Gas Turbine Driven Centrifugal Pumps for High Pressure Water Injection

Abstract

American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers, Inc. This paper was prepared for the 42nd Annual Fall Meeting of the Society of Petroleum Engineers of AIME, to be held in Houston, Tex., Oct. 1–4, 1967. Permission to copy is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words. Illustrations may not be copied. The abstract should contain conspicuous acknowledgment of where and by whom the paper is presented. Publication elsewhere after publication in the JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY or the SOCIETY OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERS JOURNAL is usually granted upon request to the Editor of the appropriate journal provided agreement to give proper credit is made. Discussion of this paper is invited. Three copies of any discussion should be sent to the Society of Petroleum Engineers office. Such discussion may be presented at the above meeting and, with the paper, may be considered for publication in one of the two SPE magazines. Abstract The experience of Gulf Oil Corp. in the installation and operation of gas turbines as prime movers for centrifugal pumps in high pressure water injection leads to the following conclusions:Installation of gas turbines and centrifugal pumps can be made with very little difficulty. Only a fraction of the foundation is required for this type of installation as compared with other types using heavier equipment. Vibration of equipment and piping is practically eliminated.It is felt that where low cost gas is available, two-shaft gas turbines driving centrifugal pumps are an economical and flexible high pressure water injection installation.Centrifugal pumps normally require less attendance than plunger pumps.Station construction costs compare favorably with other stations utilizing different types of prime movers and pumps.Centrifugal pumps can be designed for almost any condition of high pressure water injection, but there are certain conditions in which plunger pumps are more economical. When the volumes are low and the head high, plunger pumps are usually more economical.Gas turbines are easily automated for unattended operation.Several operating problems were experienced, but subsequent modifications now have provided for a highly satisfactory operation.Fuel consumption compares favorably with that of other types of gas engines.Maintenance and repair cost of the pump has been much lower than anticipated and gas turbine costs have been slightly higher than originally anticipated.The over-all operation is economically attractive. Introduction Four gas turbine engines are driving multistage centrifugal pumps for injection of high pressure water into Gulf Oil Corp's Goldsmith 5600' field, Ector County, Tex.