Investigation of flow patterns and energy efficiency in electric submersible pumps under varying oil-water ratios

Hui Wang, Yang Yang, Yulong Yao, Chuan Wang, Jiaxing Lu, Qixiang Hu, Ling Zhou, Leilei Ji, Xionghuan Chen, College of Hydraulic Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Key Laboratory of Fluid and Power Machinery, Ministry of Education, School of Mechanical Engineering, Changzhou Institute of Technology, National Research Center of Pumps, Jiangsu University

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part A: Journal of Power and Energy

Published online on February 19, 2026

Abstract

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part A: Journal of Power and Energy, Ahead of Print.
Electric submersible pumps (ESPs) are widely used in oil production to lift multiphase fluids, yet the presence of oil-water mixtures can substantially complicate performance prediction and compromise operational stability, especially in multistage ...