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Title: Economic considerations for sizing tubing and power cable for electric submersible pumps

Journal Article · · SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Product. Eng.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/15423-PA· OSTI ID:6901996

Power consumption of an electric submersible pump (ESP) installation may be categorized into three components: the energy required to perform useful work, which is equivalent to the net hydraulic load divided by the product of pump and motor efficiencies; the energy absorbed by tubing friction, which is equal to the dissipated hydraulic energy divided by the efficiency product; and power-cable electrical losses. An improved design technique is presented that brings the first two categories into economic perspective. The interrelated effects of tubing friction, power-cable resistance, and motor voltage on ESP power consumption are demonstrated, as is the degree of desirability for using a motor of the highest available voltage. An equation, useful in making economic evaluations of alternatives, is developed for calculating power consumption for combinations of tubing size, power-cable size, and motor voltage. Variations of power consumption are illustrated graphically for various combinations of these three parameters. Also illustrated is the effect of the nature of a specific net hydraulic load - i.e., the product of rate, net lift, and specific gravity. Practical examples using the design techniques developed here are presented and comparisons made to designs based on common practice.

Research Organization:
Conoco Inc., Oklahoma City, OK (US)
OSTI ID:
6901996
Journal Information:
SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Product. Eng.; (United States), Vol. 3:2
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English