Subsea Splitter Pump System for High Gas Volume Fraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Subsea oilfield operations face challenges with multiphase pumps becoming inefficient as gas volume fraction (GVF) increases, leading to reduced differential pressure and ineffective pumping assistance, prompting the need for costly gas lift solutions that may be prematurely implemented due to uncertainty in GVF fluctuations.
Innovation Solution
A subsea pump system incorporating a splitter assembly that recirculates liquid fractions back to the pump, reducing GVF and maintaining continuous pumping aid by separating gas and liquid phases through a multi-tiered flow path and Weir effect, ensuring sufficient priming liquid supply and avoiding gas lock.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional multiphase pumps are used to assist production, then pumping assistance is provided when liquid fraction is sufficient, but pumping efficiency deteriorates when gas volume fraction exceeds 30-60%
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the multiphase flow into liquid and gas phases using a splitter assembly with separate outlets. The liquid phase is recirculated to the pump inlet while the gas phase is diverted separately, allowing the pump to receive primarily liquid flow even when the well produces high GVF fluids.
Solution Approach 2:
The splitter assembly performs preliminary separation of gas and liquid phases before the fluid reaches the pump. By预先 separating the phases and recirculating liquid beforehand, the system ensures the pump always receives sufficient liquid fraction to maintain reliable operation regardless of well GVF conditions.
2Productivity
If gas lift is implemented to assist production when GVF is high, then production assistance is restored, but system complexity and operational burden increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The pump system performs multiple functions: it acts as both the production pump and the gas lift mechanism. By recirculating liquid to the wellhead and using the pump's own discharge to provide backpressure, the system eliminates the need for separate gas lift equipment, achieving multi-functionality with a single device.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own resources to maintain operation. The pump recirculates its own liquid fraction back to the inlet, and uses its discharge pressure to control the splitter operation, making the system self-regulating and eliminating dependency on external gas lift infrastructure.
3Duration of action of moving object
If gas lift hardware is made available in advance, then production assistance can be activated quickly, but capital expenditure and operational burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pump system performs multiple functions: it acts as both the production pump and the gas lift mechanism. By recirculating liquid to the wellhead and using the pump's own discharge to provide backpressure, the system eliminates the need for separate gas lift equipment, achieving multi-functionality with a single device.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own resources to maintain operation. The pump recirculates its own liquid fraction back to the inlet, and uses its discharge pressure to control the splitter operation, making the system self-regulating and eliminating dependency on external gas lift infrastructure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables continuous production assistance even with high GVF fluids, delaying the need for costly gas lift equipment and techniques, maintaining effective pump function and reducing operational burdens by keeping GVF below 60% and preventing gas lock.
Implementation Method 1
a multi-tiered flow path that allows for liquid production fluid to return to the pump
Implementation Method 2
separating gas and liquid phases through a multi-tiered flow path and Weir effect
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
A system for recirculating a portion of a liquid fraction of multiphase production fluid to a pump for enhance functionality thereof. The system includes a splitter assembly that obtains the multiphase production fluid from the pump. The splitter assembly utilizes multiple internal chambers to separate gas and liquid fractions of the fluid. A portion of the liquid fraction may then be recirculated back to the pump as indicated whereas the remainder of the liquid fraction may be recombined with the gas fraction for production.