TY - THES

T1 - Research study to evaluate the usability of a novel wireline-deployed positive-displacement pump for gas well deliquification

AU - Polke, Gernot

N1 - embargoed until 05-09-2026

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - This master thesis is a collaboration of the chair of Petroleum Production and Geothermal Energy Recovery at the Montanuniversit�t Leoben and Ragsol GmbH. It describes the ability of a novel downhole pump to be used for gas well deliquification. The pump is a positive-displacement pump; there are different concepts made by different companies. The concept pointed at in this thesis is a pump prototype manufactured by Hydro Leduc in collaboration with ExxonMobil. For natural gas production purposes, it has yet only been tested in a laboratory and not in an actual well in a field. The big advantage of the novel pump is its simplicity, reliability, and the fact that it can be deployed by a wireline system instead of a workover rig. Compared with conventional pumps, this could mean a significant improvement by reducing workover time, manpower, costs, and safety issues. The first part of the thesis describes the problem of liquid loading in gas wells itself and what methods there are for deliquification. A market analysis notes state of the art artificial lift methods available and has a special emphasis on piston pumps as they have the most similarities with the novel WDPDP (Wireline-deployed positive-displacement pump) upon all lifting systems. The second part gives a deeper insight into the novel pump itself as it describes the technology and compares it in detail with other lifting systems. It also includes a brief operational cost comparison of conventional Artificial Lift Systems vs. the new technology concept. The third chapter of this thesis is a well screening concept for potential WDPDP applications in existing gas fields for tests and for long-cycle applications. KPIs and parameter ranges for those KPIs are defined to provide information on the advantages and limitations for WDPDP applications. A short introduction is given into AI (Artificial Intelligence)- applications for well candidate screening. To support decision making for potential well candidates, this chapter includes a ranking of wells in the Friedburg field (Austria), where the WDPDP technology is applicable. The 4th chapter is a concept for a pilot field test for WDPDP applications. It includes the elaboration of a workflow description for field implementation as well as suggestions for a permanent field implementation for previous field tests. The last chapter is a market analysis of available visualization tools for subsurface and surface production data controlling systems. It points out available systems on the market and compares different systems for visualization and/or analysis application.

AB - This master thesis is a collaboration of the chair of Petroleum Production and Geothermal Energy Recovery at the Montanuniversit�t Leoben and Ragsol GmbH. It describes the ability of a novel downhole pump to be used for gas well deliquification. The pump is a positive-displacement pump; there are different concepts made by different companies. The concept pointed at in this thesis is a pump prototype manufactured by Hydro Leduc in collaboration with ExxonMobil. For natural gas production purposes, it has yet only been tested in a laboratory and not in an actual well in a field. The big advantage of the novel pump is its simplicity, reliability, and the fact that it can be deployed by a wireline system instead of a workover rig. Compared with conventional pumps, this could mean a significant improvement by reducing workover time, manpower, costs, and safety issues. The first part of the thesis describes the problem of liquid loading in gas wells itself and what methods there are for deliquification. A market analysis notes state of the art artificial lift methods available and has a special emphasis on piston pumps as they have the most similarities with the novel WDPDP (Wireline-deployed positive-displacement pump) upon all lifting systems. The second part gives a deeper insight into the novel pump itself as it describes the technology and compares it in detail with other lifting systems. It also includes a brief operational cost comparison of conventional Artificial Lift Systems vs. the new technology concept. The third chapter of this thesis is a well screening concept for potential WDPDP applications in existing gas fields for tests and for long-cycle applications. KPIs and parameter ranges for those KPIs are defined to provide information on the advantages and limitations for WDPDP applications. A short introduction is given into AI (Artificial Intelligence)- applications for well candidate screening. To support decision making for potential well candidates, this chapter includes a ranking of wells in the Friedburg field (Austria), where the WDPDP technology is applicable. The 4th chapter is a concept for a pilot field test for WDPDP applications. It includes the elaboration of a workflow description for field implementation as well as suggestions for a permanent field implementation for previous field tests. The last chapter is a market analysis of available visualization tools for subsurface and surface production data controlling systems. It points out available systems on the market and compares different systems for visualization and/or analysis application.

KW - Artificial Lift System

KW - Downhole Pump

KW - Positive Displacement Pump

KW - Gas Well

KW - Liquid Loading

KW - Deliquification

KW - Well Screening

KW - Digital Oil- and Gas Field

KW - Field Test

KW - Production Data Visualization

KW - K�nstliche Pumpsysteme

KW - Tauchpumpe

KW - Druckpumpe

KW - Gassonde

KW - Verw�sserung

KW - Entw�sserung

KW - Untersuchung von Sondenkandidaten

KW - Digitales �l- und Gasfeld

KW - Feldtest

KW - Produktionsdatenvisualisierung

M3 - Master's Thesis

ER -