American Oil and Gas Reporter - June 2016 - 71

SpecialReport: Artificial Lift Technology
the ESP, excessive wear and heat were
generated inside the pump system. The
excess heat was transferred to the motor
lead extension, degrading and deforming
the protective armor and insulation, and
resulting in pump failure.
Production was converted to utilize
gas lift on the assumption that gas lift
would be better suited to handling the
extremely gassy and unstable environment.
However, it was evident that gas lift could

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Event Date
chemical program.
120

120

110

100

Volts

70
60

Degrees (F)

120

70
60

Aug 2015

Sep 2015

Enclosure temperature

Oct 2015

Power

Nov 2015

Dec 2015

OC-99 (150 Gal) level

Gallons

Extending Run Life
Gas cycling and ESP shutdowns in
the Kansas Mississippian Lime well posed
a threat to the long-term operations of
the equipment, and led to many hours of
unnecessary delays and nonproductive

time. The initial ESP system installed in
the well did not meet the expected run
life because of electrical failures created
by worn and damaged pumps. Short run
life is typical of a pump running with insufficient fluid production.
Examining the spot rate production
data revealed that the ESP was operating
with gas slugs that displaced all fluid
around the pump. Without the cooling
effect of produced fluid moving through

Gallons

(located physically higher than the actual
pump intake).
The debris trap is the open part of
the shroud that extends below the ESP
system. A typical trap length is 20 feet,
but length depends on the amount of
debris expected and by the available
wellbore. The hanger assembly is located
at the top of the shroud. The ESP is
connected to the end of the production
tubing, but the shroud is secured to the
tubing by the hanger assembly located
near the top of the shroud.
The recirculation system consists of a
special pump and conduit to provide
forced liquid cooling to the motor. The
recirculation ESP uses a tapered pump
system where a portion of the output
from the lowest pump is redirected into a
conduit and then exits to the wellbore
below the motor. The fluid cools the
motor as it returns to the pump intake.
The recirculation pump must have a
higher flow rate than the lift pump since
it moves more liquid volume. Ample
stages also must be included in the recirculation pump to produce sufficient discharge pressure to overcome the frictional
drag that occurs inside the recirculation
conduit.
The low-profile conduit design consists
of three oval stainless steel tubes welded
to solid round rods to prevent collapse
damage to the oval tubes in tight spots in
the wellbore. The conduit head is secured
on a discharge port on the recirculation
pump. The recirculation conduit is cut to
length a few feet below the motor and
secured to a centralizing bracket.
The recirculation ESP system also enhances capillary deployment of scale and
corrosion chemical treatments. The capillary tube can be terminated above the
pump or below the motor, but either way,
chemical is carried below the motor along
with the recirculation fluid to provide
continuous chemical treatment.
The installation procedure for an ASP
system varies only slightly from normal
ESPs. It consists of installing the shroud,
installing the ESP with recirculation system and lowering it to the desired depth
into the shroud, attaching the hanger, and
then running the system into the well.

Jan 2015

HS-975 (150 Gal) level

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For more info, visit www.pro-jectchemicals.com
Pro-Ject Chemicals. Inc.
1800 Hughes Landing Blvd, Suite 175. The Woodlands, TX 77380
JUNE 2016 71

American Oil and Gas Reporter - June 2016

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