September, 2010

Technical

Recommended Installation Practice: X-Tract ESP Cables

This Recommended Installation Practice is written for guidance when handling Electrical Submersible Pump (ESP) cables at a well site. Recommended practice for transportation and storage references are made by General Cable; installation recommendations are made with reference to API RP 11S3 Recommended Practice for Electrical Submersible Pump Installations, IEEE 1018 Recommended Practice for Specifying Electric Submersible Pump Cable Ethylene-Propylene Rubber Insulation and IEEE 1019 Recommended Practice for Specifying Electric Submersible Pump Cable Polypropylene Insulation. General Cable manufactures its X-Tract ESP cables for downhole oil and water well - applications with reference to IEEE 1018, IEEE 1019 and API RP 11S6 Recommended Practice for Testing of Electrical Submersible Pump Cable Systems. They are produced under strict supervision and enforced quality systems approved to ISO 90012008 (UL DQS). This Recommended Installation Practice is based upon: API Recommended Practice API RP 11S3: Applicable clauses: 3.0 5.4 5.5 5.6 6.0 6.4.4 6.4.5 6.5 6.6 6.8 7.1.5 8.1.1 9.1.1 9.1.5 9.1.6.3 10.1 10.5 Transportation, Handling, and Storage of Equipment (Reel Diagram) Cable Spoolers or Reels Downhole Cable Protection Cable Sheave Running Equipment into the Well Shipping Caps Insulation Resistance Test during Lifting Cable Splicing Cable Banding Running Practices Phase-to-Ground IR Test Historical data (Pulling Equipment out of Wells) Downhole Pump Cables (Field Evaluation of Used Equipment) Motor Lead Extensions (Field Evaluation of Used Equipment) Minimum HV IR Requirement Downhole Pump Cables (Assessment of Used Equipment) Motor Lead Extensions (Assessment of Used Equipment)

6.2.1/6.2.2 Use of a Gauging Tool to Eliminate Burrs, etc.

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September, 2010

Technical

Recommended Installation Practice: X-Tract ESP Cables

API Recommended Practice API RP 11S6: Applicable clauses: IEEE 1018: Applicable clauses: IEEE 1019: Applicable clauses: 9.2.1 Installation (reference API RP 11S3, Section 5.6) 9.2.2 Pull Rates (Minimizing Soluble Gas-Induced Damage) 9.2.3 Chemical Treatments (Particular Reference to Nitrile Jackets) 9.2.4 Balancing Flat Cable Phase Currents 10.2.1 Installation (Reference API RP 11S3, Section 5.6) 10.2.2 Pull Rates (Minimizing Soluble Gas-Induced Damage) 10.2.3 Chemical Treatments (Particular Reference to Nitrile Jackets) 10.2.4 Balancing Flat Cable Phase Currents 9.0 In Situ Testing 10.0 Diagnostic (Fault) Testing 11.0 Insulation Resistance (Megohmmeter) Tests 14.3 Time Domain Reflectometer Tests (Fault Location)

General Cable Specification: Recommended Installation Practice: X-Tract ESP Cable

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September, 2010

Technical

Recommended Installation Practice: X-Tract ESP Cables

IMPORTANT NOTE:
Before unloading any cable delivered to the well site, check all delivery records to ensure that the correct cable has been shipped. All reels are to be inspected for damage prior to unloading or mounting for placement in a well. Damaged or incorrectly sized cables should not be used.
Figure 1: How to Handle Cable Reels

1.Transportation, Handling and Storage of Downhole ESP Cables Cable packaging is in accordance with contractual requirement when shipped from the factory. Prior to shipment, all cables are subjected to 100% in-process testing and routine tests to ensure the finished cable is within specification. These tests are referenced in API RP 11S6, IEEE 1018 and IEEE 1019 as well as all relevant pages from the X-Tract catalog. To ensure a cable will arrive at a well site in the as manufactured condition, the reels must be transported and stored with the reel axle horizontal to the ground, and the reels must be chocked to ensure they are immobile. Loading and unloading cable reels must be done in compliance with best practice and safety, as illustrated (Figure 1) (API RP 11S3, Section 3.0).

YES
Cradle both reel flanges between forks. Do not lift by top flange. Cable or reel will be damaged.

NO

Reels can be hoisted with a shaft extended through both flanges.

Use a spreader bar to prevent bending the reel flanges and mashing the cable.

Lower reels from truck using hydraulic gate, hoist or fork lift. LOWER CAREFULLY.

Never allow forks to touch cable surface or reel wrap.

Always load with flanges on edge and chock and block securely.

Never drop reels.

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September, 2010

Technical

Recommended Installation Practice: X-Tract ESP Cables

Remove the cable reel per instruction and place in a cable spooler with the cable paying off towards the well from the top of the cable reel. The feed-in setup should un-reel the cable with a natural curvature (Figure 2) as opposed to a reversed S curvature (Figure 3).

Figure 2: PROPER

Whether using a powered spooler or one that is manually assisted, it is essential to minimize the tension in the cable while feeding it into the well. General Cable recommends tension limits when handling all ESP cables as follows:
NUMBER OF INSULATED CONDUCTORS AWG SIZE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE PULLING TENSION (LBS)

1 2 4 5 6

2009 1593 1002 794 630

Figure 3: IMPROPER

3 3 3 3

The maximum allowable pulling tensions are for direct attachment to the conductor. T = 0.008 x cmil x n, if n 3 T = 0.008 x cmil x n x 0.8, if n > 3

Cable reels should be placed 75-100 ft from the well head within the direct line-of-sight of the rig operator. The reels shall be located such that the cable does not pass over the operators head, with the supports and spooler placed at right angles to the well head. All operators are to stay clear of the reel rims during running or pulling operations. When the ambient temperature requires heating the cable for running, a suitable shelter with heaters should be utilized. The lower handling temperature of the cable is dened by the stated operating temperature range. 2. Cable Testing Prior to Installation To gain access to the cable conductors, remove the shipping cap from the end of the cable. The conductors at the other end of the reeled cable must be exposed, clean and dry. Using a Megohmmeter, connect the ground lead to the cable armor and then test each leg of the cable in rotation. Record all phase-to-phase and phase-to-ground readings. New cable should read close to innity for both phase-to-phase and phase-to-ground. In adverse conditions (high humidity/wet), lower readings may be obtained; experienced operators report that readings of only 1500 M are obtainable and considered normal; this, however, is not a General Cable recommendation. 3. Downhole ESP Cable Protection Where running over rugged, rocky ground, it may be necessary to place a protective covering (e.g., wooden planks) beneath the cable-run to the well head to ensure that the cable armor is not damaged while running to the sheave.

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September, 2010

Technical

Recommended Installation Practice: X-Tract ESP Cables

4. Cable Sheave A cable sheave is to be used when running or pulling downhole ESP cable. The sheaves should have a minimum 54 inch (1.4 m) diameter and be of such construction to prevent cables from jumping off the sheave during operation. Single or gooseneck conveyor-type sheaves may be used if the minimum diameter requirement is satised. For pulling around bends, use conveyor sheave assemblies of the appropriate radius series (Figure 4). The pulleys must be positioned to ensure that the effective curvature is smooth and changes directions or elevation evenly at each pulley. Never allow a polygon curvature to occur (Figure 5). The t of a pulley around the cable is also important when pulling heavy weights (i.e., pulleys at the top of a vertical drop). During installation, the sheave should be supported above ground when preparing to feed the cable through it (Figure 6). After the cable has been fed through and has been securely banded to the tubing, the sheave shall be raised to the running position, approximately 25-45 ft (8-14 m) above the slips (the electrical connections made through a rotating assembly). The sheave should then be secured such that the cable is as close as possible inline with the movement of the travelling blocks which support the drill column and travel up and down as it hoists the pipe in and out of the hole. The cable should not be used to reposition the sheave. Note: When at pump cable is being run, a at rimmed sheave is to be used.

Figure 4: SHEAVE ASSEMBLY

Figure 5: NEVER ALLOW

Figure 6

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September, 2010

Technical

Recommended Installation Practice: X-Tract ESP Cables

5. Casing Check It is recommended that a full-gauge tool or a full-bore casing scraper be run through the casing prior to inserting the downhole ESP cable to remove burrs and ensure adequate clearance for the assembly. 6. Cable Connectorization & Installation (Figure 7)

Figure 7

API Recommended Practice 11S3, Electrical Submersible Pump Installation, 2nd Edition (1999). Reproduced courtesy of the American Petroleum Institute.

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September, 2010

Technical

Recommended Installation Practice: X-Tract ESP Cables

General Cable acknowledges that there are several practical techniques available for splicing and that preferences exist based upon well-bore environment and cable materials (API RP 11S3). As such, General Cable does not specify or hold a preference for any one technique. Wherever possible, our recommendation is that splicing be completed away from the well site and in a clean environment. If a splice has to be made at the point of installation, then every effort must be made to ensure that no foreign matter enters into the splice.
6.1 Cable Splicing: Operator Instructions The Motor Lead Extension (MLE) should be spliced to the Power Supply (PS) cable before being shipped to location. High-temperature and Motor Lead Extension cables are manufactured with a durable inner insulation layer that must be completely removed prior to making a connection; all other General Cable ESP products have an adhesive layer between the insulation and conductor which must also be completely removed (Figure 8). When removing the inner layers and the primary conductor insulation, care must be taken to ensure that the conductors are not damaged. Fine, abrasive cloth can be lightly used as shown in Figure 8 to create a smooth, clean surface. If the conductor is contaminated by oil or dirt, use a suitable solvent to clean the surface and leave the conductor dry. The length of exposed conductor and insulated phase protruding from the cable armor is to be as specied by the splicing technique used. To minimize the potential for an in-service failure, the splice should not downrate the performance of the cable or reduce its service life potential. Attention should be given to ensure the correct phase-to-phase connections are made without loss of ampacity or causing an unusually elevated temperature under service conditions through the creation of a resistive contact. The tensile load-bearing capacity of the splice should not be less than that of the cable itself. The splice should not reduce the thermal rating of the cable system and must be rated to the environment in which it is to be used.

Figure 8

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September, 2010

Technical

Recommended Installation Practice: X-Tract ESP Cables

6.2 Cable Connections Different types of connections are made during the set-up process, again offering many options that reflect both the severity of the environment and the personal preference of the operator/owner. Types of Connections: Potheads (Figure 9) Well Head Penetrators Downhole Connectors Packer Feed-Through Breakout for multiple feed to motors in tandem In all instances, where a cable is to be joined or connected, following the specific manufacturers instructions ensures that the cable is not damaged and that the electrical connection is clean and well-made. 6.3 Cable Banding Proper banding reduces the amount of strain a cable takes in its vertical installation reduced vibration increases the life of the cable. The term banding is used generically and includes bands and cable clamps/ protectors. To achieve correct and consistent band tension, pneumatic tensioning is the preferred method for all banding of X-Tract ESP cable. Tightening should be sufficient to ensure that the cable does not slip once attached to the tubing and that the cable itself is not damaged. A slight distortion of the cable armor is acceptable and indeed a good indication of appropriate tightness, but the armor should not be crushed. If a band is loose, it is recommended that it be cut off and replaced. To attain a proper cable band (Figure 10): Banding tools should be in good condition and adjusted correctly. Personnel using these tools should be trained and supervised to ensure proper banding (API RP 11S3, Section 6.6 Cable Banding). Bands must be placed so that the buckle is located in the void between the cable and the tubing, out of the way of the banding tools and thus unable to be pushed into the cable and causing damage to it. Cable bands should not be installed over a cable splice but rather above and below it so as not to place any load on the splice. When placing bands on a Motor Lead Extension, make sure the cable fits up above the pump discharge head and not across a tubing collar. Per API RP 11S3, no less than two bands are to be applied to secure the downhole ESP cable per tubing joint, with one being attached midway over the joint itself and the other 2-3 ft (60-90 cm) above the collar. However, more bands should be used on the first two joints (approx. 60 ft/18.29 m), as well as when running the tubing through a dogleg or other tight spots. This practice provides extra cable support in the area of tubing cut-off that might occur during a fishing operation.
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Figure 9:
Installation of the pothead prior to cable delivery to a well site is preferable
Clamp/ Protector Casing, Inner Wall

Cable

Band

Coupling

Tube

Figure 10:
Shows proper banding around a coupler

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September, 2010

Technical

Recommended Installation Practice: X-Tract ESP Cables

7. Motor Lead Extension (MLE) Cable ESP cables that have a Motor Lead Extension attached at a location away from the well site must be repackaged with the power cable reel prior to shipping to safeguard against in-transit damage.

Minimum requirement for ESP cable with an MLE spliced at a remote location prior to delivery at the well site (API RP 11S3, Section 3.0)

Figure 11:

API Recommended Practice 11S3, Electrical Submersible Pump Installation, 2nd Edition (1999). Reproduced courtesy of the American Petroleum Institute.

MLE cable that is shipped separately (unattached to a ESP cable) should be boxed, crated, reeled or secured to a pallet/skid. To protect the MLE from weather damage and/or contamination, each end of the lead should be sealed. 8. Running Practices (API RP 11S3, Section 6.8) The majority of cable damage occurs during handling and/or installation in a well casing. Running and pulling well tubing must be done slowly and smoothly. While running a new assembly into a well, rapid acceleration and deceleration may cause cable damage. It is not good practice to allow the cable to drag on the ground; cable slack should be maintained between the reel and the sheave. The cable should reel on or off the top of the reel. Electrical continuity and insulation resistance should be measured periodically at: (a) a minimum of once every 2000 ft (610 m) (b) at pump depth setting (c) when terminations or splices are made Run speed is to be defined by the operator taking account of experience and preference. Some operators set a limit of 1000 ft/hr (305 m/hr); this, however, is outside the scope of this Recommended Practice. Note: IEEE 1018 and 1019 give run speeds in the range of 1000-4000 ft/hr (305-1219 m/hr) as being normal.
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September, 2010

Technical

Recommended Installation Practice: X-Tract ESP Cables

8.1 Pulling and Assessment of Used Cable Pulling requires as much attention to detail and caution as running new equipment. Once all the preparations have been made, including opening the bleeder valve to remove the fluid, begin lifting the pump string out of the well. A record of the number of bands that are missing should be kept, and the decision should be made whether to retrieve or push them to the bottom of the well. Remove the bands progressively by cutting and not by levering them away from the tube/cable, as that will damage the cable. If there is evidence of corrosion on the bands, it may be necessary to change them when re-establishing the well with bands of higher corrosion resistance. Observe the condition of the cable as it emerges from the well. Look for evidence of overheating, melted lead, scorch marks on the armor and corroded or separated armor. Check for swollen insulation, exposed conductors and excessive corrosion of cable splices, as well as the number of splices. If there is a reported motor failure, ask the owner/ operator whether to leave a portion of the MLE attached (1-2 ft [30-60 cm] above the pothead) or if it should be removed completely. 8.2 Guidelines for Established Re-Use of Cable All observed issues with the cable should be marked on the cable while it is being recovered; this will save time in locating the defects for repair or deciding whether to scrap the cable length as a whole. The retrieved cable should be re-spooled on a reel of sufficient capacity for the length, size and type of cable being pulled. Do not run the cable across the ground and reel with the cable running onto the top of the reel. Lightly oil the cable and store it in a sheltered location if possible. All cable lengths are to be tested according to API RP 11S6 prior to and after any repairs being made before they can be considered for an additional period in service. Failure of a test after repair should render the cable unfit for use. It is good practice to allow a cable to rest for several days prior to testing; this will reduce the content of soluble or entrapped gases. Note: Motor Lead Extensions should not be re-used.

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