Tom Brinner, Subsaver, LLC
Don Parrott, G&W Consulting
How and where ground wires are connected determines the runtime and successful withstanding of switching and lightning surges. This is extremely evident with lightning protection of electric submersible pumps (ESP). Electric surge suppressors on the same ground wire can and will interact bidirectionally in a lightning storm. Instances of ESP failures due to improperly installed surge suppression are not uncommon. Understandably the value of surge suppression has been questioned. This paper proposes separate ground wires for each surge device with all wires bonded together at the wellhead. Justification for this is derived from multiple engineering reports on wellsite electrical installations, electrical theory and reported extended ESP run-life.