ASSOCIATED ANNULAR GAS UTILIZATION METHODS

Abstract

The article discusses the influence of annular associated petroleum gas (APG) pressure on the performance of a bore-hole sucker rod pump. It is known that gas separators are used in wells with a high gas-oil ratio, but they do not completely solve the issues of negative impact of APG on the flow, reliability and dynamics of bore-hole pumps. Separated APG accumulates in the annulus, increasing the pressure in it slightly more than the pressure in the gathering manifold. This opens the wellhead valve, and the gas partially flows into the manifold, reducing the pressure in the annulus to the pressure in the manifold and the valve closes. In this case, the pressure in the annulus will always be slightly greater or equal to the pressure in the manifold, which in some cases reaches 4.0 MPa. The effect of this pressure leads to the release of the flowing level and the reduction of the liquid layer over the pump suction and in the extreme case of gas breakthrough into the pump cavity with subsequent jamming of the plunger pair. In this regard, it raises the challenge, firstly, to reduce the pressure of the annular gas and, secondly, to utilize this gas. In this regard, experience in using methods for utilization of annular APG and devices for reducing annular gas pressure are considered. The scheme of a mobile unit for collecting annular APG and subsequent disposal in an oil-gathering main is proposed. A method for calculating the frequency and volumes of utilization of the well, depending on the gas factor and the water cutting of the well production is given. The advantages of a suspended compressor using the energy of an unbalanced sucker string for injecting gas into a manifold are shown.