Addax Petroleum Well Improves Production 22% with SpeedStar SWD Drive, Cameroon
Published: 05/03/2017
Addax Petroleum Well Improves Production 22% with SpeedStar SWD Drive, Cameroon
Published: 05/03/2017
Replacing the conventional 260-kVA VSD with a 390-kVA SpeedStar SWD drive in mid-November reduced the vibration stress on the ESP string from 13 gn to less than 1 gn . As a result, Addax was able to increase the operating frequency from 46 to 58 Hz and improve production by 22% (from 7,356 to 9,002 bbl/d [1,170 to 1,431 m3/d]) with minimal (6%) increase in motor temperature. The change also reduced power consumption (60.9 A at 58 Hz) compared with a similar offset, Well K-11 (60.7 A at 50 Hz).
Location
Cameroon, Africa, Offshore
Details
Africa
Offshore Cameroon
Operator
Addax Petroleum
Lithology
Sandstone
Casing size
7 5/8 in [194 mm]
Casing depth
4,330-ft [1,320-m] MD
Tubing size
3½ in [89 mm]
Pump seating depth
3,020-ft [920-m] MD
Deviation
Up to 49°
Perforation depth
3,280-ft [1,000-m] MD
Background
To produce oil from wells offshore Cameroon, Addax uses ESPs with variable speed drives (VSDs) to adapt to changing downhole conditions. However, current and voltage harmonic distortion from the VSDs reduced power efficiency and created vibration in the pumps, which limited the operating frequency of the pumps and therefore limited well production, and reduced the run life of the pumps.
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