【系列专题】页岩油气复苏：高产量背后的新技术（3）

ESP SYSTEM SMOOTHENS, SUPPRESSES SLUG FLOWS

Deep, high gas-rate horizontal wells are known to experience excessive gas interference. The large pumping capacity of the electric submersible pump (ESP) makes it the artificial lift system of choice for deep high-rate wells. In ESPs, however, gas interference frequently overheats the motor, resulting in excessive shutdowns and premature failures. HEAL Systems Horizontal Enhanced Artificial Lift, or HEAL ESP System, is a downhole flow conditioning artificial lift technology designed to smoothen and suppress slug flows and resulting in improved ESP performance. The HEAL ESP System incorporates an encapsulated shroud. A vortex separator discharges gas to the annulus and intakes liquids into the bottom of the encapsulated ESP shroud. Liquids flow past the motor section to provide cooling and then enter the intake section. ESPs can be equally challenged with maintaining critical velocity and corresponding pump efficiency. To address critical velocity, the annular area between the encapsulated ESP shroud and the casing is designed to achieve the expected gas rates without entering the critical velocity region. The HEAL ESP System manages challenges exacerbated by small hole size, allowing the benefits of slug flow suppression to be achieved in small casing sizes while achieving low pump intake pressures. This results in increased production with reduced capex and opex.

PROPPANTS HELP INCREASE WELL PRODUCTION

Hexion’s OilPlus advanced proppants are field-proven in more than 1,000 wells, with 1 billion pounds pumped in major basins throughout North America. By increasing the relative permeability of oil in the proppant pack, OilPlus proppant users can produce better wells. This includes improved IP, higher cumulative production, reduced cost per boe and higher return on investment. Recent production data studies have proven that OilPlus proppants outperform traditional resin-coated proppants. A 24% increase in production was shown in the Permian Basin. A 24% production increase was shown in the Bakken Formation. And a 28% increase in production was shown in the Eagle Ford Formation. Each case study focused on a single operator using similar fracture designs, and a comparable number of wells were used over long periods of time under similar downhole conditions. Upfront investment of about $30,000 for an 11% tail-in of OilPlus proppants was proven to be returned in less than 30 days in the Permian Basin. Based on $53/bbl oil, wells that used an 11% tail-in of OilPlus proppants generated on average $1.1 million more revenue than offset wells during a 12-month period.

DUAL-FLARE COMBUSTION SYSTEM FEATURES HIGH DESTRUCTION RATE

Kimark’s dual-flare system, featuring a 98% destruction rate efficiency, is designed for dual-stream volatile organic compound control, particularly in rich, oily shale plays where vapors must be considered. Destruction occurs at both high-pressure and low-pressure systems in one modular stack. With a 0 to 30 high-pressure inlet range, gas stream flow rates can be achieved between 70.7 Mcm/d (2.5 MMcf/d) and 141.5 Mcm/d (5 MMcf/d). The low-pressure gas stream is air-assisted with a variable speed blower and inlet ranges from 0 oz to 16 oz. The advanced datalogging capabilities of the dual flare with the onboard computer collects vital data necessary for compliance with Quad O and Oa reporting and recordkeeping. The dual flare meets the criteria set forth in NSPS 60.18 to include continuous pilot, flare tip velocity, minimum heating value, smokeless burn with built-in Modbus communications and SCADA-ready operation. It has an intuitive touchscreen interface for local control and operates in a leak-free capacity with its ability to cut off stream flow in emergency situations. The Kimark dual flare is an efficient combustion system with advanced safety features such as high liquid-level kill, constant flame detection, inlet flame arrestors and inlet gas shut-off valves.

CONTROL TREATMENT PROVEN TO REMOVE WAX PARAFFIN

Locus Bio-Energy Solutions’ microbial technology delivers fresh and dense microorganism populations to problem areas.

Operators of conventional wells across the globe battle excess paraffin wax deposition in oil and gas productions. Conventional control treatments might temporarily remove paraffin wax but must be repeated often. Traditional hot oil processes and hot water treatments might damage formations over time by pushing paraffin farther into the formation, and benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene solvents are extremely toxic. Locus Bio-Energy Solutions LLC has developed a patent-pending microbial technology that delivers fresh and dense microorganism populations to problem areas. This treatment has been successfully applied in the field and is proven to remove paraffin wax deposits in oil well tubulars as well as adjacent formation rock. In addition, microbial treatments can be used in well stimulation to remove formation damage from various unwanted precipitates near the wellbore such as paraffin, asphaltenes and resins, and any scale attached to them. Similar microbial treatments also rapidly soften tank bottoms that have lost capacity from sludge buildup.

PUMPING BY EXCEPTION CANNOT HAPPEN WITHOUT SURVEILLANCE BY EXCEPTION

Leading operators increasingly turn to technology to address the challenges associated with high well counts, geographically dispersed and remote operations, and hefty equipment maintenance and costs. As automation and other digital oilfield initiatives expand, they must be augmented by the reality that operational decisions and execution still require human intervention. The blending of massive amounts of data through technologies provides operators insight and context and drives faster, more informed decision-making. This improves production and drives revenue and profitability. P2 Energy Solutions is surrounding its production data management platform, P2 Merrick, with enhanced mobility and operational intelligence capabilities to make management by exception a reality for customers. P2 Merrick offers ? Connection of the field and back office through tablet/phone-based mobile applications; ? Real-time surveillance and monitoring of asset performance; ? The ability to alert and notify the right people at the right time with the right data; and ? Visualization and diagnostic tools to support issue identification and resolution. The platform also is designed to improve pumper-towell ratios, reduce man hours and associated costs, and reduce downtime and deferments.