Paper: Centrifugal Versus Plunger Pumps for High Pressure Water Injection

Several unique conditions existed which influenced Gulf Oil Corporation's selection of multi-stage Centrifugal pumps over multi-plunger pumps at its Goldsmith (5600 ft.) Water Injection Plant in E&r County. Texas. However, the factors taken into consideration in this particular case are applicable to the design of any high volume, high pressure water injection plant. Before selecting the type of pumps to be used, certain assumptions must be made. The volume of fluid and the pressure at which the fluid is to be pumped must be estimated. The initial design conditions were estimated to be 100,000 BWPD at 1200 psi discharge pressure. The ultimate conditions were estimated to be 150,000 BWPD at 2000 psi discharge pressure. With these discharge volumes and pressures established, an economic study of the 2 different types of pumps can be made. There are many factors that influence the selection of high pressure water injection pumps. The most important of these are as follows: (1) environment; (2) choice of prime movers; (3) flexibility of operation; (4) pump efficiencies; (5) space requirements; (6) operating and maintenance expense; (7) installation cost; (8) initial pump cost, and (9) expected life of injection plant.