Introduction to Protectors

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Protector Functions

The Protector has five primary functions:

Couples the torque developed in the motor to the intake via
the protector shaft.

Provides pressure equalization.

Houses the bearing to carry the down thrust developed by
the pump(s).
Provides a reservoir for the thermal expansion of the motors
oil

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Prevents entry of well fluid into the motor.

Protector Types
Labyrinth - uses the difference in specific
gravity of the well fluid and the motor oil to
keep them apart even though they are in
direct contact

Positive Seal designed to physically

separate the well fluid and motor oil
Elastomer bag
Metal bellows

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Protector Components
Bearing
Shaft Seal

Thrust Bearing
Filter

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Bag Chamber

Labyrinth Type Protectors

Protector oil specific gravity is .85

Labyrinth type protectors not recommended to be installed in a

deviated or cycling well
Ineffective in well bore deviations > 55 degrees
Excessive cycling reduces protector ability to isolate fluids

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As long as well bore SG is heavier, labyrinth path works to isolate

motor fluid from well bore

Intake

HOW DOES IT
WORK
EXCESSIVE
START
STOP
STARTING
STOPPING
STOPING
OCCURS

Once well fluid enters motor its only a

Motor
matter of time before it burns

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Protector

LABYRINTH TYPE
PROTECTOR

Labyrinth Protectors
- Limitations
There will be cases where a labyrinth will simply
not work. In cases where the well fluid is lighter
gravity than the motor oil (i.e. about 0.85), the
motor oil will go to the bottom of the chamber
rather than the top causing the motor fluid to
be displaced by well fluid pretty quickly.

Labyrinth Protectors
- Limitations

Labyrinth Protectors also will not work in horizontal or highly
deviated wells. The gravity separation design requires the unit
to be mostly upright. This Protector can operate in some amount
of deviation but the expansion volume is somewhat reduced.

Positive Seal Type Protectors

Elastomer bag creates a positive barrier to well bore
Bag expands and contracts to meet motor demand

Elastomer must be selected to match well temperature and fluid

properties
Works in vertical or deviated wells
Should never be rerun

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Check value opens at 3-5 psi to release pressures inside bag.

Positive Seal Protector

LSBPB

Protector

(Labyrinth Series Bag Parallel Bag)

35 PSI

How does it work ?

Torn or leak
(Could be seal failure)

MOTOR GETS
BURNED

Temperature decrease
increase

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START
STOP

Bags
Contracts
due to
getting less
oil inside

Positive Seal Protectors

Limitations
The positive seal Protector offers a great deal of flexibility and
and is useful in a
wide variety of applications.
One area where care needs to be taken with this type of Protector
Protector is with
harsh well chemicals as may be experienced with a treatment program.
program.

As with any oil field elastomer, care must be taken to ensure that the
rubber will not be damaged by anything it will encounter in the well.

Positive Seal Protectors

Limitations
The positive seal Protector offers a great deal of flexibility and
and is useful in a
wide variety of applications.
One area where care needs to be taken with this type of Protector
Protector is with
harsh well chemicals as may be experienced with a treatment program.
program.

As with any oil field elastomer, care must be taken to ensure that the
rubber will not be damaged by anything it will encounter in the well.

Protector Elastomer Selection

REDA Elastomer Application Guidelines
Temp. Limit (Deg F)*

Neoprene
Nitrile
250

Carboxy-Nitrile
275

HSN
300

Viton
350

Aflas
400

2
4
4
3
4

1
1
1
3
2

Relative Chemical Resistance Properties

Water/Oil
Hydrogen Sulfide
Amines
Polar Chemicals
Carbon Dioxide

1
1
3
4
2

1
3
3
4
2

1
1
3
1-2
2

*Temperature Limit above indicates maximum operating temperature for the

specific REDA compound. An elastomeric component will operate at a
temperature higher than the well ambient temperature depending on its
location in the equipment. Contact REDA for specific application assistance.

1 = Excellent long term resistance (very low swell/maintains very high physical properties)
2 = Good long term resistance (moderate swell/maintains high physical properties)
3 = Fair - depends upon exposure time and temperature (good short term resistance)
4 = Poor - no resistance even in short term

Protector Function #2
Another function of the Protector is to absorb the thrust generated
genera ted by the
pump. It can either be upthrust or downthrust,
downthrust, depending on the pumping
conditions.
Upthrust
bearing
Thrust
Runner
Downthrust
bearing

Protector Function #2
The thrust bearing works on hydrodynamic lubrication principle.

The runner

carrying the thrust forces is riding on a hydrodynamic oil film created by the
relative motion between the runner and the bearing.
Reaction Force

There are three types of bearing

Reda offers.

Upthrust
bearing

Standard bearing Babbitt (lead based)

Thrust
Runner

HL Bronze bearing - (9000 LBS 540 series, 60 HZ)

HL bearing Polymer coated tilting pad bearing

(12000 LBS 540 series, 60 HZ)

Downthrust
bearing

Protector Function #3
One other function which the Protector carries out is transmission of the motor
torque to the pump since it is physically located between the two.
Although this may seem a little trivial, in
the selection process we need to be
certain that the Protector shaft is
capable of delivering the full torque
required without exceeding its yield
strength which could result in a
broken shaft.

Modular Protectors Naming Convention

Modular protectors are a combination of

several protector types

Which are combined in

S (series) adds redundancy
P (parallel) adds capacity

HL designates high load thrust bearing

Example: LSMPM has a labyrinth chamber in
series with two bellows in parallel

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L type (LLabyrinth)
B type (Elastomer Bag)
M type (M
Metal Bellows)

Modular Protectors

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LSLSL

LSBPB

BPBSL

The Modular Protector

The Modular Protectors are available in:
400 Series (4.00 "),
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540 Series (5.13 ") and

562 Series (5.62 ").

Both the 540 and 562 series have the same top and
bottom flange and can either be run on a 540 or 562
motor without adapters.

The 400 Series is designed to be run on the 456 Series

motor without an adapter.

400

540

562

Modular Protector Application - Chamber Configuration

Key: 1 = Excellent
Application Type
BHT < 250 F
250 F < BHT < 300 F
(A)
G < 0.82
Intermittent Operation
Deviated Well
Miscible Well Fluid
HP < 50
HP < 150
HP > 150
Aggressive Well
Fluids (B)

2 = Good

3 = Fair

4 = Poor

L LSL LSLSL B LSB LSBPB BSL BSBSL BPBSL LSBSB

2 2
1
2 1
1
1
1
1
2
3 3
2
4 4
4
4
4
4
3
2 2
1
3 2
2
2
2
2
2
4 4
4
3 1
1
1
1
1
1
3 2
4 4
2
2
2
2
2
1
4 4
4
3 2
2
2
2
2
3
4 4
4
3 1
1
1
1
1
3
2 2
2 1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2 2
1
4 1
1
1
1
1
2
2 2
1
4 4
1
4
4
1
3
2 2
2
1
4 1
1
4
4
4

(A) Applicability improves with correct elastomers for higher temp. service, usually Aflas for
seal elastomers, o-rings, & bags.

(B) Those that deteriorate specific elastomers used.

Assumes use of standard materials for configurations listed. Use normal
guidelines for application of high load bearings and ferritic housings.

REDA Protector Bottomhole Temperature Limits

200 F

400/456
540/562

Modular
Standard

400/456
540/562

Modular
AFLAS

225 F

250 F

275 F

300 F

Protector Load Ratings vs. Temperature for REDA 2 Oil

400 Series Protector

10,000
Hi Ex Bearing

Load (LBf)

7,500

5,000

Bronze
Bearing

2,500

0
0

50

100

150

200

Bottom Hole Temp (F)

60 Hz and Above

50 Hz

250

300

Protector Load Ratings vs. Temperature for REDA 2 Oil

540 Series Protector

Load (LBf)

15,000

12,500

Hi Ex Bearing

10,000

Bronze
Bearing

7,500

5,000
0

50

100

150

200

Bottom Hole Temp (F)

60 Hz and Above

50 Hz

250

300

Protector Load Rating vs. Temperature for REDA 2 Oil

562 Series Protector

20,000
Hi Ex Bearing

Load (LBf)

15,000

10,000

5,000

0
0

50

100

150

200

Bottom Hole Temp (F)

60 Hz and Above

50 Hz

250

300

Protector Power Consumption for REDA 2 Oil

Est. Power Consumed at 200 F BHT

Horsepower

562 Series

540 Series

1
0

400 Series
0

2000

4000

6000

8000

Thrust Load in Pounds

10000

12000

14000

Advanced Protector
Addresses protector performance in
severe well conditions and is available in
three different configurations
High Temp > 350 degF BHT
High H2S and chemical resistant
Abrasive resistant

Protects protector head (shaft seals and

bearings) against abrasion and solids
Improves protector shaft stability even in
benign environments

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Both HT and H2S configurations are

using metal bellows to replace the
rubber bags

Advanced Protector Features

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Use of ceramic bearing to reduce vibration.

Use dual bearing in protector head for better
radial stability
New abrasive resistant head design including:
Sand shroud to protect mechanical seal.
Dual ceramic bearing
Elevated mechanical shaft seal
Drain holes to prevent sand / solids from
accumulating in the protector head
High pressure check valve.
Pre-shimmed protector shaft

Vulcan System Features

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Offered only as a complete system

Rated to 425 degF Bottom hole temperature
and 475 degF internal oil temperature
System tested up to 500 DegF BHT under full
motor loading
Using metal bellows for motor oil
compensation
Using metal bellows shaft seals
Using Khemraz HighTemp. O-rings
Motor and protector using special oil having
high viscosity at high temperature
Protector components (shaft, housing,
thrust bearing, .) materials selected to
minimize stresses caused by different
thermal expansion coefficients

Metal Bellows

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Replace HSN/AFLAS bags with Inconel 625 LCF

bellows
to provide positive barrier to H2S and gas
to provide better performance in high
temperature
Welded Inconel bellows rated to 100,000 full cycles
Bellow capacity = .5 Gallons
Special spread sheet developed for bellow sizing
Can be reused during protector repair

Current Design

New Design

Metal Bellows Shaft Seals

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Replace HSN/AFLAS bellows with

Inconel 625 bellows to provide positive
barrier to H2S.

Sour and Chemical Resistant Protector

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Rated to 30 % (Maximum) H2S

Reduce dependence on elastomers by using
metal bellows for motor oil compensation.
The metal bellow is an effective H2S barrier
Using metal bellows shaft seals
Protector components (shaft, housing, thrust
bearing, .) materials selected to minimize
chemical attack

Technical Feature Summary

Feature

Chemical

Abrasion

Replacement of elastomer bag with metal bellows

Use of metal bellows shaft seal

Use of high load thrust bearings with no copper parts

Dual head bearings for shaft seal support

Ceramic journal bearing for abrasion resistance

Solid shield over head bearings for abrasion resistance

Use of high pressure relief valve to ensure valve closure

Factory shimmed shaft to eliminate field shimming

Use special High Temperature Oil

Use of Chemraz O-rings

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High Temp

Key Technical Issues

Current Protectors

Advanced Protector

High temperature is causing

elastomer material to become brittle.

Metal bellow is not affected by

temperature.

H2S

Rubber bag is not an effective H2S or gas

barrier

Metal bellow is an effective H2S and gas

barrier

Chemical

Elastomer bag will be affected by some

chemical attacks

Inconel metal bellow will handle most

chemicals

Vibration

Shaft seals will leak if shaft is not properly

supported

Dual bearing ceramic support for the shaft

reduces vibration

Solids

solids accumulation in protector head will

damage shaft seal

New head design prevents solid

accumulation and protects seals

Abrasion

Shaft bushing subject to wear

Ceramic shaft bearing reduce abrasive

wear

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High Temp

Specifications
0 - 30 %

Operating Temperature

130F to 475F with up to 0% H2S

130F to 300F with up to 5% H2S
100F to 250F with up to 30% H2S

Well bore Temperature

50F to 425F with up to 0% H2S

50F to 250F with up to 5% H2S
50F to 200F with up to 30% H2S

Surface Temperature

-40 to 120 F

Construction

Compatible with current product line

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H2S Content

Advanced Protector Applications

High Temperature Applications (up to 425 Deg F BHT) Part of the Vulcan system
Steam injection (Steam Assisted Gravity Drain SAGD)
Geothermal applications

H2S wells and wells where protector is exposed to aggressive che

chemicals
micals

Abrasive Applications
Sand and solid production
Well where run life will be improved by better stabilizing the protector shaft

Benign Conditions
Extend run life by reducing vibration and better protecting motor against well fluid

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High H2S wells

Wells requiring some special types of chemical treatments
Wells having protector failures due to gas presence