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.

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– Prevents entry of well fluid into the motor.

– 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 motor’s oil
 Protector Types
• Labyrinth - uses the difference in
specific gravity of the well fluid and
the motor oil to keep them apart

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even though they are in direct
contact

• Positive Seal – designed to

physically separate the well fluid
and motor oil
– Elastomer bag
– Metal bellows
Protector Components
Bearing

Shaft Seal

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Bag Chamber

Thrust Bearing
Filter
 Labyrinth Type Protectors
• Protector oil specific gravity is .85
• As long as well bore SG is heavier, labyrinth path works

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to isolate motor fluid from well bore
• 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
 LABYRINTH TYPE
PROTECTOR
Intake
HOW DOES
IT WORK

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EXCESSIVE
START
STOP
Protector
STARTING
STOPPING
STOPING
OCCURS

Once well fluid enters motor it’s

Motor
only a matter of time before it burns
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

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• Check value opens at 3-5 psi to release pressures inside
bag.
• Elastomer must be selected to match well temperature
and fluid properties
• Works in vertical or deviated wells
• Should never be rerun
 Positive Seal Protector
Protector
LSBPB
(Labyrinth Series Bag Parallel Bag)

3–5 PSI
How does it work ?

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Bags
START
STOP
Contract
due to Torn or leak
chemicals
(Could be seal failure)

Temperature decrease
increase
MOTOR GETS
BURNED
 Positive Seal Protectors –
Limitations
The positive seal Protector offers a great deal of flexibility and is
useful in a wide variety of applications.

One area where care needs to be taken with this type of

Protector is with harsh well chemicals as may be experienced
with a treatment 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

Neoprene
Temp. Limit (Deg F)* Nitrile Carboxy-Nitrile HSN Viton Aflas
250 275 300 350 400
Relative Chemical Resistance Properties
Water/Oil 1 1 1 2 1
Hydrogen Sulfide 1 3 1 4 1
Amines 3 3 3 4 1
Polar Chemicals 4 4 1-2 3 3
Carbon Dioxide 2 2 2 4 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 by the pump. It can either be upthrust or 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 Upthrust

bearing
Reda offers.
Thrust
Runner
Standard bearing – Babbitt (lead based)

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

HL bearing – Polymer coated tilting pad bearing Downthrust

bearing
(12000 LBS – 540 series, 60 HZ)
 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
– “L” type (Labyrinth)
– “B” type (Elastomer Bag)

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• Which are combined in …
– “S” (series) – adds redundancy
– “P” (parallel) – adds capacity
• HL designates “high load” thrust
bearing
 Modular Protectors

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

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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 2 = Good 3 = Fair 4 = Poor
Application Type L LSL LSLSL B LSB LSBPB BSL BSBSL BPBSL LSBSB
BHT < 250 F 2 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 2
250 F < BHT < 300 F 3 3 2 4 4 4 4 4 4 3
(A) 2 2 1 3 2 2 2 2 2 2
G < 0.82 4 4 4 3 1 1 1 1 1 1
Intermittent Operation 4 4 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 1
Deviated Well 4 4 4 3 2 2 2 2 2 3
Miscible Well Fluid 4 4 4 3 1 1 1 1 1 3
HP < 50 2 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 2
HP < 150 2 2 1 4 1 1 1 1 1 2
HP > 150 2 2 1 4 4 1 4 4 1 3
Aggressive Well 2 2 1 4 1 1 4 4 4 2
Fluids (B)
(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 225 °F 250 °F 275 °F 300 °F

400/456 Modular
540/562 Standard
400/456 Modular
540/562 AFLAS
 Protector Load Ratings vs. Temperature for REDA 2 Oil
540 Series Protector

15,000

Hi Ex Bearing
12,500
Load (LBf)

10,000 Bronze
Bearing

7,500

5,000

0 50 100 150 200 250 300

Bottom Hole Temp (°F)

60 Hz and Above 50 Hz
 Protector Power Consumption for REDA 2 Oil
Est. Power Consumed at 200 °F BHT

3 562 Series
Horsepower

2
540 Series
1 400 Series

0
0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000
Thrust Load in Pounds