Published April 2026, Pg. 46-53

Section: Oil and gas preparing and transportation

UOT: 622.276.53.05-886

DOI: 10.37474/0365-8554/2026-04-46-53

Oil and annular gas gathering and transportation in wells operated by sucker rod pumping systems

Sh.P. Kazimov PhD in Tech. Sc. - Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University

S.B. Bayramov PhD in Tech. Sc. - Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University

N.M. Amirli - Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University

Sucker rod pumping systems are widely used in the production of oil wells with depleted reservoir pressure. During operation, associated gas is produced together with oil. As reservoir pressure declines, a significant portion of the gas accumulates in the tubing–casing annulus. The increase in annular gas pressure leads to a rise in bottomhole pressure and causes the dynamic fluid level to approach the pump intake.
As a result, even when a gas–sand separator is installed below the pump intake valve, free gas bubbles may enter the pump cylinder together with the liquid. During the upward stroke of the plunger, the free gas expands, reducing the volume of liquid entering the cylinder and decreasing the pump fill factor. Furthermore, the formation of a gap between the plunger and the liquid in the plunger undertravel space causes the expanded gas to compress during the downward stroke, resulting in impact loading on the plunger. Experimental studies indicate that the presence of free gas in the pump cylinder can reduce the efficiency of sucker rod pumps by 40–60 %, shorten pump service life, and decrease overall system efficiency.
This article analyzes the processes of accumulation, measurement, and transportation of oil–water emulsion and annular gas in wells operated by sucker rod pumps. The results demonstrate that effective annular gas management and properly designed gathering, measurement, control, and transportation systems enhance production stability and reduce gas-related losses.

References:

1. Allison A.P. Solving gas interference issues with sucker rod pumps in the Permian Basin. In *SPE Artificial Lift Conference and Exhibition–Americas* (SPE-190936-MS). Society of Petroleum Engineers. 2018. 

2. American Petroleum Institute. API Specification 11B: Specification for sucker rods, polished rods and liners, couplings, sinker bars, polished rod clamps, stuffing boxes, and pumping tees, (27th ed.), 2010.

3. Artyukhov A.V., Isaev A.A., Drozdov A.N., Gorbyleva Y.A., Nurgalieva K.S. The rod string loads variation during short-term annular gas extraction // Energies, 2022, v. 15(14), p. 5045.

4. Fakher S., Khlaifat A., Hossain M.E., Nameer H. A comprehensive review of sucker rod pumps’ components, diagnostics, mathematical models, and common failures and mitigations // Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology, 2021, № 11, pp. 3815-3839.

5. Hasanov F.Q., Bayramov S.B., Abdullayev E.E., Damirova J.R. Sucker-rod pumping unit with hydraulic transmission mechanism in the rod string // SOCAR Proceedings, Special Issue, 2024, No. 1, pp. 9-16.

6. Koleova S.B. Snidzheniye vliyaniya svobodnovo gaza na rabotu nasosnovo oborudovaniya // Neft′. Gaz. Novatsii, 2018, t. 6(66).

7. Urazakov K.R., Belozerov V.V., Latypov B.M. Issledovaniye dinamiki nakopleniya gaza v zatrubnom pronstranstve dobyvayushikh skvadzhin // Zapiski Qornoqo instituta, 2021, t. 250, s. 606-614.

8. Urazakov K.R., Latypov B.M., Belozerov V.V. Temperaturnyy redzhim ust′yevoqo kompressora dlya otkachki qaza iz zatrubnoqo pronstranstva neftyanoy skvadzhini. Izvestiya Tomskoqo politekhnicheskoqo universiteta // Indzhiniring georesursov, 2022, t. 333(1), s. 190-199.

9. Hu C., Yu H., Han G., Liu M. Leakage of a multistage self-compensating soft plunger pump under different methods //
Journal of Engineering Science and Technology Review, 2022, v. 15(1), pp. 93-99.

10. Xu J., Li W., Meng S. Kinematic and dynamic simulation analysis of modified conventional beam pumping unit //
Energies, 2022, v. 15(15), p. 5496. 

11. Jeff Saponja, Rob Hari, Sean David, Justen Brignac, Dayley Jaszan, Oilify Corbin Coyes, Brandon VanHuss. Enhancing downhole gas and solids separation and lowering operational risk by taking advantage of multi-phase flow reversals. Southwestern Petroleum Short Course. 2021.

12. McCoy J.N., Lea J.F., Boland M.R. Evaluation and performance of packer-type gas separators with sucker rod pumps. In *SPE Artificial Lift Conference and Exhibition–North America* (SPE-164510-MS) // Society of Petroleum Engineers. 2013.

13. He X., Pang Z., Ren L., Zhao L., Lu X., Wang Y., Liu P. A critical review on analysis of sand producing and sand-control technologies for oil well in oilfields. Frontiers in Energy Research, 2024, № 12, p. 1399033. 

14. Suleimanov B.A., Abbasov H.F., Ismailov Sh.Z. A comprehensive review on sand control in oil and gas wells part II: Chemical treatment and sand management // SOCAR Proceedings, 2024, № 4, pp. 27-41. 

15. Javida Damirova, Nigar Algazakhli, Musa Jafarov. Improving rod pump unit’s quality indicators for the required parameters, PAHTEI proceedings of Azerbaijan high technical educational institutions // Refereed & reviewed Journal, 2024, v. 40 (05), pp. 573-581.