• Oil and gas

When the digging gets deep

RMSpumptools creates a record-breaking motor shroud for one of the world’s deepest oil and gas fields in the Gulf of Mexico.

RMSpumptools has developed the world’s biggest motor shroud for use with high horsepower Electrical Submersible Pumps (ESPs). Weighing in at just under a tonne, the shroud was designed to suit an exceptionally sized ESP application for a deep water drilling project in the Gulf of Mexico. 

ESPs are typically used to increase production of oil being brought to the surface and this form of artificial lift is a major growth area in the oil and gas industry. Motor shrouds are designed to ensure continued performance of the ESP through protecting its motor housing from erosion and helping to maintain motor cooling by high velocity fluid flow.  

Such deep oil and gas exploration projects often demand that ESP requirements – and therefore shroud specifications – are unprecedented in size. RMSpumptools is known for its related expertise in this area and was approached by an oil major to help engineer a solution.

The newly developed shroud is a 26 feet (8m) long metal cylinder which fits around the motor assembly. At 12inches (30cm) in diameter it is considerably larger than standard systems and as such required complex bespoke design and manufacture by the team at RMSpumptools.

‘We had been supplying other equipment for the project when the team producing the oversized ESPs asked us for help in creating a bespoke motor shroud.’

Explains Stuart Gordon, new product development manager at RMSpumptools.

‘Shrouds are typically 8 inches (20cm) maximum in diameter and manufactured with standard sized casing, but this design involved complex detailing and sections machined from solid billets of steel.’

‘This is a great example of how we are utilising existing technology to push the boundaries of what can be achieved.’

Stuart adds.

Two further shrouds were ordered before the first was completed. Prototypes were load tested and the first unit was sent to the customer in January this year.

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