Published June - July 2024, Pg. 38-44

Section: Oil field equipment

UOT: 622.276.4

DOI: 10.37474/0365-8554/2024-06-07-38-44

Centrifugal pumps in oil production (problems and solutions)

A.A. Gareyev Dr. in Tech. Sc. - Ufa University of Science and Technology (Russian Federation)

The current stage of development of the oil industry is everywhere characterized by the rapid development of technology, but the technology used for selecting installations of electric centrifugal pumps, starting and regulating technological operating modes has lagged behind in its development. The lag in the theory of operating technology for centrifugal pumps when pumping multiphase mixtures under high pressure is currently a brake on the further development of the method and reduces economic efficiency.
Based on the existing knowledge of oil production technology, it is not possible to explain the observed failures of electric centrifugal pump installations due to a decrease in the electrical resistance of the cable-motor system. Moreover, quantitatively, failures due to a decrease in the electrical resistance of the cable-motor system are surprisingly constant, accounting for one third of all failures. Attempts to explain the strength of the current electric current through the electric motor lead to a paradox – if the installation fails due to “R= 0”, the strength of the current current is minimal (but not maximum).
The existing science of operation technology cannot explain the phenomenon of salt deposition in centrifugal pump apparatuses, it is impossible to explain the effect of frequency changes on the technological mode of operation, etc.
To date, there is no consensus on the issue of gas separation from oil, some believe that gas is released under the influence of devices, equipment, etc. mounted in the well.
The lack of adequate technology for operating centrifugal pumps forces scientific engineers to look for solutions to problems in the wrong direction – for example, the deposition of salts in the pump apparatus through the selection and use of chemical reagents or acids (about 10 % of all failures of centrifugal pumps), the phenomenon of reducing the electrical resistance of the cable system. submersible electric motor” – using a temperature-resistant cable line (30 % of all failures), etc.
Moreover, no one can give a clear interpretation of the use of “periodic operating mode”, for what purpose can control stations with frequency control of the performance of a centrifugal pump be used. 
Finally, the lack of a modern theory of technology does not allow automating the processes of starting up, putting it into operation, establishing a periodic mode, applying frequency regulation and automatically monitoring the technological process.