PCP (Progressive Cavity Pump)

• A Progressive cavity pump is a type of positive displacement pump

and is also known as a progressing cavity pump, eccentric screw
pump or cavity pump.
 • They are increasingly used for artificial lift, and have been adapted
to a range of challenging lift situations (e.g., heavy oil, high sand
production, gassy wells, directional or horizontal wells). This page
provides an introduction to PCP systems.

• The two key features that differentiate PCP systems from other
forms of artificial lift are the downhole PC pumps and the
associated surface drive systems.

• Although other major components, such as the production tubing

and sucker rod strings, are found in other downhole lift systems,
the design and operational requirements typically differ for PCP
applications.

PC Pumping Systems typically consist of the

following components:
➢ Surface Equipment
Drive head assembly
VFD (Variable Frequency Drive)
Down hole gauge Panel (Geophysical
Research Company)
BOP (Blow Out Preventer)
➢ Down hole equipment
Stator (Stationary with tubing)
Rotor (Internal & Rotary with drive rods)
PCP System Configuration
Surface Equipment Down Hole Equipment

General Features
Applications:

➢ Sand-laden heavy crude oil and bitumen

➢ High-water cuts
➢ Various oil gravities with limits on H2S, CO2 and
aromatics
➢ Dewatering gas wells, such as coal bed methane projects
➢ All well types including horizontal, slant, directional and
vertical
Advantages:

➢ Pump high volumes (800+ m3/day)

➢ Lift capacities of up to 2000 meters
➢ Pump a range of Oil Gravity’s from 5 to 35 API.
➢ Pump 100 % H2O
➢ Pump high density & viscosity fluids.
➢ Pump high concentrations of slurries.

Disadvantages:

➢ Short operating life (2-5 years)

➢ Elastomers in stator swell in some well fluids.
➢ Lose efficiency with depth.

PCP Comparison with ESP:

Electrical Submersible Pumping:

➢ Very complex system. MTBF (mean time between failures) average
around 2 ½ year worldwide.
➢ Can be applicable to a wide range of flowrates from 100 bpd up to
100,000 bpd but efficiency.
➢ reduces with a decrease in flowrate.
➢ Investment cost directly related to the depth due to cable cost and
motor horsepower.
➢ Casing size is not critical for high flowrates.
➢ Requires work-over to remove a conventional unit although cable
and coil deployed options are available.
➢ Electrical systems is the weak link and requires a stable source of
electricity.
 ➢ Electrical system (cable, motor and protector) very sensitive to
operating temperature.
➢ Can be flexible with the use of a Variable Speed Drive (VSD). Very
delicate installation and a high rate of “infant mortality”.
➢ May have problems with scale, sand and wax.

Progressive Cavity Pump:

➢ Is a positive displacement pump that does not rely on valves to
pump fluids.
➢ Usually has a stator made of an elastomer. Stator
material is sensitive to oil.
➢ composition (aromatics) and temperature.
➢ Has higher tolerance to free gas than beam pumping, but excess gas
can also cause.
➢ lack of lubrication and cooling as well as chemical problems with
the elastomer.
➢ May have problems with deviated and crooked wells.
➢ Applicable for low to medium flowrates.