Methodological principles of bench testing the gas separators of the submersible electric centrifugal pump installations in oil production

Increase in efficiency of the centrifugal pumps used in the oil producing wells with high content of the free gas is achieved by equipping them with the gas separators, where most of the free gas is sorted out from the pumped medium and discharged into the well annular space before entering the pump inlet. Gas separators are one of the main means to protect pumps from the harmful effects of free gas. In this regard, an urgent task is to conduct correct bench tests of the gas separators, as an integral part of measures aimed at improving their design and efficiency. Analysis of the existing benches and test methods for gas separators of the submersible electric centrifugal pump installations for oil production was carried out. Technique and bench pneumohydraulic scheme was proposed for testing a gas separator with a section of the electric centrifugal pump installed at the outlet. Methodological principles of bench testing the gas separator to determine efficiency of the free gas separation were developed.