Introduction to Protectors

Protector Functions

The Protector has five primary functions:

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

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

Protector Components
Bearing
Shaft Seal

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 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

Intake

Protector

LABYRINTH TYPE
PROTECTOR

HOW DOES
IT WORK
EXCESSIVE
START
STOP
STARTING
STOPPING
STOPING
OCCURS

Once well fluid enters motor its

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
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

LSBPB

Protector

(Labyrinth Series Bag Parallel Bag)

35 PSI

How does it work ?

START
STOP

Bags
Contract
due to
chemicals

Torn or leak
(Could be seal failure)

MOTOR GETS
BURNED

Temperature decrease
increase

Positive Seal Protectors

Limitations
The positive seal Protector offers a great deal of
flexibility and is useful in a wide variety of
applications.

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

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 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.
There are three types of bearing
Reda offers.

Reaction Force
Upthrust
bearing

Standard bearing Babbitt (lead based)

HL Bronze bearing - (9000 LBS 540 series, 60 HZ)
Thrust
HL bearing Polymer coated tilting pad bearing
Runner

(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.

Modular Protectors Naming

Convention

Modular protectors are a

combination of several protector
types
L type (Labyrinth)
B type (Elastomer Bag)
M type (Metal Bellows)

Which are combined in

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

HL designates high load thrust

bearing

Modular
Protectors

LSLSL

LSBPB

BPBSL

The Modular Protector

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

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

L LSL LSLSL B
2 2
1
2
3 3
2
4
2 2
1
3
4 4
4
3
4 4
2
3
4 4
4
3
4 4
4
3
2 2
1
2
2 2
1
4
2 2
1
4
2 2
1
4

3 = Fair

4 = Poor

LSB LSBPB BSL BSBSL BPBSL LSBSB

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

(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.

Protector Bottomhole Temperature Limits

200 F

400/45
6
540/56
400/45
2
6
540/56
2

Modular
Standar
d
Modular
AFLAS

225 F

250 F

275 F

300 F

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

Both HT and H2S

configurations are using
metal bellows to replace
the rubber bags