Solutions for High-Gas ESP Wells
ESPs can typically operate in 10% to 25% free gas at the intake. In wells with high gas/oil ratios (GOR), additional equipment is required to either reduce the amount of free gas entering the ESP or homogenize and compress the free gas so it can be produced by an ESP.
Gas handling solutions for ESP operations fall into two groups: centrifugal gas handlers for GVF to 45% at low intake pressures, and axial flow technology for GVF to 75%.
Natural gas separation occurs because of the differences in density and buoyancy between the gas and the liquid phases. A number of factors make it difficult to estimate the efficiency of natural gas separation.