Sand Influence Analysis on ESP Operation in Salym Petroleum Development. Effective Methods and Procedures for Sand Protection

Abstract

The current state of the Russian oil industry requires a scientific approach to optimizing the operation of electrical submersible pumps (ESPs) in harsh conditions. Most of the fields are at a late stage of development with high watercut and increasing amount of solid particles. At the new fields and new license areas the main share is made up of horizontal wells with multistage hydraulic fracturing, where sand removal from unconsolidated sandstone and proppant from the bottomhole zone of the well to the electrical submersible pump causes its serious damage and reduces the run life (Haiwen, 2019). In many scientific papers mathematical models of the given process were described as well as the speed of wear of impellers and bearings surfaces as a result of influence of abrasive particles were defined in laboratory conditions. At the same time, it is necessary to note insufficient elaboration of questions in estimation of derating rate of pump performance in high amount of mechanical impurities in field conditions, and as a result – the incorrect estimation of the period of effective and trouble-free operation of the submersible equipment. The proposed researches, first of all, are directed on determination of the degree of influence of solid particles on impellers and diffusers of ESP, character and speed of wear inside an ESP, forecasting of optimum time of operation of ESP. Based on the example of Salym group of fields the analysis is offered, which can be adapted and applied at other fields.