and acting between the tubular housing and the rotor shaft for supporting the rotor shaft for rotation therein, under axial and radial loading, the bearing assembly having a rotating bearing housing in the main annulus, the rotating bearing housing being operatively connected to the rotatable rotor shaft for co-rotation therewith and for supporting the rotor shaft, the rotating bearing housing supporting the rotating bearing surface thereon, the rotating bearing surface opposing the static bearing surface; a bearing annulus formed between the rotor shaft and the static bearing housing; flow passages formed along the rotor shaft and the rotating bearing housing; and a plurality of fluid ports formed in the rotatable bearing housing, wherein the wellbore fluid pumped to the main annulus below the static bearing housing passes through the bearing annulus to the flow passages and through the plurality of fluid ports to the main annulus, and the production tubing, uphole therefrom, and immersing the rotating and static bearing surfaces in the wellbore fluid.