Efficient Multiphase Pump Station For Onshore Application And Prospects For Offshore Application

Abstract

With oil consumption increasing worldwide, the petroleum industry is being forced to find ever more efficient ways. Not only the exploration of inaccessible and inefficient oil fields, but also the increasing demand for efficiency, safety, assurances of environmental protection, and automation are among the challenges of the future. The technology of multiphase transport provides an economical and safe alternative for these problems. Gas fractions in the multiphase mixture cause considerable changes in flow as compared with the handling of liquids only and, consequently, affect the pump performance curves. A new pump type was developed especially for multiphase pumping. The first two prototypes are equipped with comprehensive metering devices and are being tested under laboratory and production conditions. The laboratory tests show reproducible results in systematically produced performance curves. The field tests are proving the pump qualifications by pumping actual multiphase medium. As a result of all these tests, the screw pump design is not only suitable for handling multiphase flow, but is also approved for practical applications on the well. The performance data have been reached, but problems with the mechanical seals have prevented a long running time. With gas fractions higher than 95 percent, a reliable minimum liquid recirculation should be available. These tests provide valuable results for further development of the multiphase pump design concept. This is a good basis for a new generation of multiphase pump stations.