Patent ID: 8919432

Claim:
An intake section of an electric submersible pump (ESP) assembly, the ESP assembly comprising a centrifugal pump and an electric motor, the ESP assembly arranged about horizontally in a well comprising gas laden fluid, the intake section comprising: a tapered cylindrical core, wherein a slope of the tapered core extending from an upstream side to a downstream side is downward at a top portion and upward at a bottom portion; at least two tracks circumferentially dispersed about the tapered core, wherein the at least two tracks extend lengthwise between the upstream side and the downstream side of the tapered core, and wherein the downstream side of each of the at least two tracks comprises an intake port, wherein the intake ports are fluidly coupled to a centrifugal pump; and a closing member moveably attached within each of the at least two tracks such that a particular intake port located on the top portion of the tapered core is blocked by the moveable closing member, and a particular intake port located on the bottom portion of the tapered core is open.