Method and apparatus for producing fluid from a well and for limiting accumulation of sediments in the well

The present invention is directed to a submersible pump for producing fluid from well intersecting a producing formation, preferably a hydrocarbon-producing formation, and more particularly is directed to an apparatus for producing fluid from a well and for limiting the accumulation of sediment in wells in which the formation produces solids along with the production fluids. An electric submersible pumping system provides for the production of fluids from a well and for limiting the amount of sediment accumulation in the well. The apparatus includes an electric submersible pumping system lowered into a well on a production tubing. The electric submersible system includes an electric submersible pump having an intake at or near a lower end thereof. A seal is connected to the intake and a motor is connected to a lower end of the seal. The apparatus further includes an auxiliary pump having an auxiliary pump discharge at an upper end thereof and an auxiliary pump intake at a lower end thereof. The auxiliary pump is connected to the motor. The system is lowered into the well so that it is positioned below the perforations in a well which communicate a producing formation with the interior of the well. The auxiliary pump intake will receive fluid along with sediments that may be produced by the formation. The auxiliary pump will pump the fluid and sediments upwardly through the auxiliary pump discharge and through discharge tubes connected to the discharge. At least a portion of the fluids and sediment pumped upwardly by the auxiliary pump will be communicated into the production pump intake and produced upwardly through the production tubing along with other fluid from the well. Because the auxiliary pump is continuously taking in fluid, there is a downward flow of fluid past the motor in the well which will cool the motor in the electric submersible pumping system.