2018012 NEW GAS MITIGATION SOLUTION FOR UNCONVENTIONAL WELLS IN ESP (CASE STUDIES IN THE PERMIAN BASIN)

New unconventional wells have been a huge challenge for ESPs in the Permian Basin because in horizontal wells with high-formation GORs or GLRs, the pumped fluid can cause issues such as gas interference, gas locking, short run life, low production, poor energy efficiency, increased failure rates, shutdowns, so forth. A major problem is gas presence around the ESPs, it causes the motor to rapidly overheat because the gas is incapable of adequately cooling.

For this application, a double stage of gas separation was designed to break the gas slug and avoid gas entrance into ESPs by forcing free gas to go around the shroud and produce through the casing, and the fluid is forced to pass through an additional gas separator (Guardian Shield), this tool helps to separate gas to keep lower motor temperature. These novel applications help operators to reduced OPEX (operating expense) by minimize well Interventions, decreasing failures in the pump due to overheat, and allow the ESP to operate in gassy wells with high GLR, stabilizing the production and reduce the unforeseen interruption.