Abstract
It is common knowledge that some of the obstacles that must be overcome to successfully operate Progressing Cavity Pumping (PCP) Systems are attributed to conventional sucker rod couplings and the upset area around them.
This paper addresses how the use of continuous sucker rod in PCP Systems can dramatically reduce the overall operating costs in high viscosity, heavy oil lifting applications, as well as, high water cut, high volume lifting applications.
Eliminating the conventional sucker rod couplings, and therefore the constricting annulus effect, will alter the pump requirement by decreasing the differential pressure the pump must overcome. Thereby decreasing the horsepower requirement and ultimately decreasing the power consumption.
In watering out pay zones, completed with 73 mm (2-7/8″) tubing, a 25.4 mm (1″) sucker rod string may be required to accommodate the extra torque associated with lifting higher volumes of fluid. 25.4 mm (1″) continuous sucker rod can contribute to additional cost savings by providing the additional torque carrying capacity without increasing the tubing size.
Through the use of independent software modeling a comparison of conventional sucker rods versus continuous sucker rod in PCP Systems will be presented to illustrate how operating cost reductions may be realized through the elimination of the conventional sucker rod couplings.
