Split pod system and methods

1 . An electric submersible pump pod system, comprising:

an electric submersible pump (ESP) fluidly coupled with a production string disposed within a wellbore;

a pod casing coupled with and housing at least a portion of the ESP such that an intake of the ESP is disposed within the pod casing, the pod casing arranged to receive production fluid from the wellbore;

a connector housing coupled with the pod casing;

an electrical connector disposed at least partially within the connector housing and electrically coupled with the ESP; and

a cable electrically coupled with the electrical connector and fluidly isolated from the production fluid within the pod casing;

wherein the connector housing is a bulkhead coupled with and extending from an external surface of the ESP to the pod casing, the electrical connector disposed within the bulkhead and extending from the ESP, within the bulkhead, and through the pod casing, and the bulkhead defines apertures that allow fluid to pass through the bulkhead to the intake of the ESP.

2 . The electric submersible pump pod system of claim 1 , wherein the pod casing defines, with a wall of the wellbore, an annulus fluidly isolated from the production fluid within the pod casing.

3 . The electric submersible pump pod system of claim 2 , wherein the cable is disposed outside the pod casing with at least a portion of the cable residing within the annulus.

4 . The electric submersible pump pod system of claim 2 , wherein the annulus comprises an inhibiting fluid.

5 . The electric submersible pump pod system of claim 1 , wherein the cable is a motor lead extension cable.

6 . The electric submersible pump pod system of claim 1 , wherein the electrical connector is fluidly isolated from the production fluid within the pod casing.

7 . The electric submersible pump pod system of claim 1 , wherein the bulkhead is disposed between and coupled with a downhole section of the pod casing and an uphole section of the pod casing.

8 . The electric submersible pump pod system of claim 7 , wherein the apertures comprise fluid conduits fluidly coupling the downhole section of the pod casing with the uphole section of the pod casing.

9 . The electric submersible pump pod system of claim 8 , wherein the intake of the ESP is disposed within the uphole section of the pod casing.

10 . The electric submersible pump pod system of claim 8 , wherein a motor of the ESP is disposed within the downhole section of the pod casing, the intake of the ESP is disposed within the uphole section of the pod casing, and at least a section of a pump of the ESP is disposed outside of the pod casing.

11 . The electric submersible pump pod system of claim 1 , wherein the connector housing comprises an ESP connection portion and a pod casing connection portion, the ESP connection portion shaped as an annular inner body attached to the external surface of the ESP and the pod casing connection portion shaped as an annular outer body attached to the pod casing, and the ESP connection portion defines the apertures.

12 . A wellbore assembly, comprising:

an electric submersible pump (ESP) fluidly coupled with a production string disposed within a wellbore;

a casing coupled with the ESP and housing at least a portion of the ESP, the casing arranged to receive production fluid from the wellbore;

a cable electrically coupled with the ESP;

an electrical connector electrically coupled with the ESP and the electrical connector; and

a bulkhead coupled with the ESP and the casing, the bulkhead housing the electrical connector;

wherein the cable is fluidly isolated from the production fluid within the casing and at least a portion of the cable within the wellbore is disposed outside of the casing, and

wherein the bulkhead is coupled with and extends from an external surface of the ESP to the casing, the electrical connector extending from the ESP, within the bulkhead, and through the casing, and the bulkhead defines apertures that allow fluid to pass through the bulkhead to a fluid intake of the ESP.

13 . The wellbore assembly of claim 12 , wherein the electrical connector is fluidly isolated from the production fluid within the casing.

14 . The wellbore assembly of claim 12 , wherein the bulkhead is disposed between and coupled with a downhole section of the casing and an uphole section of the casing.

15 . The wellbore assembly of claim 14 , wherein the bulkhead defines apertures fluidly coupling the downhole section of the casing with the uphole section of the casing.

16 . The wellbore assembly of claim 12 , wherein the casing defines, with a wall of the wellbore, an annulus fluidly isolated from the production fluid within the casing, the cable disposed outside the casing with at least a portion of the cable residing within the annulus.

17 . A method, comprising:

electrically coupling a cable with an electric submersible pump (ESP), at least a portion of the ESP disposed within a pod casing, the pod casing coupled with an electrical connector electrically coupled with the ESP, the electrical connector disposed within a connector housing that is coupled with and extends from an external surface of the ESP to the pod casing, connector housing defining apertures that allow fluid to pass through the bulkhead to the intake of the ESP; and

setting the ESP at a downhole location of a wellbore such that the pod casing is arranged to receive production fluid from the wellbore;

wherein electrically coupling the cable comprises connecting the cable with the electrical connector such that the cable is fluidly isolated from the production fluid within the pod casing, with the electrical connector extending from the ESP, within the connector housing, and through the pod casing.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the setting comprises coupling the ESP with a downhole packer.