Case study

Health Check module for injection pumps

On a field in Western Siberia, the condition of the multistage centrifugal pumps in the reservoir pressure maintenance system was assessed: the Health Check module evaluated wear, efficiency and NPSH margin of each pump stage by stage and showed in advance when repair would be needed.

Optimisation target

Location
Western Siberia
Lift method
Multistage pumps for water injection

The problem

Starting point

Multistage centrifugal pumps inject water into the reservoir and maintain its pressure, on which production at the surrounding wells depends. Over time, the wear rings between stages wear out, part of the water leaks back through the clearances, and the pump loses head and efficiency. Operating outside the range of the pump curve and insufficient suction pressure speed up wear and cause cavitation.

Standard parameters show such changes late, when the pump can no longer deliver the required header pressure or is consuming excess power. An assessment was needed that would show the pump's condition stage by stage and allow repairs to be planned in advance rather than after a failure.

Solution

Stage-by-stage pump condition assessment

The Health Check module compared the actual pump curve with the rated one and determined where the operating point lay relative to the operating range. For each stage, it assessed wear ring wear, leakage through the clearance, head and efficiency, as well as the NPSH margin at the pump suction.

From the discharge pressure trend and the rate of seal wear, the Health Check module forecast how many days remained before the pump would stop delivering the required pressure or the clearance would reach the repair limit. Engineers received a risk level and a recommendation: raise suction pressure, reallocate injection between pumps, plan an overhaul, or take the pump out for repair and switch injection to a standby unit.

The diagram illustrates how the Health Check module works on a demonstration pump model. The values on the diagram are notional and do not correspond to the project data.

Leave your contact details and we'll reach out

We will explain how the Health Check module can be applied to the injection pumps on your field and what input data it requires.

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