Evaluating the intake plugging effects on the electrical submersible pump (ESP) operating conditions using nodal analysis

Abstract The intake plugging of an electrical submersible pump (ESP) has presented a formidable challenge to conventional ESP wells. Attention to cumulative solid deposition is essential since it intensifies the intake plugging severity and impedes ESP performance. We present a new approach to evalu...

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Main Authors: Joseph Iranzi, Jihoon Wang, Youngsoo Lee, Hanam Son
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2024-02-01
Series:Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s13202-024-01754-2
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author Joseph Iranzi
Jihoon Wang
Youngsoo Lee
Hanam Son
author_facet Joseph Iranzi
Jihoon Wang
Youngsoo Lee
Hanam Son
author_sort Joseph Iranzi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The intake plugging of an electrical submersible pump (ESP) has presented a formidable challenge to conventional ESP wells. Attention to cumulative solid deposition is essential since it intensifies the intake plugging severity and impedes ESP performance. We present a new approach to evaluate the ESP performance degradation during increased intake plugging severity. In particular, we employ the intake plugging factor, rate-derating factor, and affinity law to calculate the new ESP speed at different plugging conditions. We used Schlumberger PIPESIM software to perform nodal analysis of the newly calculated ESP speed. The result was validated using the actual field data and compared to the field cases that reported the intake plugging issue. The nodal analysis showed a steady maximum ESP head with zero rate derating at the shut-in point. The intake plugging factor caused a significant reduction in the ESP operating rate and increased pump intake pressure and annulus liquid level. Based on the existing intake plugging field data, we established the quantitative standard for the normal and abnormal intake plugging factor range. The observed results agreed with the field downhole data recorded during the intake plugging problem. We identified that regulating the ESP speed to the reduced operating rate could minimize unexpected pump stoppage. It is also possible to carefully monitor the intake plugging problem by combining the annulus liquid level, the signature of pump intake pressure, and a deadhead test.
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spelling doaj.art-1fbf70d7f6554516a246688f584027922024-04-07T11:09:06ZengSpringerOpenJournal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology2190-05582190-05662024-02-011441071108310.1007/s13202-024-01754-2Evaluating the intake plugging effects on the electrical submersible pump (ESP) operating conditions using nodal analysisJoseph Iranzi0Jihoon Wang1Youngsoo Lee2Hanam Son3Department of Energy Resources Engineering, Pukyong National UniversityDepartment of Earth Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang UniversityDepartment of Mineral Resources and Energy Engineering, Chonbuk National UniversityDepartment of Energy Resources Engineering, Pukyong National UniversityAbstract The intake plugging of an electrical submersible pump (ESP) has presented a formidable challenge to conventional ESP wells. Attention to cumulative solid deposition is essential since it intensifies the intake plugging severity and impedes ESP performance. We present a new approach to evaluate the ESP performance degradation during increased intake plugging severity. In particular, we employ the intake plugging factor, rate-derating factor, and affinity law to calculate the new ESP speed at different plugging conditions. We used Schlumberger PIPESIM software to perform nodal analysis of the newly calculated ESP speed. The result was validated using the actual field data and compared to the field cases that reported the intake plugging issue. The nodal analysis showed a steady maximum ESP head with zero rate derating at the shut-in point. The intake plugging factor caused a significant reduction in the ESP operating rate and increased pump intake pressure and annulus liquid level. Based on the existing intake plugging field data, we established the quantitative standard for the normal and abnormal intake plugging factor range. The observed results agreed with the field downhole data recorded during the intake plugging problem. We identified that regulating the ESP speed to the reduced operating rate could minimize unexpected pump stoppage. It is also possible to carefully monitor the intake plugging problem by combining the annulus liquid level, the signature of pump intake pressure, and a deadhead test.https://doi.org/10.1007/s13202-024-01754-2Electrical submersible pump (ESP)Intake plugging factorNodal analysisRate-derating factor
spellingShingle Joseph Iranzi
Jihoon Wang
Youngsoo Lee
Hanam Son
Evaluating the intake plugging effects on the electrical submersible pump (ESP) operating conditions using nodal analysis
Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology
Electrical submersible pump (ESP)
Intake plugging factor
Nodal analysis
Rate-derating factor
title Evaluating the intake plugging effects on the electrical submersible pump (ESP) operating conditions using nodal analysis
title_full Evaluating the intake plugging effects on the electrical submersible pump (ESP) operating conditions using nodal analysis
title_fullStr Evaluating the intake plugging effects on the electrical submersible pump (ESP) operating conditions using nodal analysis
title_full_unstemmed Evaluating the intake plugging effects on the electrical submersible pump (ESP) operating conditions using nodal analysis
title_short Evaluating the intake plugging effects on the electrical submersible pump (ESP) operating conditions using nodal analysis
title_sort evaluating the intake plugging effects on the electrical submersible pump esp operating conditions using nodal analysis
topic Electrical submersible pump (ESP)
Intake plugging factor
Nodal analysis
Rate-derating factor
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s13202-024-01754-2
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AT jihoonwang evaluatingtheintakepluggingeffectsontheelectricalsubmersiblepumpespoperatingconditionsusingnodalanalysis
AT youngsoolee evaluatingtheintakepluggingeffectsontheelectricalsubmersiblepumpespoperatingconditionsusingnodalanalysis
AT hanamson evaluatingtheintakepluggingeffectsontheelectricalsubmersiblepumpespoperatingconditionsusingnodalanalysis