The approach to determine the gas separator efficiency as a part of an electric submersible pump unit

Abstract

The current conditions of well operation with electric submersible pumps are characterized by the need for gas separation at the pump intake, and natural separation can be insufficient to provide the technological rate of well, so gas separators are used as part of the electric submersible pump unit. The literature review and the results of our research demonstrate that currently there is no unified methodology for selecting gas separators of various designs for the operating well conditions, equipped with ESP units of different series. That is, the selection of a gas separator as part of ESP unit is based on partial data on performance and design of the gas separator, which is unacceptable, and in some cases dangerous due to the possible failure mode. The paper describes a methodology to predict the efficiency of a gas separator as part of a downhole electric submersible pump unit based on the summary of a significant set of statistical information from publications, results of our own experimental and field studies. Keywords: gas separator; gas content; electric submersible pump unit; ESP; separation efficiency; well oil production; separation coefficient.