Numerical Study on Electrical-Submersible-Pump Two-Phase Performance and Bubble-Size Modeling

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (03) ◽  
pp. 267-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianjun Zhu ◽  
Hong-Quan Zhang
2011 ◽  
Vol 133 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lissett Barrios ◽  
Mauricio Gargaglione Prado

Dynamic multiphase flow behavior inside a mixed flow electrical submersible pump (ESP) has been studied experimentally and theoretically for the first time. The overall objectives of this study are to determine the flow patterns and bubble behavior inside the ESP and to predict the operational conditions that cause surging. The theoretical study includes a mechanistic model for the prediction of the flow behavior inside the pump. The model comprises a one-dimensional force balance to predict occurrence of the stagnant bubbles at the channel intake. This model depends on two important variables, namely the stagnant bubble size and the bubble drag coefficient. The bubble size has been measured and a physically based correlation is presented. A new correlation for the drag coefficient is proposed as a function of rotational speed and Reynolds number. The model enables the prediction of the operational envelope of the ESP, namely the transition to surging.


Author(s):  
Lissett Barrios ◽  
Mauricio Gargaglione Prado ◽  
Frank Kenyery

Dynamic multiphase flow behavior inside a mixed flow Electrical Submersible Pump (ESP) has been studied theoretically for the first time. The main goal is to model two-phase flow behavior in an ESP. A three-dimensional CFD model has been developed to describe the operational envelope of the ESP, namely the onset of surging. The theoretical study includes CFD simulations for the prediction of the flow behavior inside the pump. The CFD modeling depends on two important variables, namely the bubble size and the bubble drag coefficient. The bubble size has been measured and a physically based correlation presented in Barrios (2007) is used. A new correlation for the drag coefficient is used (Barrios 2007) as a function of rotational speed and Reynolds number. Single-phase and two-phase flow CFD simulations were carried out to investigate liquid flow field. Results from the CFD simulations are consistent with the experimental data (Barrios 2007).


2018 ◽  
Vol 141 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiming Chen ◽  
Abhay Patil ◽  
Yi Chen ◽  
Changrui Bai ◽  
Yintao Wang ◽  
...  

Based on previous experiment result, an assumption is made to explain the abnormal head degradation in the first stage of an electrical submersible pump (ESP): the bubbles' breaking up and coalescence effect with compressibility is the main reason of this phenomenon. To investigate the head degradation problem inside the ESP, a series of numerical simulations are performed on the first stage of the split-vane impeller pump commonly employed for gas handling purpose. These three-dimensional transient Eulerian multiphase simulations are divided into two groups: one group with the traditional fixed bubble size method and the other with the ANSYS population balancing model (PBM) allowing the bubbles to break up and coalesce. The simulation result with the changing bubble size matches well with the experiment data, which supports the previous assumption. The flow field based on PBM simulation is visualized and analyzed. Also the separation of phases is discovered with large volume of gas accumulating at the suction side of the impeller trailing blades, which is also supported by experimental observation.


Author(s):  
Lissett Barrios ◽  
Mauricio Gargaglione Prado

Dynamic multiphase flow behavior inside a mixed flow Electrical Submersible Pump (ESP) has been studied experimentally and theoretically for the first time. The overall objectives of this study are to determine the flow patterns and bubble behavior inside the ESP and to predict the operational conditions that cause surging. The theoretical study includes a mechanistic model for the prediction of the flow behavior inside the pump. The model comprises a one-dimensional force balance to predict occurrence of the stagnant bubbles at the channel intake. This model depends on two important variables, namely the stagnant bubble size and the bubble drag coefficient. The bubble size has been measured and a physically based correlation is presented. A new correlation for the drag coefficient is proposed as a function of rotational speed and Reynolds number. The model enables the prediction of the operational envelope of the ESP, namely the transition to surging.


Author(s):  
Diana Marcela Martinez Ricardo ◽  
German Efrain Castañeda Jiménez ◽  
Janito Vaqueiro Ferreira ◽  
Pablo Siqueira Meirelles

Various artificial lifting systems are used in the oil and gas industry. An example is the Electrical Submersible Pump (ESP). When the gas flow is high, ESPs usually fail prematurely because of a lack of information about the two-phase flow during pumping operations. Here, we develop models to estimate the gas flow in a two-phase mixture being pumped through an ESP. Using these models and experimental system response data, the pump operating point can be controlled. The models are based on nonparametric identification using a support vector machine learning algorithm. The learning machine’s hidden parameters are determined with a genetic algorithm. The results obtained with each model are validated and compared in terms of estimation error. The models are able to successfully identify the gas flow in the liquid-gas mixture transported by an ESP.


Author(s):  
Thuy Chu ◽  
Tan C. Nguyen ◽  
Jihoon Wang ◽  
Duc Vuong

AbstractElectrical Submersible Pump (ESP) is one of the major Artificial Lift methods that is reliable and effective for pumping high volume of fluids from wellbores. However, ESP is not recommended for applications with high gas liquid ratio. The presence of free gas inside the pump causes pump performance degradation which may lead to problems or even failure during operations. Thus, it is important to investigate effect of free gas on ESP performance under downhole conditions. At present, existing models or correlations are based on/verified with experimental data. This study is one of the first attempts to develop correlations for predicting two-phase gas–liquid pump performance under downhole conditions by using field data and laboratory data. Field data from three oil producing wells provided by Strata Production Company and Perdure Petroleum LLC. as well as experimental data obtained from experimental facility at Production and Drilling Research Project—New Mexico Tech were used in this study. Actual two-phase pump differential pressure per stage is obtained from experiments or estimated from field data and was normalized using pump performance curve. The values are compared to pump performance curve to study the relationships between pump performance and free gas percentage at pump intake. Correlations to predict ESP performance in two-phase flow under downhole and experimental conditions was derived from the results using regression technique. The correlation developed from field data presented in this study can be used to predict two-phase ESP performance under downhole conditions and under high gas fraction. The results from the experimental data confirm the reliability of the developed correlation using field data to predict two-phase ESP performance under downhole conditions. The developed correlation using the laboratory data predicts quite well the two-phase pump performance at the gas fraction of less than 15% while it is no longer reliable when free gas fraction is more than 15%. The findings from this study will help operating companies as well as ESP manufacturers to operate ESPs within the recommended range under downhole conditions. However, it is recommended to use the proposed correlation on reservoirs with conditions similar to those of the three presented wells.


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