Multiphase Boosting in Oil and Gas Production - Recent Applications and Developments

Abstract

Abstract Today's increasing demand for energy calls for a number of different measures to be taken in day-to-day oil and gas production. Scenarios for green fields may require a different approach than full-fledged traditional facilities. Furthermore mature assets or single wells, some of them may have even been shut-in already, gain more and more adherence. Those brown fields mainly suffer from low wellhead pressures, making them unable to flow even to first stage separation. Moreover, as gathering stations may have been deleted due to an overall decreased production, even longer flow lines will result in a higher pressure demand. If the water content increases additional challenges are rendered. Furthermore regional legal frameworks call for stringent environmentally friendly handling of hydrocarbons. Thus, where gas flaring was state-of-the art in the past it is no longer allowed today. Subsequently the past common production scenarios require adjustments to a considerable extent. Multiphase pumps are particularly suited, to help overcoming the above-mentioned challenges. Their ability to add energy to the untreated well stream, while reducing the wellhead pressure creates an entirely different pressure regime in the production system. They are capable to pump 100 % gas only, as may be required during oil well start-up and with gas wells suffering from liquid loading. Multiphase pumps are also used to recover the casing gas, thus optimising the hydrodynamic liquid level in the annulus. While inflow performance is enhanced, differential pressure across down-hole pumps is decreased and at the very system end the gas delivery pressure is increased. Recent field applications are highlighted and latest technological developments discussed.