Multiphase Pumping with Progressive Cavity Pumps

Abstract

Multiphase fluids are mixtures of oil, water, and gas. Roughly six out of every ten wells contain multiphase fluids with variations in the fluid makeup, rheology, and viscosity. They may also include small amounts of sand, paraffin, hydrates, and drilling cuttings. This necessitates local separation at the well site, which can require a significant footprint of process equipment infrastructure at or near each well site. Ever since oil production began, produced fluids have been transferred from the well to the storage or processing facility using reservoir pressures. This means the bottom hole pressures needed to be sufficient to not only get the fluid to the surface but also move it some distance on the surface through flow lines. In cases where reservoirs are either low energy or are characterized by rapid pressure depletion curves as is common in a number of unconventional plays, this can be problematic. In wells that are artificially produced with a down hole pump or other artificial lift equipment the pump must have sufficient pressure capability to bring the fluids to the surface and then move them some distance on the surface through a flow line. Additional pressure may also be required for the separation equipment at the end of the flow line.