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Established in late 2000, the
Stripper Well Consortium (SWC) now has three plus years of
project work under its belt. In its first year funding
projects (2001), the SWC funded 13 projects, followed by 13
projects in 2002, 13 projects in 2003, and another 10 in 2004.
Technologies developed in some projects are winding their way
to being commercialized, several of which are featured in the
following article.
The goal of the SWC is to further development of technologies
targeted to U.S. natural gas and oil stripper wells. Annually,
the SWC reviews development proposals, making awards to those
its industry-led Executive Council feels are most promising.
The Pennsylvania State University manages the SWC (www.energy.psu.edu/swc/index.html).
DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory provides primary
funding, with additional support from the New York State
Energy Research and Development Authority. The proposal
submittal and review process occurs early each calendar year
and is now open to all organizations. Cost share contributions
are required from those making proposals. Additional
information on the proposal process can be found on the SWC
website listed above.
 Gas-Operated
Automatic Lift (GOAL) PetroPump—Brandywine Energy &
Development Co. has developed a gas-operated automatic lift
plunger lift tool to remove fluids from stripper wells. The
system is unique in that it operates automatically using an
on-tool pressure-activated valve preset to retrieve and
deliver a fixed volume of fluid each run and then to
automatically return to the wellbore for additional fluid when
required. The tool has low maintenance and service
requirements, which is generally limited to changing the cup
seals after several months of operation. It is inexpensive to
operate as it requires no external energy source and limited
manpower. The tool operates in both 3" and 4" casing. For more
information and pricing contact Paul Yaniga at 610-388-3824 or
e-mail at
YanigaPM@aol.com.
Vortex Flow Tools—Vortex
Flow, LLC has developed a revolutionary flow development
chamber that takes a disorganized single or multiphase flow
and transforms it to an organized helical flow. The vortex
flow regime accelerates the velocity of water and reduces the
friction that causes pressure drops as fluids flow through a
pipe. The result is far greater efficiency when moving fluids.
Seven different tools have now been developed. Test results
have shown that the Vortex surface tools eliminate water
build-up in low spots in flow and gas gathering lines,
reducing upstream pressures. Over 200 Vortex surface tools
have been installed in gas gathering and production flow lines
across the US. The Vortex downhole DX tool is designed for
installation at the bottom of the tubing and reduces the
pressure drop up the tubing string, thereby reducing the gas
flow needed to lift liquids up the wellbore. The Vortex
Downhole DXR tool can be deployed via slickline through the
tubing string and set downhole in a collar stop. For more
information contact Brad Fehn at 720- 227-0350 or e-mail at
bfehn@vortexflowllc.com.
Hydraulic Diaphragm
Electric Submersible Pump—Pumping Solutions, Inc.
(now part of Smith Lift, LLC) has developed a new type of pump
based on a hydraulic-driven diaphragm, which has proven to be
tolerant of fines and has allowed placement of the pump inlet
below the perforations in sandy wells. Its performance
advantages include the following: pumps coal fines and solids
at higher concentrations than traditional systems, pumps
gas/liquid mixtures, pumps dry/off with no damage (within
motor limits), pumps any viscosity (high or low), has constant
output with depth, is efficient at low volumes, and is highly
efficient with reduced electric costs. This pump is now being
offered commercially by Smith Lift. For more information
contact Paul Treaster at 505-239-4655 or e-mail at
ptreaster@smith.com. |
State-of-the-Art
Summary