Paper: Keeping ESPs Primed in High Volume Gas Wells

Wells used for gas production can present many problems for ESP systems. Extended duration gas slugs can cause pumps to lose prime and cycle on and off. This paper deals with one lease holder's attempts to produce gas with an ESP system in place. New Dominion has wells with gas slugs lasting one to three minutes and longer. Working with a manufacturer, a solution was developed that (when properly sized) can balance the well and allow production of gas without constant system shutdowns. This paper examines two case histories involving inverted shrouds as long as 450". While producing as little as 900BWPD, output rose to 600MCFD of gas before leveling off at 400MCFD. This information will be beneficial to anyone wishing to use ESPs who is having problems with gas slugs in vertical or horizontal applications.