Multiphase
As produced well fluids are initially directed towards the surface, the natural flowing wellhead pressure supplied by the reservoir naturally decreases. This pressure reduction allows the volume of free gas present in the fluid to increase, and additionally promotes the breakout from solution of dissolved gases. Both of these reactions restrict the volume of crude oil that can be delivered to the surface. This mixture is defined as a Multiphase fluid. It is comprised of two or more phases where one phase is a gas and at least one phase is a liquid. A fluid of this type creates flow assurance and flow management challenges for upstream producers due to complex flow regimes that form, as well as the undesirable contaminants (e.g., sand, salts, sulphur, paraffins, etc.) that are borne along by the production well stream.
Prior to the 1990s, the traditional way of managing Multiphase fluids was to separate the liquid and gas streams at upstream batteries, with the natural gas being either flared off, if the gas was of poor quality or if there was no immediate use or market for its use, or in some cases boosting the gas back to a Central Processing Facility via a second separate gas pipeline supported by a gas compressor (a similar pipeline being provided for the liquids requiring a liquid pump). Both methods were deemed harmful from an environmental impact standpoint, which led to the needful development of a new line of pumping technology termed "Multiphase pumps."
Multiphase pumps would be required to handle the raw, production fluid stream with no pretreatment or conditioning of the fluid, operating in a near continuous upset mode due to the widely varying pressures, temperatures and fluid composition from the wells. The pumps would not only eliminate harmful flaring and reduce the equipment footprint, but they would also reduce the backpressure on the wells and introduce additional energy into the upstream gathering system, thereby accelerating the total output from the reservoirs. The added benefit of revolutionary technology would be the introduction of extra energy into the process fluid, thereby increasing the fluid velocity in the overall piping network, helping to eliminate solids settling and downstream gas pocket obstructions.
As experience bears out, Multiphase pumps and their associated systems require a special degree of fluid-conveying expertise to engineer, manufacture and support. Designing automated systems that are fully integrated into your production operation is challenging. The systems must be safe and dependable to support your demanding production needs.
Have you considered the value of using rotary PD pumping technology?
Upstream facility managers and operators around the globe have realized that volumetric, rotary PD pumps are something they can capitalize on in these services. Having a machine that can reliably handle variable inlet and outlet conditions with non-homogeneous, gas-laden (sour and sweet), and contaminated, viscous process fluids is critical. These strengths, coupled with the tremendous turndown flow capabilities of rotary PD pumps, make them an ideal fluid-conveying solution for handling Multiphase fluids.