TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF HYDRAULIC PUMPS IN DELIQUIFYING GAS WELLS

• Main Author: Yan Ching, Lye
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Teknologi Petronas 2013
• Subjects: T Technology (General)
• Online Access: http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/10721/1/DISSERTATION_Technical%20and%20Economic%20Analysis%20of%20Hydraulic%20Pumps%20in%20Deliquifying%20Gas%20Wells.pdf; http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/10721/

This paper presents the concepts of deliquifying gas wells using one of the methods to unload liquid gas wells: hydraulic pumping. Liquid loading is the inability of produced gas to remove liquids produced together from the wellbore. This is a wellknown phenomenon in mature gas wells. As production depletes, the reservoir loses energy and therefore allowing liquids to accumulate at bottomhole. The backpressure created from liquid loading can reduce gas production and with time, might even kill the well. Deliquification or liquid unloading - the process of removing associated liquids from the produced gas is severely critical for mature gas wells. The author subsequently explores the theory and working principles of hydraulic piston pumps and hydraulic jet pumps. Both types of pumps have different specifications that can be suited for different cases. In order to further contrast the specifications, the author will compare hydraulic pumping with gas-lift system, one of the pioneer methods used in the industry. As to validate the system feasibility, the author generated a mechanism for technical and economic analysis, to provide system requirement from production projection to users. System requirement is crucial as to assess viability of system to be installed and operated. The economics involved in the process will be analysed through computer coding generated. Economic analysis is vital in the selection of deliquification method; operational benefits must be in balance with the economic value so that the costing is economically viable. Expansive research and studies have been made on the theories of the pumps. This progress report carries the objectives to update the advancement of project since Progress report in FYP II. Since that, the author refined and improvised the mechanism through Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet. The author has developed a set of computer coding to ease technical and economic analysis when determining system compatibility. Sensitivity studies were conducted to analyse the parameters’ relationships.