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Journal of Petroleum Technology, Vol.56, No.2, 64-67, 2004
Multiphase pump recovers more oil in a mature carbonate reservoir
A field test for a multiphase pump (MPP) was conducted in Abqaiq field, a mature carbonate reservoir in Saudi Arabia. Test results showed that large quantities of oil, water, and gas mixtures could be pumped over long distances without separating gas from the liquids. The helico-axial MPP successfully lowered backpressure, revived dead wells, and was able to transport as much as 75,000 B/D total fluid to a separation plant 10 km away. From test startup (8 June 2001) until I June 2002, the pump logged 5,160 operational hours (215 days). Economic payout was achieved rapidly, with up to 12,000 B/D of incremental oil production. The technology offers an attractive alternative to constructing expensive gas/oil separation plants in remote areas. This paper presents a summary of the field test.