TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF HYDRAULIC PUMPS IN DELIQUIFYING GAS WELLS

This paper presents the concepts of deliquifying gas wells using one of the methods
to unload liquid gas wells: hydraulic pumping. Liquid loading is the inability of
produced gas to remove liquids produced together from the wellbore. This is a wellknown
phenomenon in mature gas wells. As production depletes, the reservoir loses
energy and therefore allowing liquids to accumulate at bottomhole. The backpressure
created from liquid loading can reduce gas production and with time, might even kill
the well. Deliquification or liquid unloading - the process of removing associated
liquids from the produced gas is severely critical for mature gas wells.
The author subsequently explores the theory and working principles of hydraulic
piston pumps and hydraulic jet pumps. Both types of pumps have different
specifications that can be suited for different cases. In order to further contrast the
specifications, the author will compare hydraulic pumping with gas-lift system, one
of the pioneer methods used in the industry. As to validate the system feasibility, the
author generated a mechanism for technical and economic analysis, to provide
system requirement from production projection to users. System requirement is
crucial as to assess viability of system to be installed and operated. The economics
involved in the process will be analysed through computer coding generated.
Economic analysis is vital in the selection of deliquification method; operational
benefits must be in balance with the economic value so that the costing is
economically viable. Expansive research and studies have been made on the theories
of the pumps.
This progress report carries the objectives to update the advancement of project since
Progress report in FYP II. Since that, the author refined and improvised the
mechanism through Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet. The author has developed a set of
computer coding to ease technical and economic analysis when determining system
compatibility. Sensitivity studies were conducted to analyse the parameters’
relationships.