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TUALP Abstract
 

Hattan M. Banjar (Master of Science in Petroleum Engineering)
Experimental Study of Liquid Viscosity Effect on Two-Phase Stage Performance of Electric Submersible Pumps
Directed by Dr. Mauricio Prado and Dr. Holden Zhang
78 pp., Chapter 5: Conclusions and Recommendations
(148 words)

Experiments with a seven-stage Electric Submersible Pump (ESP) have been carried out to study the effect of liquid viscosity on the stage two-phase performance. The experimental tests provided data about the stage pressure increment as a function of the liquid flow rate at constant rotational speed, inlet pressure, and volumetric gas flow rate. Two different mineral oils were used so that the two-phase stage performance was measured for 1 cP, 1.2 cP and 8.5 cP liquid viscosities, and for 8 different gas flow rates.

The experimental results demonstrate that the increase of liquid viscosity causes surging in the stage to initiate at lower normalized gas flow rates, reducing the gas handling capability of the stage. Increasing the liquid viscosity also causes the stage reach a zero pressure increment at a higher normalized liquid flow rate. The pressure increment deterioration caused by the gas worsens with increased liquid viscosity.

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Last updated September 04, 2012