American Oil and Gas Reporter - February 2020 - 59

SpecialReport: Improved Oil Recovery
most frequent solutions are initially plunger
lift, followed later in well life by an ESP
or gas lift. These methods often require
venting or flaring the gas in order to
lower backpressure, but that can be problematic from both a regulatory and economic perspective.
A portable multiphase blowdown pump
unit, based on a multiphase pump, can
be connected to the wellhead to reduce
the flowing wellhead pressure, thereby
increasing tubing velocity, which becomes
critical in lifting the liquids to the surface
(Figure 4). With the help of recirculation,
the pump operates initially handling gas,
later liquids, and then back to gas as the
well starts to free flow.
All of these developments are making
multiphase pumping an attractive solution
to economically produce oil and gas in
today's economic climate. With wells
often abandoned too early with substantial
hydrocarbon resources left behind, multiphase pumping can open new avenues
for better capital expenditure utilization
while at the same time address the growing
environmental pressures facing the industry.
Key Contributor
The benefits of multiphase pumping
are numerous, but the bottom line is
that the technology can improve total
recovery and help operators make better
and more economic use of their existing
assets and facilities. Multiphase pumping
can be a key contributor to better production economics while reducing or
eliminating emissions.
The advantages enabled by multiphase
pumping include:

FIGURE 4
Portable Multiphase Blowdown Unit for Liquids-Rich Gas Wells

· Reduced facility requirements. Moving the combined production from the
producing field to a central processing
facility, and comingling oil, water and
gas in a single flowline, minimizes separation, compression and pumping needs.
· Increased production and reserves
recovery rates. Production is accelerated
by lowering bottom-hole pressure, thereby
increasing total recovery and delaying
well abandonment.
· Better environmental compliance.
Eliminating flaring of associated gas
and emissions from production and well
testing gives operators assurance that
regulatory requirements will be met
consistently. Also, much less surface

footprint is required compared with conventional equipment.
· Improved flow assurance. Heavy
oils, shear-sensitive water/oil emulsions,
and waxy crudes can be pumped without
risking blockage and added agitation.
Applying multiphase pumps to liquidlogged gas wells stabilizes production
without venting or flaring.
· Eliminating slugging and surging.
Multiphase systems provide smooth pumping action without pulsations and vibrations, and they are able to handle any
flow regime without detriment to equipment to reduce the hazards of slugging
and surging in flowlines and risers. ❒

SVEN
OLSON SR.

Sven Olson Sr. is a senior consultant for Leistritz Advanced Technologies Corp. in Allendale,
N.J. His 35-year career at Leistritz includes serving as chief executive officer and president.
Olson was involved in testing and introducing multiphase pumping technology to North America,
and he actively participates in applying and promoting the technology in both the onshore and
offshore sectors of the oil and gas industry. He holds a degree in process engineering and an
M.B.A. from the University of Lund in Sweden.
FEBRUARY 2020 59

American Oil and Gas Reporter - February 2020

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