Traditional Oil Pumps are being Replaced with Hydraulic Drives for Rod Pumps
PJSC TATNEFT is implementing installations for the hydraulic drive of sucker rod pumps (SHSN). They are an alternative to traditional pumping units. The innovation can reduce the cost of installation and operation of equipment. Neftyanye Vesti write about it.
The hydraulic drive can set the optimal movement of the plunger in the sucker rod pump. This increases the fill factor, especially at high gas content in the produced fluid. With a relatively small mass of the installation, the hydraulic drive also allows the operation of rod pumps with a stroke length of up to six meters.
This increases the time of uniform flow of the extracted oil. In addition, the hydrodynamic resistance to the flow of a viscous fluid in the formation is reduced. Thus, the oil recovery factor (ORF) increases.
“The hydraulic drive has other advantages,” explains Ruslan VAZIEV, foreman in oil, gas and condensate production at TsDNG-5. – So, the cost of electricity compared to electric centrifugal pumps (ESP) with flow rates up to 50 cubic meters per day is significantly lower. During the operation of wells of the periodic well stock, production using the hydraulic drive of the SSN allows increasing the well flow rate up to 40% and transferring them to a permanent stock.
In addition, the SHSN hydraulic drive is 5-10 times lighter than a pumping unit. Due to this, it can be installed without a special foundation, including in wetlands or flooded areas. The mast of the equipment allows mounting a hydraulic cylinder on any type of wellhead equipment without dismantling the latter.
“The hydraulic drive helps to extract oil in a more flexible and convenient way, including in difficult areas,” adds Vaziev. “It also provides infinitely variable stroke length and strokes throughout its advertised range.” Thanks to modern electronic-hydraulic systems, the hydraulic drive is not inferior in terms of reliability and quality to rocking chairs.
Earlier, the Devon news agency wrote that thanks to mini-hydraulic drives, Tatneft managed to return to operation 36 wells in 1.5 years after the failure of downhole pumping equipment (DPP). The mini-hydraulic drive allows you to start the well without carrying out underground workover (PRS). This significantly reduces the time of work and operating costs.
