US 12,473,805 B2
Inverted shroud field assembly for gas accumulation prevention above ESPs and method of use
Chidirim Enoch Ejim, Dhahran (SA); and Jinjiang Xiao, Dhahran (SA)
Assigned to SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, Dhahran (SA)
Filed on Oct. 16, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/487,609.
Prior Publication US 2025/0122785 A1, Apr. 17, 2025
Int. Cl. E21B 43/12 (2006.01); E21B 33/12 (2006.01); F04B 47/06 (2006.01); F04B 53/16 (2006.01); F04B 53/22 (2006.01); F04D 13/10 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 43/128 (2013.01) [E21B 33/12 (2013.01); F04B 47/06 (2013.01); F04B 53/16 (2013.01); F04B 53/22 (2013.01); F04D 13/10 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
providing an electrical submersible pump assembly (ESP) with a pump, an intake, shroud base flanges, a protector, and a motor;
providing fluid communication between a production tubing and the ESP, the production tubing delivering well fluid containing both gases and liquids from the ESP into a wellhead assembly through an inner bore of the production tubing;
circumscribing the production tubing with a packer assembly downstream of the ESP;
coupling the shroud base flanges to a top surface of an intake base flange disposed on an intake downhole end of the intake, using a first set of fasteners, a set of inner bolt holes disposed on the shroud base flanges, and a set of protector top bolt holes disposed on a protector top surface of a protector top flange of the protector;
locating a closed end of an inverted shroud between the intake and the protector, the inverted shroud comprising:
a shroud base disposed on the closed end, and
an opposite open end that is open toward the packer assembly; and
coupling the inverted shroud to the shroud base flanges using a second set of fasteners, a set of outer bolt holes disposed on the shroud base flanges, and a set of shroud base bolt holes disposed on the shroud base;
wherein the packer assembly is located uphole of the opposite open end at a distance causing a mixing of a gas pocket with the well fluid to form a combined gas and liquid mixture and directing the combined gas and liquid mixture in a direction toward the intake.