Multiphase Pumping for Heavy Oil: Results of a Field Test Campaign

Giuggioli, A.; Villa, Marco; Ghetto, G. De; Colombi, Pierluigi

doi:10.2118/56464-ms

“…The twin-screw pump creates a volume chamber by the intermeshing of two rotating screws. Twin-screw pumps are most often applied in heavy oil applications [1,2,4,7,8,10,17,24,25,27], but are gaining acceptance for offshore and conventional oil developments due to their ability to handle larger Gas Volume Fractions (GVF). Recently a number of models have been presented to describe the performance of twin-screw multiphase pumps [12,16,19,26].…”

Section: Multiphase Pump Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Subsea Multiphase Pressure Boosting and a New Approach for Speed Control Using a Hydrodynamic Variable Speed Drive

Scott

¹

,

Xu

²

,

Lenz

³

2006

Proceedings of SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition

0

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TX 75083-3836, U.S.A., fax 01-972-952-9435. AbstractInterest in the subsea deployment of multiphase pumps and wet-gas compressors has grown as companies search for methods to improve recoveries and economics for subsea wells. Subsea pressure boosting technologies are also seen as vital in providing access to deepwater oil and stranded gas reservoirs. While multiphase pumping has been proven onshore, operators have been hesitant to deploy this technology subsea due to the high costs and inherent risks associated with the first application of a new technology. This paper examines various types of subsea multiphase pumps and wet-gas compressors and discusses the special issues associated with subsea operation. Multiphase pressure boosting requires a wide torque and speed range due to significant load changes, triggered by changes in the gas volume fraction (GVF). This paper introduces and describes a hydrodynamic variable speed drive that can be utilized with both multiphase pumps and wet-gas compressors. This variable speed drive is arranged between a fixed speed motor and the multiphase boosting device and appears to offer several distinct advantages for subsea operation. The Voith Turbo EL6 torque converter was installed and tested with a twin-screw pump under multiphase condition. Results of testing under slug flow conditions are presented along with observations regarding the use of a torque converter for speed control.

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Subsea Multiphase Pressure Boosting and a New Approach for Speed Control Using a Hydrodynamic Variable-Speed Drive

Scott

¹

,

Xu²,

Lenz³

2006

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

TX 75083-3836, U.S.A., fax 01-972-952-9435. AbstractInterest in the subsea deployment of multiphase pumps and wet-gas compressors has grown as companies search for methods to improve recoveries and economics for subsea wells. Subsea pressure boosting technologies are also seen as vital in providing access to deepwater oil and stranded gas reservoirs. While multiphase pumping has been proven onshore, operators have been hesitant to deploy this technology subsea due to the high costs and inherent risks associated with the first application of a new technology. This paper examines various types of subsea multiphase pumps and wet-gas compressors and discusses the special issues associated with subsea operation. Multiphase pressure boosting requires a wide torque and speed range due to significant load changes, triggered by changes in the gas volume fraction (GVF). This paper introduces and describes a hydrodynamic variable speed drive that can be utilized with both multiphase pumps and wet-gas compressors. This variable speed drive is arranged between a fixed speed motor and the multiphase boosting device and appears to offer several distinct advantages for subsea operation. The Voith Turbo EL6 torque converter was installed and tested with a twin-screw pump under multiphase condition. Results of testing under slug flow conditions are presented along with observations regarding the use of a torque converter for speed control.

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Modeling Reservoir/Tubing/Pump Interaction Identifies Best Candidates for Multiphase Pumping

Martin

¹

,

Scott

²

2002

SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition

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Multiphase production systems are being considered as a development option for many fields on a worldwide basis. Engineers are faced with the challenge of selecting the best candidates to take full advantage of this novel technology. A review of the literature reveals that no guidelines have yet been published regarding this issue. This paper utilizes classical reservoir engineering methods to model the interaction of a surface installed multiphase pump with the reservoir and tubing. A derivative analysis of the backpressure equation is used to show the difference in incremental production among wells with different backpressure coefficients and exponents. A method was developed which combines well deliverability and decline data to forecast the impact of a multiphase pump on reserves, i.e. ultimate recovery. The results of this study indicate that:wells exhibiting a low wellhead backpressure coefficient (n) make poor candidates for multiphase pumping;plotting the derivative of the wellhead backpressure equation provides a means of defining a threshold, which must be reached before a multiphase pump, would provide value;liquid loaded wells may yield the best response to a surface installed multiphase pump; and,reduction of the backpressure on a well, through use of a multiphase pump, acts to increase the ultimate recovery for a well or field. Introduction Multiphase pumping has been shown to provide value in a number of different operating environments. These include heavy oil production in Venezuela,1,2,3 California4 and Italy,5 light oil production in Canada,6 Indonesia,7 and Trinidad,8 as well as gas condensate fields9 and subsea production.10 A summary of the various multiphase pumping technologies as well as a discussion of their worldwide applications was presented by Scott11 and Scott and Martin.12 All of these methods are installed on the surface to boost the pressure of the fluids produced from the wellhead. This study does not consider a particular multiphase pump technology, but rather the general method of using a multiphase pump to decrease wellhead pressure. The goal of this paper is to define methods that can be invoked to identify the best candidate wells for a reduction in wellhead pressure. This paper utilizes classical reservoir engineering methods to model the interaction of a surface installed multiphase pump with the reservoir and tubing. First, bottomhole reservoir deliverability is analyzed to identify which reservoirs will best respond to a reduction in bottomhole pressure. The derivative of the backpressure equation is used to show the difference in incremental production associated with a reduction in wellhead flowing pressure among wells with different backpressure coefficients and exponents. Next, the expression for oil well deliverability at the wellhead developed by Thrasher, Fetkovich and Scott (1995)13 is utilized to consider the effects of tubing on candidate wells. The impact of a lower wellhead pressure on liquid loaded wells and tubing limited wells is discussed. Also, a simple economic model is proposed for comparison of the costs and benefits of a multiphase pumping project. Finally, the impact of backpressure on ultimate recovery is considered. The work of Fetkovich et al (1996)14 develops the relationship between the wellhead backpressure exponent and the decline type/ultimate recovery of the reservoir. Using this approach, a method was developed which combines well deliverability and decline data to forecast the impact of a multiphase pump on reserves. System Analysis - Steady-State The response of a well to a reduction in wellhead pressure, through use of a multiphase pump, depends on the overall production system. This includes the reservoir, formation completion and tubulars. The steady-state response of the reservoir and completion will first be considered through bottomhole analysis.

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Multiphase Pumping for Heavy Oil: Results of a Field Test Campaign

Abstract: This paper was prepared for presentation at the 1999 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition held in Houston, Texas, 3–6 October 1999.

Cited by 3 publications

References 3 publications

Subsea Multiphase Pressure Boosting and a New Approach for Speed Control Using a Hydrodynamic Variable Speed Drive

Subsea Multiphase Pressure Boosting and a New Approach for Speed Control Using a Hydrodynamic Variable Speed Drive

Subsea Multiphase Pressure Boosting and a New Approach for Speed Control Using a Hydrodynamic Variable-Speed Drive

Modeling Reservoir/Tubing/Pump Interaction Identifies Best Candidates for Multiphase Pumping

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