Multi phase pump is a specialised pump used in oil and gas extraction to transport mixtures containing crude oil, water, gas, and even small amounts of sand. They are mechanical devices that pressurise unprocessed mixtures extracted from oil wells.
Compared to traditional oil extraction methods, multi phase pump employs a production method of first transporting and then separating, offering numerous advantages. They save production companies significant initial hardware investment costs and ongoing equipment operation and maintenance costs. During operation, the intelligent control system reduces operational team expenses for clients. Using multiphase pump technology, older oilfields can achieve increased production and efficiency, extending extraction cycles. It also makes oil extraction possible in marginal oilfields and oilfields with harsh climatic and geographical conditions.
Introduction to Crude Oil Extraction Process Based on Oil and Gas Blending Technology
In traditional oil extraction methods, after crude oil is extracted from the well, a separation station needs to be built near the well to separate water, gas, and sand. The crude oil is then transported via ordinary liquid pumps and pipelines to oil depots for storage or to refineries for further processing. Water is generally injected back into the ground or discharged on-site. Gas can be compressed back into the ground; it can also be burned on-site via a flare or transported to a gas recovery station for recycling via compressors and dedicated pipelines.
Conventional pumps are only suitable for transporting liquids, and compressors are only suitable for transporting gases; they cannot achieve gas-liquid mixing. Therefore, conventional crude oil extraction processes have no other choice but to build separators near wells or separation stations in central oilfields. This requires additional production equipment such as compressors, pipelines, valves, etc. If gas recovery is involved, additional equipment is needed, increasing the company’s production, operation, and maintenance costs. If the cost is too high, and gas recovery does not directly contribute to the production company’s profits, it is not economical. In such cases, the gas is directly burned in a flare, causing energy loss and environmental pollution, making it not the best option, but it is currently the production method used by most oilfields.
Oil and gas extraction using multi phase pump technology can eliminate the need to build separation stations near wellheads or oilfields, using one or several multiphase pumps to achieve mixed transportation.
Multiphase pumps can transport untreated oil and gas mixtures. They can first transport the extracted mixed products to a convenient processing location for further separation. This allows separation units to be installed in suburban or safe locations, facilitating production and easily resolving issues related to personnel transportation and supplies, significantly reducing production and operating costs for the company. Production staff can operate and control multiphase pump systems located tens or even hundreds of kilometers away from their offices, enabling independent production operations and replacing the separation station, complete production equipment, and production team required for oil well attachments. Using multiphase pump technology can reduce initial investment, daily operating costs, and equipment maintenance costs for enterprises, thereby increasing efficiency!
Special Applications and Advantages of Multiphase Pump Technology in Oil and Gas Production
1. Application of Multi phase Pumps in Old Oil Wells with Decreasing Production
As oil wells are produced over time, oil pressure in the reservoir decreases, pipelines age, and blockages or corrosion occur. Increasing the back pressure at the wellhead (also called wellhead back pressure) is necessary to transport the extracted products along the pipeline to the gathering and transportation station or transfer station. This increases the load on the oil production equipment and shortens its service life. By installing and using multiphase pumps, the extracted products are pressurised and transported to the gathering and transportation station, reducing the back pressure of the oil well, decreasing the load on the oil production equipment, increasing production, increasing efficiency, extending the well’s production cycle, and improving both production and efficiency.
2. Application of Multiphase Pumps in Oilfields with Unpredictable Reserves
For oil reservoirs with unpredictable reserves, traditional extraction methods require significant investment in production equipment and infrastructure. Generally, these are considered to have high investment costs, long investment cycles, and uncertain returns, leading to abandonment of extraction.
The application of multiphase pump technology can significantly reduce initial investment in production equipment, shorten construction time, and reduce the number of production personnel. Once in production, reserves can be easily determined. Only a fraction of the conventional costs are required to commence extraction operations and production, potentially bringing unexpected returns to production companies. It also makes oilfield extraction, which may otherwise be unpredictable, possible.
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3. Application of Multiphase Pumps in Subsea Oil Production on Offshore Drilling Platforms
Multiphase pump solutions are suitable for the comprehensive development of existing oil and gas resources; applicable to offshore platforms, subsea oil and gas extraction, and various conventional applications. Untreated media, whether wet gas or heavy oil, can be reliably transported under any operating conditions. Furthermore, the extracted natural gas does not need to be consumed through flare burning and can be used in more efficient applications; it is energy-saving, environmentally friendly, and increases profits for enterprises.
4. Application of Multi phase Pumps in Harsh Production Environments
In harsh production environments, such as tropical deserts and rainforests, in extremely cold places, such as polar oil fields, Siberia, and Iceland, and in extremely harsh environments, such as offshore oil exploration and extraction.
In the aforementioned extremely harsh natural environments, traditional extraction processes and procedures either result in extremely high production and operating costs, severely impacting the profits of production enterprises and affecting their enthusiasm for extraction, or make traditional extraction processes impossible. However, by using multiphase pump mixed transportation technology, employing the concept of first transporting and then separating, the products extracted from the oil well can be transported through a pipeline to a more easily processed location for further processing, significantly reducing the enterprise’s production costs and making the extraction and utilisation of these oil reservoirs possible.
