Methodology helps analyze multiphase pumping systems

08/02/1999

The number of multiphase pumping installations is increasing, and it is becoming

more important that operating companies understand how to analyze these systems.

The methodology presented in this article is a convenient way for organizing an in-
depth, fact-specific analysis but is not intended to cover all possible cases.

The methodology emphasizes conditions normally encountered with surface

applications, and the examples are based on twin-screw pumps, which currently
dominate the multiphase pump market.

Multiphase pumps
Multiphase pumping technology for the oil and gas industry has been in development
since the early 1980s. These pumps simplify production operations by boosting full
well-stream flows from satellite wells to a central processing facility, without
the need for separation followed by gas compression, tank storage, flaring, and
liquid pumping.

By the mid-1990s, multiphase pumping had been used on marginal wells offshore and
was being applied to onshore locations. During this period, significant commercial
installations were initiated to prove the merits of pump designs. Since that time,
about 150 pump units from six or seven different pump manufacturers have been
installed.

Twin-screw, progressive-cavity, and helico-axial (H-A) are the predominant

multiphase-pump types. The H-A is a high-volume flow, centrifugal-style pump that
develops pressure dynamically, hence it can be highly sensitive to variations in
density, which is a characteristic of a multiphase flow stream.

The twin-screw and progressive-cavity (PC) pumps are positive-displacement pumps,

and therefore, develop pressure hydrostatically, reducing their sensitivity to
density changes.

The H-A pump has led the way in multiphase applications on subsea wellheads which
tend to have lower gas fractions, strong flows, and the density variations are not
as severe as those often encountered on land and offshore surface applications.

For surface applications, positive-displacement pumps have greatly outnumbered H-A

pumps due to flows with higher gas-to-total flow volumetric fractions (the gas
volume fraction or GVF) and associated tendencies for density changes (slugging).

The authors estimate that over 70% of the installed multiphase pumps are twin-screw
pumps, about 20% are PC pumps, and the remaining 10% are H-A pumps.

Projects that appear attractive for multiphase boosting are those where it is
possible to simplify surface production management problems, lower costs, and
increase production. Multiphase boosting can reduce costs by eliminating or
reducing field infrastructures and by reducing losses from flaring, venting, etc.

Functionally, multiphase boosting can be defined as a method to increase the

pressure of a flowing mixture of gas, oil, and water-flow components without
requiring separation into individual phases which thereafter must be individually
managed, treated, and transported. Its value is realized when:

Lower operating pressures can be achieved near the wells.

Investment in additional flow lines, flares, and tanks can be avoided.
Processing can be centralized so that heat, controls, chemicals, treatment methods,
and technical talent can be focused.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) compliance issues can be eased by using
a "sealed flow" boosting system.