The pump is the most important item in the design of the ESP and should be selected based on reservoir conditions. It is from the pump that all other items in the ESP are designed. If the incorrect pump is selected, the design of the ESP can never result in the lowest over all operational cost.


The pump is a multistage centrifugal pump where each stage is made up of a rotating impeller and a stationary diffuser. The number of stages will determine the total head produced and the geometry of the stage will determine the production range.

Once the stage type and number of stages has been selected the following needs to be considered:

Stage Type (Radial, Mixed or Axial)

Stage Material (high nickel, high chromium, heat treated, etc.)

Bearing Selection (bronze, ceramic, tungsten carbide, silicon carbide, etc)

Bearing Spacing (Head and Base, Every x stages, Every stage)

Shaft Material (Monel, Inconnel, etc)

Housing Material or Coating (Carbon Steel, Ferretic Steel, Stainless Steel)

Pump Construction (Floater or Compression)

The pump moves the fluid to surface and if any of the above are not designed to match the reservoir the operational cost will not have been optimized.