Design of ESP

• “Unlike positive-displacement pumps, ESP does not displace a

fixed amount of fluid but create a relatively constant amount
of pressure increase to the flow system.”

• Pressure increase: equivalent height of freshwater that the

pressure differential can support
 Design of ESP
• The following procedure can be used for selecting an
ESP:

1:
 Starting from well inflow performance relationship (IPR),
determine a desirable liquid production rate qLd .

 Then select a pump size from the manufacturer’s

specification that has a minimum delivering flow rate
qLp, that is, qLp > qLd .
2
2: From the IPR, determine the flowing bottom-
hole pressure pwf at the pump-delivering flow
rate qLp/Bo, not the qLd.

3
Guo et al., 2006.
3: Assuming zero casing pressure and neglecting gas
weight in the annulus, calculate the minimum pump
depth by

4
• 4: Select an installation depth (deeper than
the minimum depth). Calculate the pump
suction pressure.

Pump suction pressure

Pump location

Pwf

pump discharge pressure

5
5:
• Determine the required pump discharge pressure
based on wellhead pressure, tubing size, flow rate
qLp, and fluid properties.

• This can be carried out quickly using the computer

spreadsheet HagedornBrownCorrelation.xls.

Known tubing head pressure: ptf

Pump location

6
Pwf
6:
• Calculate the required pump pressure
differential:

• Calculate the required pumping head

7
7:
• From the manufacturer’s pump characteristics curve, read
head per stage  required number of stages.
• Determine the total power by multiplying the power per stage
by the number of stages.

8
Guo et al., 2006.
 Example ESP Design
• A 10,000-ft-deep well produces 32 API oil with GOR 50 scf/stb and zero
water cut through a 3-in. (2.992-in. ID) tubing in a 7-in. casing.

• The oil has a formation volume factor of 1.25 and average viscosity of 5
cp. Gas-specific gravity is 0.7.

• The surface and bottom-hole temperatures are 70F and 170F, respectively.

• The IPR of the well can be described by the Vogel model with a reservoir
pressure 4,350 psia and AOF 15,000 stb/day.

• If the well is to be put in production with an ESP to produce liquid at 8,000

stb/day against a flowing wellhead pressure of 100 psia ：

• Determine the required specifications for an ESP for this application.

Assume the minimum pump suction pressure is 200 psia.
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Solution

10
 Pump suction pressure

Pump location

Pwf

11
pump discharge pressure
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