Jet Pump Investigation
During the end of oil field life, production compressors are forced to operate with greater and greater degree of recycle to maintain production rates and avoid surge. Lowering wellhead flowing pressures can increase production rates; this report investigates the introduction of a Jet Pump between inlet separator and first compression stage, to reduce the inlet separator's operating pressure. The Jet Pump works on the principle of transferring high pressure energy to high velocities within a venture throat. During trial operation, the jet pump was successful in reducing separator pressure and increasing production rates by 100%; however commissioning initially had to be abandoned due to mechanical failure of the Jet Pump and high liquid carryover. Following further investigation which included support from the Jet Pump vendor the modification was commissioned successfully. The modifications resulted in significant increases in production with minimal capital investment. Any future such modifications need to take fuller consideration of the transient increase of production, and the minimum pressure ratio between the HP and LP separators should exceed 1:2