1 new production technologies for lifting liquids from horizontal wells radius energy, llc may, 2015
TRANSCRIPT
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New Production Technologies for Lifting Liquids from Horizontal
Wells
Radius Energy, LLC
May, 2015
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PROBLEM 1 - Vertical wells have sump (“rat hole”) to place pump
• Liquid separates in vertical section; falls to sump
• Sump is below producing formations; No fluid head pressure to hinder production
Liquid falls into Sump (“Rat-Hole”)
Gravity Separation:Gas rises to surface
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BUT - Horizontal wells have no rat hole – Pump must be placed directly in production stream
• Any gas production causes interference with pump’s ability to pump liquid
• Inefficient pumping causes liquid level to build; High bottom-hole pressure hinders production
Gas Interference
Pump is unable to “pump” gas – Fluid level raises
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Artificial sumps don’t solve the problem in low pressure wells.
• Liquid head “H” required to spill into vertical sump.
• Low angle sumps may not be effective at allowing separation of entrained liquids
High velocity gas may not allow separation of entrained liquids
Low pressure formation affected by liquid head
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Cavity acts as gas-water separator. Pump located in base of cavity
Dual Well Articulated Well
“Cavity” Well
Articulated “Service” well used only in drilling the horizontal laterals.
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SOLUTION: Selective create a temporary
seal below the pump to form an isolated pumping chamber :
1) Form seal
2) Pump liquid
3) Release Seal
Normal Operation:Sealing Device OPENPump OFF
Pumping Cycle:Sealing Device: CLOSEDPump ON
Sealing Device: OPEN
Sealing Device: CLOSED
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Example: Use inflatable bladder (packer)
below pump suction. Can be externally inflated, or inflated by production fluids from pump discharge
1) Form seal
2) Pump liquid
3) Release Seal
Normal Operation:Sealing Device OPENPump OFF
Pumping Cycle:Sealing Device: CLOSEDPump ON
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Claim 6
“A flow control system comprising: a pump positioned in a well to remove liquid from the well; an isolation device positioned downhole of the pump and capable of being selectively engaged to substantially reduce gas and liquid flow from a producing formation at the pump during removal of the liquid; and wherein the pump is positioned in a substantially horizontal portion of thewell.”
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PROBLEM 2 – Solids may settle along bottom of horizontal well – Blocking flow or inlet to pump
Solids settle along bottom of well, blocking flow and inlet to the pump
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SOLUTION: Slowly rotate tubing with
eccentric tail joint to keep solids agitated and in suspension. Suspended solids removed from well along with other production liquids.
Helically shaped tail-joint “wipes” the circumference of well bore to agitate solids
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Claim 1
“A system for controlling solids within a wellbore of a well comprising: a pump positioned within a substantially horizontal portion of the wellbore; a first tubing string operatively connected between the pump and a surface of the well for removing liquid from the wellbore that is pumped by the pump; and a second tubing string operatively connected to the pump and extending downhole of the pump, the second tubing string having a longitudinal axis that is offset from an axis of rotation about which the second tubing string is capable of being rotated.”
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PROBLEM 3 – Electric pump cable can become damaged when being installed in deviated well
Electric Submersible Pump (ESP)
Electric Cable exposed to damage
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SOLUTION: Use “Wet Connect” to install
pump cable inside of discharge tubing after pump is in place.
Pump-down plug pulls cable into tubing – even into horizontal sections
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CABEL BRAKE:
Relief valve above pump sets the required “pump-in” pressure so as to support weight of cable.
Power cable receiver installed above the pump
Pump
Pump-in pressure must overcome relief valve setting to allow cable movement.
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Claim 1515. A system for delivering a cable through a tubing string to a downhole location in a well, the system comprising:a plug having a first connector configured to be operably connected to the cable, the plug having a plug housing adapted to fit within the tubing string, the plug housing having a passage to permit fluid flow past the plug housing; anda valve operably associated with the passage of the plug housing to restrict fluid flow through the passage in adownhole direction and allow fluid flow through the passage in an up-hole direction;wherein the plug is deliverable downhole through the tubing string such that the first connector of the plug ispositioned in electrical communication with a downholedevice.
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PROBLEM 4 – Horizontal wells are ideal application for cyclic chamber gas lift, but how to ensure positive seating of horizontal standing valve?
Lift Valve
Standing valve
Compressor
Open tubing
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Solution - Chamber gas lift: Gas injection string manipulated at surface to create positive sealing down-hole chamber
Chamber valve
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Reciprocate gas injection string to selectively activate down-hole valve forming isolation chamber.
Stuffing Box
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Gas injection string stays charged with lift gas. Sliding sleeve valve opens to release gas after chamber is sealed from well production.
Chamber fills with liquid Sliding sleeve
covers gas injection port
Chamber sealed
Gas injection port exposed
Move gas injection string downhole
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PROBLEM 5 – Need for a low cost, long stroke rod-pump system for shallow horizontal wells. Conventional beam pumps being increasingly challenged by linear action pump mechanisms.
Typical shallow well
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SOLUTION – Hydraulic pumping system specifically designed for low acquisition and installation cost, together with simplified field operation.
96” stroke
Pivot mounting to “Huber” style wellheads
Assemble on ground with hand tools, then lift into place
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Simple Hydraulic System - Built from off-the-shelf components. .
Traveling Head
Shifting Assembly
Control Rod
Flow Control Valve
Heat Exchanger
Hydraulic Pump
Shifting Valve
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Shift speed dampener
2-Position Detent
Control Rod
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Recap:
1. Flow control of production fluids during pump cycle
2. Solids control with helical tail joint
3. Pump-down “wet connect” for installing ESP cable
4. Surface activated chamber gas lift valve
5. Hydraulic pumping unit with mechanical shifting assembly
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Contact
Joseph A. Zupanick, P.E.
Radius Energy, LLCP.O. Box 991Beckley, WV 25802(304) 688-6556