Systems and methods for maintaining pressure on an elastomeric seal
Systems and methods for maintaining a desired compressive force on seals in an electrical junction such as a pothead connector for an ESP motor. In one embodiment, insulated conductors of a power cable extend into a housing of a connector. The insulated conductors pass through an upper insulator, a set of elastomeric boot seals, and a lower insulator. O-rings are positioned between the upper insulator and the housing of the pothead connector. The lower insulator is secured to the upper insulator by a set of bolts and springs that urge the lower insulator toward the upper insulator, compressing the boot seals. The bolts are threaded into the upper insulator and are tightened to compress the springs against the lower insulator. The compression of the boot seals between the insulators maintains a desired range of contact pressure against the seals despite changes in the seal dimensions.
1. A system for coupling power to a piece of downhole equipment, the system comprising:
an electric drive positioned at the surface of a well;
a piece of downhole equipment positioned downhole in the well;
a power cable having a first end coupled to the drive and extending into the well to a position proximate to the piece of downhole equipment;
wherein at a second end of the power cable, one or more electrical conductors, each having a terminal end, extend into a housing of a connector, wherein the electrical conductors are positioned to extend through an upper end of the housing, and wherein the terminal ends of the electrical conductors are positioned within the housing;
one or more boots seals, wherein each boot seal is positioned around a corresponding one of the electrical conductors;
an upper shoulder within the housing, wherein the boot seals are positioned in contact with the upper shoulder, wherein the upper shoulder is formed on an upper electrical insulator that is positioned within the housing; and
a movable lower shoulder component positioned in contact with the boot seals on a side of the boot seals opposite the upper shoulder;
wherein the movable lower shoulder component is biased toward the upper shoulder, thereby enabling the movable lower shoulder component to move alternately toward and away from the upper shoulder while maintaining a desired contact pressure against the boot seals.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises a pothead connector that is configured to be secured to a motor head.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the boot seals prevent fluid leakage between the upper shoulder and the electrical conductors.
4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an upper insulator seal that is positioned between the upper insulator and the housing, wherein the upper insulator seal prevents fluid leakage between the upper insulator and the housing.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the movable lower shoulder component comprises a lower electrical insulator.
6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a housing seal positioned at a lower end of the housing to seal the housing against the piece of downhole equipment.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more electrical conductors comprise one or more motor lead extensions.
8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more springs that contact the movable lower shoulder component and bias the movable lower shoulder component toward the upper shoulder.
9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising one or more fasteners that hold the springs on a side of the movable lower shoulder component opposite the boots seals, wherein the springs are compressed by the fasteners against the movable lower shoulder component so that the springs bias the movable lower shoulder component against the boot seals.
10. A connector for coupling power cable to a piece of downhole equipment, the connector comprising:
one or more electrical conductors, each of the electrical conductors having a terminal end;
a housing, wherein the electrical conductors are positioned to extend through an upper end of the housing into the housing, and wherein the terminal ends of the electrical conductors are positioned within the housing;
one or more boots seals, wherein each boot seal is positioned around a corresponding one of the electrical conductors;
an upper shoulder within the housing, wherein the boot seals are positioned in contact with the upper shoulder, wherein the upper shoulder is formed on an upper electrical insulator that is positioned within the housing; and
a movable lower shoulder component positioned in contact with the boot seals on a side of the boot seals opposite the upper shoulder;
wherein the movable lower shoulder component is biased toward the upper shoulder, thereby enabling the movable lower shoulder component to move alternately toward and away from the upper shoulder while maintaining a desired contact pressure against the boot seals.
11. The connector of claim 10 , wherein the connector comprises a pothead connector that is configured to be secured to a motor head.
12. The connector of claim 10 , wherein the boot seals prevent fluid leakage between the upper shoulder and the electrical conductors.
13. The connector of claim 10 , further comprising an upper insulator seal that is positioned between the upper insulator and the housing, wherein the upper insulator seal prevents fluid leakage between the upper insulator and the housing.
14. The connector of claim 10 , wherein the movable lower shoulder component comprises a lower electrical insulator.
15. The connector of claim 10 , further comprising a housing seal positioned at a lower end of the housing to seal the housing against the piece of downhole equipment.
16. The connector of claim 10 , wherein the one or more electrical conductors comprise one or more motor lead extensions.
17. The connector of claim 10 , further comprising one or more springs that contact the movable lower shoulder component and bias the movable lower shoulder component toward the upper shoulder.
18. The connector of claim 17 , further comprising one or more fasteners that hold the springs on a side of the movable lower shoulder component opposite the boots seals, wherein the springs are compressed by the fasteners against the movable lower shoulder component so that the springs bias the movable lower shoulder component against the boot seals.