PAPER 2009-028

The Application of High

Temperature Elastomer
PCP in CSS Wells
S. ZHANG, F. SONG, F. WU, E. LUO
Petro-China Liaohe Oilfield Company

L. SEINCE, B. WU
PCM POMP

J.H. XIAO
ANDMIR Environmental Group Canada Inc.

This  paper  is  accepted  for  the  Proceedings  of  the  Canadian  International  Petroleum  Conference  (CIPC)  2009,  Calgary, 
Alberta,  Canada,  16‐18  June  2009.    This  paper  will  be  considered  for  publication  in  Petroleum  Society  journals. 
Publication rights are reserved. This is a pre‐print and subject to correction. 

Abstract temperature in the CSS downhole condition for the thermal

As a new artificial lift application in oil & gas industry,
progressive cavity pump (PCP) becomes more and more widely
used in the oilfields for its inherent advantages as energy
saving, lower investment and easy maintenance. Due to the
temperature limitation of stator elastomer, however, PCP has
never used before in the CSS (Cyclic Steam Stimulation)
application. To test the feasibility of the PCP in CSS condition,
we have tried the High-Temperature-Elastomer PCP (PCM198
Elastomer PCP), manufactured by PCM, in Well Shu1-39-036
after the steam injection. The result of this trial is promising,
and proves that PCM 198 PCP can tolerate the high
recovery of heavy oil. The trial has also opened a new frontier
for the PCP application in heavy oil production.
Introduction
Progressive cavity pump (PCP), as a highly potential and
advantageous technology, has been widely used in the world for
both cold and thermal oil recovery 1-5. In China, by the end of
2007, more than 5000 wells have been installed with PCP. For
PCP’s application in the thermal heavy oil application, only
PCM’s metallic PCP (PCM Vulcain™) has been used in North
& South America 6. How to enhance the elastomer’s tolerance
of high temperature so as to be used in the high temperature

1
wells has always been a hot topic. This paper is a record of our
trial project with High-Temperature-Elastomer PCP (PCM 198
Elastomer PCP), and some experiences we obtained during the
trial. The main purpose of this trial project is to test the
reliability of this kind of special PCP when being used in 2 CSS
wells.
1 PCP Principles and Advantages
1.1 PCP Principles
Progressing cavity pumps are positive displacement pumps
which consist of a helical steel rotor and a synthetic elastomer
stator that is bonded to a steel tube. Rotation of the rotor within
the fixed stator causes a series of sealed cavities to form and
move axially from the pump suction to discharge (see picture 1).
The resulting pumping action increases the pressure of fluid
passing through the pump so that it can be produced to surface.
Numerous papers 7-8, describing PC pump principles and
theory have been presented.
PCPs were initially developed for the Cold Heavy Oil
Production. Thanks to extensive researches, this technology has
significantly widened its area of applications with the
production of 8 to 43 API° crudes. Maximum pumping fluid
temperature was about 120°C. Greater temperatures remained
challenging due to the poor resistance of elastomer bonding
with the stator housing.
1.2 Advantages of PCP
Compared with traditional artificial oil lift technology, PCP
has unique advantages from its structure and working principle.
The following are some details:
1) Highly compatible with various reservoir, especially for
the heavy oil and high sand-cut reservoir.
2) As a cavity pump, the adjustment of the production of
PCP can be realized through the proportional increase or
decrease of the pump speed through VSD.
3) Energy saving and higher pump efficiency. Besides the
lower initial investment, PCP can save energy more than 30%
compared against other artificial lift methods. Moreover, the
overall pump efficiency is 10%-20% higher.
4) Unlike beam pump, there is no impulse during the
pumping process; and against ESP, there is no shearing during
the pumping, i.e. less emulsion to be caused. So the separate of
oil and water will be much easier.
5) Easy installation and maintenance. Only the sealing and
bearings of drive heads need to be maintained regularly.
6) PCP’s surface equipment is simple and compact, which is
especially suitable for the offshore application.
2 Introduction of the CSS Trial Project
Liaohe Oilfield is the biggest heavy oil production base in
CHINA. One of the main geology features of Liaohe Oilfield is
its complicated geological structure with too many oil layers.
There are total 39 oil blocks, which covers many different kinds
of oil type, such as thin oil, heavy oil and high condensation oil.
The total quantity of oil wells in Liaohe Oilfield is 21216, and
the total oil output is up to 12 million tons per year including
7.64 million heavy oil output. For heavy oil block, the reserve
recovery degree is about 18.83%, and its recoverable reserves
2
ratio is up to 82.38%. And normally CSS was using now to
reduce the viscosity of heavy oil and lift the oil from downhole,
which means a designed quantity steam is injected into the oil
formation, closing the well for 3-5 days, and then recovering the
well with beam pump.
2.1 CSS Operating Condition
The first trial was done on Well 1-39-036, in the Block of
13938. Beam pump was used before the trial. The 12th steam
injection cycle was completed in Oct 2007, with the steam
pressure of 16.5 MPa, temperature at 348℃, steam rate 15ton/hr,
steam dryness 43.3%, total steam injected 1800 ton，the fluid
production of each cycle is 376 ton，the water production of
each cycle is 3301 ton (Please refer to the attached Table 1 for
details). The 2nd trial, Well 1-39-38 was done in the same block
with similar operating condition.
2.2 CSS Well Condition for the first trial
This cycle of the steam injection stopped on 16 Mar 2008,
with the steam pressure of 16.5 MPa, Steam temperature of
349℃, steam rate15 ton/hr, steam dryness 63%, total steam
injected 1500 ton. The well was closed for 5 days after the
injection completed, the actual temperature tested at 192.1℃,
depth at 1140 m. After this steam cycle, the daily fluid yield is
expected to reach around 30 ton/day.
3 Technical Challenges for the Trial
3.1 Sustainability of PCM 198 PCP in
High-Temperature Condition
The statistic downhole temperature at perforated depth in
initial production period from 10 CSS wells in the same block
showed: the maximum initial temperature is 205℃ well Shu1-
49-201), the minimum initial temperature is 160℃ (well Shu1-
47-31) and the average initial temperature is 183℃. So the
estimated temperature of the first trial well during the initial
production period will reach as high as 180-200℃. Such high
temperature will greatly increase the elastomer swelling;
decrease its mechanical and chemical property which will
enhance the failure probability of elastomer broken. Whether
the PCM 198 elastomer can sustain such high temperature is the
main purpose of trial.
3.2 The Reliability of the Glue
Since the elastomer rubber is glued with the outside steel
stator tube, if the special glue cannot work in high temperature
condition, the failure of debonding will occur.
3.3 Wide Temperature Difference during
the Operation
In the initial period of production, the temperature will be as
high as 180 ～ 200℃, however, in the latter period, the
temperature will be only 80～120℃. The overall temperature
difference across a single steam cycle will be about 100℃. The
selection of the rotor size (rotor O.D.) is a key point to make the
difference between success and failure. The right rotor size will
avoid the over-swelling in the initial period, and in the latter
period, which can ensure sufficient fluid to be pumped out.
4 Installation and Operation Summary
4.1 Well Shu 1-39-036 Completion
Diagram
PCM 198 Elastomer 200TP1200 (200TP1200 means it can
produce 200 m3/d at 0 bar and 500 rpm, Rated for a differential
pressure of 1200 meter of water) has been selected for this trial.
PCM VH60-8T drive head together with the 30 KW motor is
used to supply the surface power. The speed will reach 250 rpm
when frequency is 50 Hz.
Tubing size is O.D.Φ89.9mm. Hollow plug-in suck rod size
is O.D. Φ36mm. The pump depth was designed as 850m. The
designed speed for the initial period of production is 100 rpm.
With temperature decreasing, the speed will be gradually
increased. The higher speed will compensate the pump
efficiency decrease caused by the lower temperature.
4.2 Well 1-39-036 data summary of
operation
20 Mar 2008, after 5 days’ closure after the steam injection,
PCM 198 PCP was installed. 22 Mar 2008 well completed and
started up successfully. Daily collection of the running data
includes fluid yield, speed, current; wellhead temperature and
dynamic level (see chart 1).
Chart 2 shows the downhole temperature distribution along
the well body. The blue line means static temperature
monitoring line, tested just before the pump installed. The red
line means dynamic temperature at the first several operating
days calculated by the temperature at perforated depth and
wellhead.
In the beginning period of production, the wellhead
temperature reached around 80℃，and were increasing further.
In order to control the pump-depth temperature, we began to
inject 60℃ water to cool down the temperature. The volume of
injected water was gradually decreasing from 10m3/d to
3m3/d ， 50 days later water injection stopped. The main
purpose of the water injection is to maintain the wellhead
temperature under 70℃. By the time of this paper was prepared,
this well has been running normally for over 10 months, and
passed the high-temperature period of this steam-injection cycle.
4.3 The second trial of Well Shu 1-39-38
with live downhole monitoring
On 28 Aug 2008, the second PCM 198 elastomer PCP was
installed in Well Shu 1-39-38. The steam injection parameters
for this well were: injection pressure 14.6MPa, injection
flowrate 15.7 ton/h, steam dryness 72%, total steam injection
1451 ton. Then close the well for 5 days to spread the high
temperature in the formation.
In order to obtain the real downhole temperature distribution
along well body, and what is the temperature decreasing
regulation, a whole set of downhole temperature optical fiber
was installed together with the PCP. The principle is raman-
3
scattering will happen when the laser is spreading through the
optical fiber, and then 2 different kinds of lights (Stokes and
Antistokes) will be reflected. The temperature distribution data
along the optical fiber can be calculated by contrasting the
strength of these 2 kinds of lights and can be show directly in
the computer (picture 2). The advantage of this method is
continuous temperature along the optical fiber can be got, so the
temperature of each depth along the pump and tubing in the
downhole can de monitered. For well Shu1-39-38, the
temperature data was gathered 1 point /m, and the precision is
less than ±1℃.
By the time of the preparation of this paper, this well has
been normally working for more than 6 months, daily fluid
yield 44.7 tons/day, daily oil yield 14.8 tons/day, water cut 67%.
With the downhole gauge, the actual pump-depth temperature
before the pump start-up is 98℃. After the start-up, and
increasing the frequency to 50 H, the actual pump-depth
temperature reached 145℃. After that, decreasing frequency to
30Hz ， the pump-depth temperature gradually decreased to
125℃.
5 Conclusions
5.1 PCM 198 PCP can sustain the high-temperature
condition in our CSS application, and it can be further tried in
CSS wells in this block.
5.2 Some high temperature resist surface and downhole
tools are required to ensure the system’s security operation ,
such as high temperature drivehead seal (up to250℃ ), high
temperature IBOP (up to250℃ ) and high temperature rod
centralizer (up to350℃ ).
5.3 PCP’s energy saving is obvious compare against
beam pump. A 30% electrical power saving has been observed.
5.4 After the replacement of PCP, whether the steam
injection cycle will be extended needs to be further observed.
5.5 The overall life span of the PCM 198 PCP needs to be
further observed.
REFERENCES:
1. Mills, R. A. R.: “Progressing Cavity Oilwell Pumps —
Past, Present and Future,” The Journal of Canadian
Petroleum Technology, April 1994, Vol. 33, No. 4, p. 5,
Schubert, E. L.: “Progressing Cavity Pumps (Screw
Pumps) and their application in Horizontal Wells,” 1994.
2. K.J. Saveth and S.T. Klein, Robbins & Myers Inc.: ”The
Progressing Cavity Pump: Principle and Capabilities”,
Paper SPE 18873 Presented at the SPE Production
Operations Symposium held in Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma, March 13-14.
3. Mills, RAR and Gaymard, R, ”New Applications for
Wellbore Progressing Cavity Pumps”, SPE 35541,
March 1996,International Petroleum Conference &
Exhibition of Mexico.
4. Delpassand, MS, “Progressing Cavity (PC) Pump
Design Optimization for Abrasive Applications”, SPE
37455, March 1997, SPE Production Operations
Symposium, Oklahoma City.
5. L.J. Dunn, C.M. Matthews and T.A. Zahacy, :”
Progressing Cavity Pumping System Applicationsin
 Heavy Oil Production”, Paper SPE 30271 was prepared
180
for praaentafiin at the 1995 International Heavy Oil
Symposium held in Calgsry, Aberta June 19-21, 1995.
6. JL, Beauquin, Felix Ndinemenu, Gilles Chalier, Lionel 150 Spee d(rpm )

Lemay, LAURENT Seince : “ World’s First Metal PCP Flow r ate(m 3/d)

Hot w ater inje ction(m 3/d)(75℃ )

SAGD Field Test Shows Promising Artificial-Lift 120 Efficie ncy(%)

Operation Parameter
Technology for Heavy-Oil Hot Production: Joslyn Field Curr ent(A)
Case”. Paper SPE 110479 Presented at the 2007 SPE Wellhead Te m p(℃ )
90
Annual Techincal Conference and Exhibition held in
Anaheim, California, U.S.A., 11-14 November 2007.
7. Saveth, K. J. and Klein, S. T.: “The Progressing Cavity 60

Pump:Principle and Capabilities,” paper SPE 18873

presented at the 1989 SPE Production Operations 30
Symposium, Oklahoma City, March 13-14.
8. Samuel, GR and Saveth, Kenneth,”Progressing Cavity
0
Pump(PCP): New Performance Equations for Optimal 1 6 11 16 21 26 31 36 41 46 51 56 61
Design”, Paper SPE 39786, March 1996,SPE Permian Operation Days

Basin Oil and Gas Recovery Conference. Chart 1 Operating Data Summary of Well 1-39-036
(first 60 days)
Appendices
250
Static Temperature Distribution
Temp (℃)
200 Dynamic Temperature Distribution

150

100

50

0
0 250 500 750 1000
depth (m)
Picture 1 the Principle of the PCP
Chart 2 Temperature Distributions along the Well Body
Table 1 Operating Condition of Well 1-39-036 Picture 2 Temperature distribution along the well
hole at one moment
Items Details
Perforation Depth / m 1131.7～1156
Oil Gravity/（g/cm3） 0.954
Viscosity /mPa·s 3500
Casing Size / mm 177.8
Aromatic Content /% 0
CO2 Content / % 0
Daily Fluid Yield /（t/d） 31
Water Cut / % 90
Pump Depth /m 900
Dynamic Fluid Level /m 460
Sand Cut /% 0