A seal section for use in a downhole submersible pumping system includes one or more fluid separation mechanisms, a shaft and one or more primary mechanical seals. Each of the one or more primary mechanical seals is disposed along the shaft. The seal section also includes one or more redundant shaft seals that each substantially surrounds a corresponding one of the one or more primary mechanical seals. In another aspect, a seal section for use in a pumping system includes one or more fluid separation mechanisms, a shaft, a primary mechanical seal and a redundant shaft seal. The redundant shaft seal substantially surrounds the primary mechanical seal. The seal section further includes an internal seal chamber defined by the annular space between the primary mechanical seal and the redundant shaft seal.