Abstract
This paper presents the results of field evaluation by Rosneft of correlations developed by the Tulsa University Artificial Lift Projects (TUALP) to predict the performance of the natural separation process and of Electrical Submersible Pumps (ESP) operating under multiphase flow conditions as well as Russian State University of Oil and Gas (RSUOG) correlations for the performance of rotary gas separators. The first two set of correlations were developed using data acquired with TUALP experimental facilities but have not been tested against field data. The correlations developed by the Russian State University were also accomplished using lab data and a field test validation was required. During the years of 2006 and 2007 Rosneft conduct several field tests with the purpose of evaluating the performance of several gas handling technologies for ESP installations. The valuable data from those tests enabled Rosneft to verify the accuracy and validity of TUALP and RSUOG correlations for natural separation efficiency, rotary gas separator efficiency and for ESP multiphase performance under real field operational conditions with real crude and natural gas. The TUALP-Marquez-Prado correlation was selected for natural separation efficiency, the correlations for rotary gas separators developed by RSUOG were used and the TUALP-Duran correlation was chosen for pump multiphase head degradation. An excellent match was obtained between the field test data and the correlations predictions with exception of the following cases:
Natural separation for installations with a horizontal ESP;
Multiphase flow head degradation in installations using gas handling devices.
The paper presents a brief description of field data, a review of correlations for natural separation efficiency and pump head degradation; and a comparison between the predicted and measured performance.
