American Oil and Gas Reporter - June 2023 - 90

SpecialReport: Artificial Lift Technology
To improve electric submersible
pumps' longevity
and versatility, ChampionX
reports it has developed a
pump design that reduces
the pressure drop from one
stage to another. In addition
to helping with gas handling,
an especially important
benefit at low flow rates,
the lower pressure drop frequently
allows ESPs to deliver
the necessary lift with
fewer sections.
The capital savings this approach provides
can be significant, Lehner reports.
" On a four-well pad, going from one
controller for each well to one controller
and three expanders can save around 30%
on hardware alone, " he illustrates. " The
expanders are less expensive because
they only need the processing power and
inputs to take care of a single well. The
master has a stronger processor, more
robust inputs and a user-friendly display. "
The expanders can connect to the master
through serialized wires, but Lehner
says he usually recommends going wireless.
" With fewer wires to install, less
crimping, and fewer cable trays, we can
minimize the amount of work required
to get the system up and running, " he explains.
" If communication with the master
is interrupted, the expanders operate their
wells independently until communication
resumes, at which point they update the
master. There is no loss of automation or
production optimization. "
Even in its fully automated mode,
the device can prompt users to intervene
if parameters fall outside a specified
band, Lehner mentions. " As the controller
proves itself, most companies move to
automation because they can see the
benefits of better production, lower injection
gas rates, and ability to track the
reservoir performance as well as the
current fluid-level, " he remarks.
The multi-well controller works with
most major proprietary and retail SCADA
packages, Lehner assures. He says the
computing capabilities it brings to the
well site deliver value throughout the
well life cycle.
According to Lehner, the controller's
benefits can be magnified by pairing it
with downhole temperature and pressure
gauges. " Having that downhole information
lets the controller see exactly
what is happening at the various points
where gas enters the well and track the
reservoir performance as well as the
current fluid level precisely, " he explains.
" This gives it faster and more detailed
feedback on how the well is responding
to changes at the surface, as well as the
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American Oil and Gas Reporter - June 2023

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