What is a limitation of the electrical submersible pump?

The limitation of an electrical submersible pump is that it cannot effectively transport fluids that contain gas or heavy oils. This is because submersible pumps are designed to work with clean, homogeneous liquids. The presence of gas can lead to vapor lock, where the pump cannot create the necessary pressure to function, while heavy oils can significantly increase the viscosity of the fluid being pumped, demanding a larger power input and potentially leading to mechanical failure or overheating.

In applications where gas or heavy oils are present, this type of pump may struggle, resulting in reduced efficiency or complete operational failure. Thus, while it is a highly effective tool for certain types of pumping applications, its functionality is notably limited when dealing with complex mixtures or fluids with high viscosity.