Introduction 02 - Artificial Lift Methods PDF [PDF]

Zitiervorschau

Artificial Lift

Mauricio G. Prado – The University of Tulsa

Artificial Lift • In the beginning of the oil industry it was recognized that the pressure of fluids inside the porous media provided the necessary energy to “lift” the fluids to the surface. • Techniques that use an external source of horsepower to help the reservoir in overcoming the pressures losses in the production system after the perforations receive the generic name of Artificial Lift.

Mauricio G. Prado – The University of Tulsa

Artificial Lift Artificial lift is the area of petroleum engineering that studies methods used to promote an increase in the production rate of flowing wells or to put wells back into production by using an external horsepower source to help the reservoir pressure to overcome the pressure drops in the system downstream of the perforations.

Mauricio G. Prado – The University of Tulsa

Artificial Lift Methods

Mauricio G. Prado – The University of Tulsa

Artificial Lift Methods • There are several artificial lift methods. The most important ones are: – – – – – – – – – – – –

Beam Pumping Continuous Gas Lift Electrical Submersible Pump Progressive Cavity Pump Hydraulic Jet Pump Intermittent Gas Lift Hydraulic Pump Plunger Lift Auto Gas Lift Other Traditional Methods Boosting Methods Etc… Mauricio G. Prado – The University of Tulsa

Artificial Lift Methods • The definition of Artificial Lift Methods requires the existence of a “external horsepower source”. Two comments must be made regarding plunger lift and auto gas lift. • Plunger Lift can be operated in 2 modes – Injecting supplemental gas. In this case it fits exactly the definition of Artificial Lift Method – Without gas injection. In this case, there is no “external horsepower source” and plunger lift is considered an enhanced natural flow

• Auto Gas Lift – In auto gas lift the injected lift gas comes from a different production zone. There is no surface horspeower source. The “external horsepower source” is the lift gas zone. This can be considered as a natural flow of two zones being produced simultaneously. Mauricio G. Prado – The University of Tulsa

Artificial Lift - Uses • In Oil Wells – Boost production – Put wells back into production – Stabilize production

• In gas wells or CBM wells – To remove condensate or water from wells

Mauricio G. Prado – The University of Tulsa

Pumping Unit

Beam Pump

Prime Mover Polished Rod Suffing Box

Tubing Sucker Rods

Pump

Mauricio G. Prado – The University of Tulsa

Beam Pump Pumping Unit Prime Mover

Polished Rod Suffing Box

Tubing Sucker Rods

Pump

• Familiar to engineers and operators • Simple design • Low capital investment for low production at shallow to medium depths. • High investment for high flowrates in deep wells. • Allow very low fluid levels (low bottom hole flowing pressure). • Adaptable to scale and corrosion problems • Limitation with casing size. • Adaptable to automation. • Not suitable for crooked holes

Mauricio G. Prado – The University of Tulsa

Continuous Gas Lift Injection Choke Christmas Tree

Unloading Valve Gas Lift Mandrel Tubing

Operating Valve Packer

Mauricio G. Prado – The University of Tulsa

Continuous Gas Lift

Christmas Tree

Injection Choke

Unloading Valve Gas Lift Mandrel Tubing

• Low investment for deep wells. • Most efficient for high GLR. • Low operating costs for sand production. • Flexible. • Adaptable to crooked holes. • Capable of producing very high flowrates • Requires a source of high pressure gas. • Can not achieve very low botton hole flowing pressures. • Casing and lines must withstand gas pressure

Operating Valve Packer

Mauricio G. Prado – The University of Tulsa

Primary Transformer

Switchboard

Wellhead and electric mandrel

Electrical Submersible Pump

Tubing Round Cable Packer Pump Separator Protector Flat Cable Motor Mauricio G. Prado – The University of Tulsa

ESP Primary Transformer Switchboard Wellhead and electric mandrel

Tubing Round Cable Packer Pump Separator Protector

• Can produce very high flowrates from shallow to medium depths. • Low investment costs for shallow depths. • Adaptable to automation. • Casing size is not critical for high flowrates. • Electrical cable design is the weakest link. • Needs a VSD to be flexible. • Requires a stable source of electricity. • Big problems with scale. • Requires workover to remove unit.

Flat Cable Motor Mauricio G. Prado – The University of Tulsa

Progressing Cavity Pump Transformer Polished Rod Control Panel

Electric Motor Christmas Tree

Tubing Rods

Downhole PCP Gas Anchor Anchor

Mauricio G. Prado – The University of Tulsa

Transformer Control Panel Motor

Hydraulic Jet Pump Power Fluid Treatment Valve Christmas Tree

Tubing

Downhole Pump Standing Valve

Mauricio G. Prado – The University of Tulsa

Intermittent Gas Lift Intermitor Christimas Tree Pressure Gas

Open Closed

Tubing Unloading Valve Valve Mandrel

Operating Valve Packer Check Valve

Mauricio G. Prado – The University of Tulsa