Patent ID: 8337142
Filing Date: 2012-12-25
Classification: F04D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A system for pumping fluid, comprising: an electric submersible pumping system comprising a submersible pump, a submersible motor, and a motor protector positioned between the submersible pump and the submersible motor, the motor protector comprising a protector bearing and the submersible pump comprising a plurality of compression stages that create a thrust load on the protector bearing when operated; the submersible pump further comprising a fluid path contained within the plurality of compression stages and routed from an inlet positioned at a lower location of the submersible pump to a balance chamber of an upper stage, the fluid path being routed in a manner that allows fluid flow along the fluid path to reduce the thrust load acting on the protector bearing, the fluid path having an orifice sized to control a leakage flow rate from the upper stage to an inlet of a lower stage.