AU2013226203B2 - Method of controlling an electric submersible pump - Google Patents
Method of controlling an electric submersible pump Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- AU2013226203B2 AU2013226203B2 AU2013226203A AU2013226203A AU2013226203B2 AU 2013226203 B2 AU2013226203 B2 AU 2013226203B2 AU 2013226203 A AU2013226203 A AU 2013226203A AU 2013226203 A AU2013226203 A AU 2013226203A AU 2013226203 B2 AU2013226203 B2 AU 2013226203B2
- Authority
- AU
- Australia
- Prior art keywords
- pressure
- pump
- control
- electric submersible
- controlling
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Ceased
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 11
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 239000012071 phase Substances 0.000 description 16
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 13
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 9
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 7
- 241000237858 Gastropoda Species 0.000 description 2
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000004886 process control Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000009530 blood pressure measurement Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007791 liquid phase Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
- F04B35/00—Piston pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids and characterised by the driving means to their working members, or by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors, not otherwise provided for
- F04B35/04—Piston pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids and characterised by the driving means to their working members, or by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors, not otherwise provided for the means being electric
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/12—Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells
- E21B43/121—Lifting well fluids
- E21B43/128—Adaptation of pump systems with down-hole electric drives
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B47/00—Survey of boreholes or wells
- E21B47/008—Monitoring of down-hole pump systems, e.g. for the detection of "pumped-off" conditions
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
- F04D13/00—Pumping installations or systems
- F04D13/02—Units comprising pumps and their driving means
- F04D13/06—Units comprising pumps and their driving means the pump being electrically driven
- F04D13/08—Units comprising pumps and their driving means the pump being electrically driven for submerged use
- F04D13/10—Units comprising pumps and their driving means the pump being electrically driven for submerged use adapted for use in mining bore holes
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
- F04D15/00—Control, e.g. regulation, of pumps, pumping installations or systems
- F04D15/0066—Control, e.g. regulation, of pumps, pumping installations or systems by changing the speed, e.g. of the driving engine
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
- F04D31/00—Pumping liquids and elastic fluids at the same time
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Geophysics (AREA)
- Control Of Non-Positive-Displacement Pumps (AREA)
Abstract
A method of controlling an electric submersible pump, comprising: a) monitoring the pressure at the suction and discharge of the pump; b) calculating the pressure difference between the discharge and suction pressure; and c) controlling the pump to maintain a constant pressure difference between the discharge and suction pressure.
Description
1 METHOD OF CONTROLLING AN ELECTRIC SUBMERSIBLE PUMP Cross-Reference to Related Applications This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/605,795, filed March 2, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference. Field of the Invention The invention relates to a method of controlling an electric submersible pump located in a subsea caisson. Background Electric submersible pumps are used in deepwater oil and gas production settings to provide artificial lift such that the oil and gas can be raised to the surface for further processing, storage and/or transport. During fluid property changes of the oil/gas mixture and/or introduction of water into the pump, large swings in pump operation can occur. These swings in pump operation can result in increased downtime, damage to the pump components, seals and motor and decreased pump longevity. These problems are often encountered during startup of the pump when the fluids in and around the pump suction side have been allowed time to separate into distinct phases. For example, a separate water phase, gas/liquid phase and hot oil phase may be encountered in the electric submersible pump during startup. It is the object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the above disadvantages. Summary of the Invention There is disclosed herein a method of controlling an electric submersible pump during operation, comprising: a. monitoring the pressure at the caisson top; 2 b. switching the pressure control to constant boost control when the pressure goes outside of a determined operational pressure range during operation; and c. switching the constant boost control to pressure control when the pressure has stabilized inside of the determined operational pressure range. The disclosure further includes a method of starting up an electric submersible pump, comprising: a) starting the pump on constant boost control, comprising: i) monitoring the pressure at the suction and discharge of the pump; ii) calculating the pressure difference between the discharge and suction pressure; and iii) controlling the pump to maintain a constant pressure difference between the discharge and suction pressure; and b) switching the constant boost control to pressure control, comprising: i) monitoring the pressure at the top of the caisson; and ii) controlling the pump to maintain a constant pressure at the caisson top. Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of an example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 depicts an embodiment of the electric submersible pump showing the different fluid phases present on startup. Detailed Description Electric submersible pumps are designed to operate in a range of conditions, but they are not designed for large pressure swings that can occur when the fluids passing through the pump change significantly. For example, slugs of water, changing oil/gas ratios and rapid changing of distinct fluid phases passing through the pump cause rapid swings in pressure as the pump operation characteristics vary with different fluid densities. These pressure swings can cause 2a damage to pump components and is believed to be at least a contributing factor of current electrical failures of electric submersible pumps in the field. The speed of an electrical submersible pump may be set via a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD); the speed of the pump may be directly-related to the frequency. Caisson pressure may be controlled by manipulation of the demand to the VFD. Manipulating the electric submersible pump based on caisson pressure is normally satisfactory, but does not provide a rapid response during changing fluid conditions. The invention provides an alternate process control scheme that can be used to more effectively manipulate the electric submersible pump during startup and when fluid properties are rapidly changing. This process control scheme is referred to as constant boost mode because it manipulates the pump speed based on the differential pressure across the pump. The differential pressure is calculated as the difference between the discharge pressure and the suction pressure of the pump.
WO 2013/130524 PCT/US2013/027908 Manipulating the pump in constant boost mode provides a more rapid response to fluctuations in fluid density to avoid instabilities on the system. One example of the issues encountered during startup is described further. When starting up an electric submersible pump located in a subsea caisson, the fluid phase that is 5 typically in the pump is an oil/gas mixture. As the pump starts up, the oil/gas mixture is pumped out the discharge and after some time, a water phase that has separated from the oil/gas mixture reaches the pump suction. The water is pumped and then another oil/gas phase is encountered. Then a hot oil phase is passed through the pump while the wells are ramped up and start producing and this is followed by the oil/gas mixture being produced 10 from the field. With each change in phases, the density changes; increases with water, decreases with oil/gas, increases with hot oil and decreases with field oil. Figure 1 depicts electric submersible pump system 100. Electric submersible pump system 100 may comprise a pump 110 and a shroud 120 surrounded by a caisson 130. Electric submersible pump system 100 may further comprise an inlet 101, a gas outlet 102, 15 and a liquid outlet 103. In certain embodiments, fluid within the pump may be an oil/gas mixture. A separate water phase may be located at the bottom of the caisson and an additional oil/gas phase is floating on the water phase outside of the shroud. After these phases have been pumped out, a new oil/gas mixture from the formation is pumped through the pump. 20 Once the pump has started up manually, the system is switched to caisson pressure control. In the alternative, the pump can be switched to constant boost control if slugs of water or other distinct phases are encountered as observed by pressure swings in the pump during operation. The constant boost mode will help the pump through the phase changes and the 25 pump can then be returned to caisson pressure control when system is in stable operation. In one embodiment, the differential pressure control is used to manipulate the electric submersible pump during startup and at any time during operation when the fluid density in the Caisson changes abruptly. As the caisson pressure is brought back into a more stable condition by controlling the differential pressure control, the pump can be switched back to 30 manipulation via caisson pressure control. The stability of the pressure can be detected by comparing the differential pressure in the Caisson to the last measured differential pressure or to a running average of a series of 3 WO 2013/130524 PCT/US2013/027908 differential pressure measurements. The specific characteristics of a stable system with regards to differential pressure should be determined based on the specific characteristics of the formation and the performance characteristics of the electric submersible pump. The differential pressure control scheme described herein provides a more rapid 5 response to fluctuations in pressure caused by changing fluid density, especially those encountered during startup. 10 4
Claims (5)
1. A method of starting up an electric submersible pump during start up, comprising: a. starting the pump on constant boost control, comprising: i. monitoring the pressure at the suction and discharge of the pump; ii. calculating the pressure difference between the discharge and suction pressure; and iii. controlling the pump to maintain a constant pressure difference between the discharge and suction pressure; and b. switching the constant boost control to pressure control, comprising: i. monitoring the pressure at the caisson top; and ii. controlling the pump to maintain a constant pressure at the caisson top.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the switching the constant boost control to pressure control is carried out by operator intervention.
3. A method of controlling an electric submersible pump during operation, comprising: a. monitoring the pressure at the caisson top; b. switching the pressure control to constant boost control when the pressure goes outside of a determined operational pressure range during operation; and c. switching the constant boost control to pressure control when the pressure has stabilized inside of the determined operational pressure range.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the switching the constant boost control to pressure control is carried out by operator intervention.
5. The method of claim 3 further comprising carrying out steps b) and c) repeatedly as the pressure goes outside of the range and then is stabilized inside of the range. Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON & FERGUSON
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US201261605795P | 2012-03-02 | 2012-03-02 | |
| US61/605,795 | 2012-03-02 | ||
| PCT/US2013/027908 WO2013130524A1 (en) | 2012-03-02 | 2013-02-27 | Method of controlling an electric submersible pump |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| AU2013226203A1 AU2013226203A1 (en) | 2014-08-21 |
| AU2013226203B2 true AU2013226203B2 (en) | 2016-04-07 |
Family
ID=49083216
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2013226203A Ceased AU2013226203B2 (en) | 2012-03-02 | 2013-02-27 | Method of controlling an electric submersible pump |
Country Status (7)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US20150017024A1 (en) |
| CN (1) | CN104160156B (en) |
| AU (1) | AU2013226203B2 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2512555A (en) |
| MY (1) | MY175543A (en) |
| NO (1) | NO20141029A1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2013130524A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN104847674B (en) * | 2015-06-16 | 2017-01-18 | 合肥工业大学 | Smart sensing type submersible electric pump |
| US10208745B2 (en) * | 2015-12-18 | 2019-02-19 | General Electric Company | System and method for controlling a fluid transport system |
Family Cites Families (14)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NL6803191A (en) * | 1968-03-06 | 1969-09-09 | ||
| US5243828A (en) * | 1992-12-28 | 1993-09-14 | Carrier Corporation | Control system for compressor protection in a manually operated refrigerant recovery apparatus |
| US5580221A (en) * | 1994-10-05 | 1996-12-03 | Franklin Electric Co., Inc. | Motor drive circuit for pressure control of a pumping system |
| US6604910B1 (en) * | 2001-04-24 | 2003-08-12 | Cdx Gas, Llc | Fluid controlled pumping system and method |
| GB2429071B (en) * | 2004-07-05 | 2008-11-05 | Shell Int Research | Monitoring fluid pressure in a well and retrievable pressure sensor assembly for use in the method |
| GB0502149D0 (en) * | 2005-02-02 | 2005-03-09 | Boc Group Inc | Method of operating a pumping system |
| WO2009023764A1 (en) * | 2007-08-15 | 2009-02-19 | Moyno, Inc. | Progressing cavity pump with heat management system |
| US8028753B2 (en) * | 2008-03-05 | 2011-10-04 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | System, method and apparatus for controlling the flow rate of an electrical submersible pump based on fluid density |
| US7997335B2 (en) * | 2008-10-21 | 2011-08-16 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Jet pump with a centrifugal pump |
| US8016920B2 (en) * | 2008-12-15 | 2011-09-13 | Chevron U.S.A. Inc. | System and method for slug control |
| US8042612B2 (en) * | 2009-06-15 | 2011-10-25 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Method and device for maintaining sub-cooled fluid to ESP system |
| US8485797B2 (en) * | 2009-06-29 | 2013-07-16 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | External oil expansion chamber for seabed boosting ESP equipment |
| US8397821B2 (en) * | 2009-07-31 | 2013-03-19 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Caisson two-phase emulsion reducer |
| JP2011185190A (en) * | 2010-03-10 | 2011-09-22 | Ebara Corp | Control device integrated type motor pump |
-
2013
- 2013-02-27 GB GB1413294.8A patent/GB2512555A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2013-02-27 WO PCT/US2013/027908 patent/WO2013130524A1/en active Application Filing
- 2013-02-27 MY MYPI2014702215A patent/MY175543A/en unknown
- 2013-02-27 US US14/381,759 patent/US20150017024A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2013-02-27 CN CN201380011915.6A patent/CN104160156B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2013-02-27 AU AU2013226203A patent/AU2013226203B2/en not_active Ceased
-
2014
- 2014-08-22 NO NO20141029A patent/NO20141029A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB201413294D0 (en) | 2014-09-10 |
| GB2512555A (en) | 2014-10-01 |
| MY175543A (en) | 2020-07-01 |
| AU2013226203A1 (en) | 2014-08-21 |
| CN104160156A (en) | 2014-11-19 |
| WO2013130524A1 (en) | 2013-09-06 |
| CN104160156B (en) | 2016-07-13 |
| US20150017024A1 (en) | 2015-01-15 |
| NO20141029A1 (en) | 2014-08-22 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FGA | Letters patent sealed or granted (standard patent) | ||
| MK14 | Patent ceased section 143(a) (annual fees not paid) or expired |