TABLE OF CONTENTS Electric submersible pumps (ESPs) are typically reserved for applications where the produced flow is primarily liquid. High volumes of gas inside an electrical pump can cause gas interference or severe damage if the ESP installation is not designed properly. Free gas dramatically reduces the head produced by an ESP and may prevent the pumped liquid from reaching the surface. In gas reservoirs that produce high volumes of liquids, ESP installations can be designed to effectively remove the liquids from the wells while allowing the gas to flow freely to the surface.
This chapter discusses the three main methods that use ESPs to de-water gas wells.
The first method develops techniques to separate the gas from the intake of the ESP so that liquid primarily enters the pump. The gas separation is accomplished by using completions or special separation devices. In this way, the liquid is produced to surface through the tubing, and the gas is allowed to flow freely up the annulus between the tubing and casing
Another method is to use special stages at the pump intake to handle the gas. The special stages build pressure from the intake to compress the gas sufficiently so that conventional stages take over and can continue building pressure. This allows the ESP to pump with a fairly reasonable volume of free gas through the pump with the early special stages
The third method is a technique where the liquid is re-injected into a formation below the packer. In this method,...
