Gas Interference in horizontal oil wells
Gas Interference in horizontal oil wells
(OP)
I have high fluid levels in a pumping horizontal oil well. (1300' from surface). I am set to pump 200 bfpd with a 1.5" RWAC pump, but the pump efficiency is low, between 50- 60%. We think we may have gas interference in the pump because of the nature of our fluid (light foamy oil (45 Deg API)). Somebody has recommended installing a backpressure regulator to maintain constant pressure on the oil column within the tubing, let's see. Any other ideas or thoughts.
Regards
Regards





RE: Gas Interference in horizontal oil wells
RE: Gas Interference in horizontal oil wells
Pumping light oil is even worse because of the certainty of phase change at low pressures.
With a sucker-rod pump, if it ever gas locks then leakage past the plunger is required to break the gas lock. With 1,200 psig pump discharge you'll break the gas lock in something like 6 hours. With 50 psig it will take closer to 6 days.
With your drop in effeciency, I'd say that the standing valve is only opening 1/2 to 2/3 of the strokes. Yeah, I'd recommend a back-pressure valve.
David
RE: Gas Interference in horizontal oil wells
Thanks for your answers. We've installed tubing regulators on our wells and set those to hold 200 psi on the tubing. As of today, the line pressure is 128 psi and wellhead pressures are tbg 200 psi and Csg 130 psi. So far I havent seen any production changes in the last 3 days.
David, do you think we should hold more than 200 psi? is there a good way to calculate this number?
bcs5274, are you re-circulating the well, could u please elaborate some more.
Thank you guys!!!
RE: Gas Interference in horizontal oil wells
RE: Gas Interference in horizontal oil wells
If you saw a change in a couple of days, I'd say that you are applying way too much wishful thinking to your analysis. Look at it in a couple of months.
David