STUDY OF THE PERFORMANCE OF THE DYNAMIC LEVEL STABILIZATION SYSTEM OPERATION IN THE WELLBORE EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRICAL SUBMERSIBLE PUMP UNIT

Abstract

Link for citation: Totanov A.S., Molchanova V.A., Urazakov K.R. Study of the performance of the dynamic level stabilization system operation in the wellbore equipped with an electrical submersible pump unit. Bulletin of the Tomsk Polytechnic University. Geo Аssets Engineering, 2023, vol. 334, no. 8, рр. 210-219. In Rus. The relevance of the study is related to the widespread use of electrical submersible pump units in the production of low-viscosity oils and water-gas-oil emulsions at this stage of development of mechanized production. However, the current production conditions associated with changing reservoir parameters bring to the fore a number of technical problems that need to be solved. One of these challenges is the phenomenon in which the dynamic level of the well decreases due to changes in reservoir parameters (reservoir pressure, productivity factor, etc.). Decrease of dynamic liquid level in the well leads to complications during operation of electrical submersible pump units. As a consequence, the increased cavitation in impellers is possible due to pressure reduction on the pump intake, and also full pump supply failure is not excluded at significant reduction of the dynamic level of the borehole fluid. In this relation, a technical solution, consisting in installation of bypass device (electrical valve) above the place of suspension of electrical submersible pump plant to maintain stable dynamic liquid level in the well and avoid complications during pump operation, was suggested. To confirm the feasibility of the dynamic level stabilization system, a mathematical model was developed to evaluate the effectiveness of complication prevention with the help of the proposed technical solution during the operation of the electric centrifugal pump unit. The main aim of the research is to develop a calculation method for studying the dynamics of the dynamic level stabilization system. Objects: an electrical submersible pump unit in conjunction with a system for stabilizing the dynamic level of the well. The influence of the diameter and length of the electrical valve on the efficiency of the dynamic level recovery was studied, taking into account hydraulic losses during the system operation. Methods. The research method is reduced to numerical solution of differential, linear and non-linear equations describing flow and pressure at electrical submersible pump unit outlet in steady-state mode, fluid flow through the electrical valve taking into account hydraulic resistances, flow of hydrodynamic processes in annular space during stabilization system operation, that is change of fluid level above the pump depending on borehole conditions and design parameters of electric valve. Results. Effect of parameters of the bypass valve – the diameter of flow section and length on dynamics of change of a liquid level above the pump, as well as the impact of liquid properties, namely its viscosity on intensity of restoration of a liquid level above the pump was studied. It was found that when the diameter of the electrical valve is increased, more intensive restoration of the liquid level above the pump is observed due to the reduction of hydraulic resistance in the valve cavity. Similarly, it was found that with increase of electrical valve length, as well as with increase of viscosity of liquid, coefficient of flow and intensity of liquid level recovery above the pump decreases respectively.