US Patent 10378322 Prevention of gas accumulation above ESP intake with inverted shroud

A system for producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean well includes an electrical submersible pump assembly with a pump, intake, protector, and motor. A production tubing is in fluid communication with the electrical submersible pump assembly and has an inner bore sized to deliver well fluids containing both gases and liquids from the electrical submersible pump assembly to a wellhead assembly. A packer assembly circumscribes the production tubing downstream of the electrical submersible pump assembly. An inverted shroud has a closed end located between the intake and the protector and an opposite open end that is open towards the packer assembly.