Variable-speed controller provides flexibility to electrical submersible pumps

Journal Article · Mon Jun 09 00:00:00 EDT 1986 · Oil Gas J.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5545244

Butlin, D

The performance of an electric submersible pump (ESP) is dramatically modified by a variable speed controller (VSC). Variable frequency power directly controls pump speed and thus the hydraulic performance of the pump. Even though the ESP is the primary form of artificial lift for high volume, deep oil wells (particularly where gas is unavailable), the biggest disadvantage has been the pump's inflexibility when run at a constant speed, i.e., the unit is limited to a fixed head output at each rate. The VSC has rapidly gained acceptance as a valuable ESP accessory to alleviate this restriction. By allowing the pump speed to be varied, the rate and head, or both, can be adjusted with no modification of the downhole unit. There are now over 700 VSCs running with ESPs on every continent of the world. Pumping flexibility was the main purpose of applying the VSC to the ESP, but several other benefits have become apparent. Of particular interest are those that can extend downhole equipment life, e.g., soft start, automatically controlled speed, line-transient suppression, and elimination of surface chokes.

• Research Organization: Centrilift-Hughes, Claremore, OK
• OSTI ID: 5545244
• Journal Information: Oil Gas J.; (United States), Vol. 84:23
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
OIL WELLS
PUMPS
PERFORMANCE
SPEED REGULATORS
ARTIFICIAL LIFTS
DEPTH
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
HYDRAULICS
PUMPING
SERVICE LIFE
TRANSIENTS
VALVES
VELOCITY
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
DIMENSIONS
EQUIPMENT
FLOW REGULATORS
FLUID MECHANICS
MECHANICS
WELLS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production