Reduced Emissions and Increased Production Through gas Compressors: Pilot Case in Colombia

In this work we show how using beam gas compressor technology, typically installed on a centrally located pumping unit, on six unprofitable wells, reduces greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere and increases oil production in the selected pilot area for this technology application.

As the wells produce and the natural strength of the reservoir drive mechanism decreases over time, the bottom hole pressure is reduced to the point where the wells are produced by artificial lift methods, being the mechanical pumping with sucker rods the most and frequent system used. These systems present several problems with time due to the backpressure in the casing restricts the oil and gas production. Additionally, in most wells with oil and gas production, gas is vented to the atmosphere to be burned, representing environmental problems and high operating risks.

After installing beam gas compressors on each well, its oil production rose on average by 35% and it was allowed to emit into the atmosphere, for a period of one year, 33 000 tons of CO₂ equivalent. The Colombian state oil company, and its production engineers where the technology was implemented, are very satisfied because they have succeed to relieve restricting backpressure, capture and compress vented gas or avoid gas flaring and convert marginal wells in profitable ones, so the involved time and their costs were permanently removed. Beam gas compressors technology makes the six wells were profitable again and leverage field production with very few maintenance problems. This technology can be applied in other fields to wells with similar characteristics.