Factors Affecting Electrical Submersible Pump Systems Operation

Abstract

Electrical submersible pump (ESP) systems in oil field have unique features due to the long cabling effect. The electrical system for a typical ESP installation consists of a variable frequency drive (VFD), a multi-tap step-up transformer, a downhole main cable, and an electrical submersible motor. A load filter is usually required in a VFD-ESP system. In this paper, several factors that significantly affect operating conditions of an ESP system are presented through simulation and field measurements for a practical ESP system in the field. Such analysis is beneficial to field engineers and operators to better understand impacts of equipment settings.