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Australian Energy Producers Journal Australian Energy Producers Journal Society
Journal of Australian Energy Producers
RESEARCH ARTICLE (Non peer reviewed)

Recirculation to improve progressive cavity pumps (PCPs) run life

Jonathan Martin
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Steelhead Energy Services, Unit 26, 43 Lang Parade, Milton, Qld 4064, Australia. Email: jmartin@steelhead-energy.com; jon@coho-resources.com

The APPEA Journal 57(2) 639-642 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ16117
Accepted: 10 April 2017   Published: 29 May 2017

Abstract

Progressive cavity pumps (PCPs) are widely used as a method of artificial lift, commonly found in coal seam gas (CSG) wells in Queensland. One of the major challenges with PCPs is the pump torqueing up due to solids and not being able to restart, which results in lost production and the need for intervention with a flush-by unit or service rig. Up to 30% of PCPs in the Surat Basin can be down at any given time on account of this issue.

We have engineered a solution whereby fluid is produced using the existing PCP, a desander is used to remove solids and the clean fluid is reinjected down the annulus, via hollow rods or by a capillary string. This complete system has many benefits: it removes sands and solids from the wells produced water stream; and it reinjects clean water down the well bore, which serves the dual purpose of diluting the concentration of downhole solids and, via the introduction of additional clean fluid, allows the PCPs to be sped up, thus increasing the velocity to aid in lifting the solids out of the well.

This can all be done at a fraction of the cost of intervention with a flush-by unit or service rig. Lessons learned from field trials to date include: (1) how to account for loss of reinjected fluid in early field trials, which was solved by the introduction of hollow rods; (2) increasing PCP speed for 1 h per day to clear the solids, as a preventative flush; (3) verification of solids issues in CSG wells in the Surat Basin; and (4) quantification of produced solids.

Jonathan Martin is the CEO and managing director of Brisbane-based Steelhead Energy Services, which has provided a gas well desanding service since 2014. It is the only Australian service company that provides gas well desanding as its primary service. As CEO and managing director, Jon has responsibilities as a director, decision maker, leader, manager and executer. Jon also leads business development, international growth and drives the company’s corporate projects and corporate development initiatives. Jon presides over the organisations day-to-day operations. Before founding Steelhead, Jon worked in various technical and leadership roles for Armour Energy, Santos Ltd, Wrangler West Energy and Burlington Resources. Jon has excelled as a leader in the field of onshore drilling, completions and production optimisation and brings a wealth of experience to Steelhead. Jon holds a Petroleum Engineering Certified Degree from Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Calgary (Alberta, Canada), as well as various certificates within the petroleum engineering disciplines.