Apparatus, system and method for reducing gas to liquid ratios in submersible pump applications
An apparatus, system and method for reducing gas to liquid ratios in submersible pump applications are described. A method for reducing a gas to liquid ratio (GLR) in a pumped fluid includes pumping a gas laden fluid to a surface of a subsurface formation using a downhole electric submersible pump (ESP) assembly including an ESP pump and an ESP motor, monitoring one of a load of the ESP motor, intake pressure of the ESP pump, temperature of the gas laden fluid, or a combination thereof to obtain ESP assembly condition data, determining whether a GLR of the gas laden fluid exceeds a predetermined allowable maximum based on the ESP assembly condition data, injecting liquid from an external source into the gas laden fluid, and varying a rate that the external liquid is injected based on the GLR so determined.
1. A method for reducing a gas to liquid ratio (GLR) in a pumped fluid comprising:
pumping a gas laden fluid to a surface of a subsurface formation using a downhole electric submersible pump (ESP) assembly comprising an ESP pump and an ESP motor,
monitoring one of a load of the ESP motor, intake pressure of the ESP pump, temperature of the gas laden fluid, or a combination thereof to obtain ESP assembly condition data;
determining whether a GLR of the gas laden fluid exceeds a predetermined allowable maximum based on the ESP assembly condition data;
injecting liquid from an external source into the gas laden fluid; and
varying a rate that the external liquid is injected based on the GLR so determined;
wherein the load of the ESP motor is monitored and the GLR is determined to exceed the predetermined allowable maximum when the ESP motor is under-loaded.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
de-gassing at least a portion of the gas laden fluid produced by the downhole ESP assembly to form the liquid; and
storing the liquid at the external source.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the rate is between 25 and 5,000 barrels per day.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the external source is a water tank on the surface of the formation.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the external liquid comprises water, and the external liquid is injected using a capillary line and pump.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the external liquid is water delivered to the external source by truck.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined allowable maximum is a preset GLR set point.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid is injected directly into an inlet port of an intake of the ESP pump.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid is injected proximate to a well perforation.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid is injected downstream of an intake of the ESP pump.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid is injected one of proximate the ESP motor, upstream of the ESP motor, or a combination thereof.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid is injected upstream of an intake of the ESP pump.