Successful Test of New ESP Technology for Lake of Maracaibo Gassy Oil Wells

摘要

A project was undertaken to verify new technology for handling gas using an electrical submergible pumping (ESP) system and to assess the production increase potential for wells in the Venezuelan Lake of Maracaibo. There is also a potential application for the technology in the Venezuelan field north of Monagas where gas venting through the annul us presents hazards due to the high corrosiveness level. Tests were performed in the Tia Juana Experimental Test Well facilities to determine the viable amount of gas that could be produced through the equipment on a percent by volume basis. An analysis and summarization was performed on 290 historical files recorded during the testing. The results indicate that there is now the potential to produce four to five times more gas through an ESP system with this technology than has been previously accepted in the industry. The application of this technology to the Lake of Maracaibo is expected to affect 250 wells providing additional production of 75,000 STB/D of oil and a savings of 180 MMSCF/D of gas used to gas lift these wells. Installation of the system in the first three wells in the Lake of Maracaibo has substantiated the test results. The purpose of this paper is to present the test parameters, results, application potential, and initial field results.