This paper presents an experimental study about the performance of a centrifugal pump as a function of the liquid viscosity and intake free gas fraction. The first part evaluates a pump performance map proposed by Tulsa University Artificial Lift Projects (TUALP) for single-phase flow using dimensionless numbers, which considers the fluid properties, flow rate, rotational speed and pump head for a generic centrifugal pump. The second part analyses the pump performance parameters under different liquid viscosities and free gas fractions, proposes a modification in the TUALP procedure based on well-know dimensionless numbers, and suggests an extension of the analysis to incorporate the effect of the free gas fraction on the pump performance.

Keywords:
production monitoring, specific speed, rotational speed, void fraction, Reservoir Surveillance, University of Tulsa, dimensionless number, production control, two-phase flow, viscosity
Subjects:
Artificial Lift Systems, Well & Reservoir Surveillance and Monitoring, Electric submersible pumps
Copyright 2013, Society of Petroleum Engineers
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