Hydraulic Jet Pump: A Comprehensive Guide for Efficient Well Unloading

Hydraulic jet pumps are a type of artificial lift system that use high-pressure fluid to create a low-pressure zone and lift fluids from a well. These versatile and efficient pumps are widely used in the oil and gas industry due to their simplicity, reliability, and adaptability to different well conditions. However, they also face challenges such as scaling, corrosion, erosion, and mechanical failures that can reduce their efficiency and performance. To optimize hydraulic jet pump system performance, real-time data analysis can be used to monitor, diagnose, and control the system.

Technical Specifications of Hydraulic Jet Pump Systems

The technical specifications of a hydraulic jet pump system can vary depending on the application and the design of the system. For example, a computer model of a pump-circulation system that includes a series of downhole oil jet pumps and a group ground power drive has been developed. The key technical specifications of this system include:

  • Design Space: The design space of the system is presented as a combination of 3D models of the inlet and outlet collectors with a parallel connection of jet pumps located between them.
  • Productivity Range: The productivity of the ground pumping unit varies in the range from 0.0037 m³/s to 0.01 m³/s.
  • Pressure Range: The pressure in the characteristic sections of the jet pump is from 2.26 to 2.53 MPa.
  • Computational Model: The computational model takes into account the design of wells, the configuration of the flow path of jet pumps and the state of their working surfaces, the physical properties and flow regimes of interacting flows.

Optimization of Hydraulic Jet Pump Performance

hydraulic jet pump

The distribution diagrams of velocities and pressures obtained by modeling are presented in the form of dimensionless regime parameters of jet pumps: ejection coefficient and relative pressure. The conducted studies have established the increasing nature of the dependence of the ejection coefficient of the jet pump on the performance of the ground pumping unit. With an increase in the productivity of the ground pumping unit in a given range, the value of the ejection coefficient increases from 0.12 to 0.52.

The results of computer simulation were compared with the classical method for determining the parameters of mixed coaxial flows, based on the use of the laws of conservation of energy and flow continuity. The deviation of the flow characteristics of the jet pump, obtained using the proposed computer model and the classical laws of hydrodynamics, does not exceed 6.47%.

DIY Hydraulic Jet Pump Manufacturing for Efficiency

In terms of DIY, hydraulic jet pumps can be manufactured for efficiency by properly sizing surface power units to minimize horsepower and using productivity data that should be readily available following the natural flow. For example, in a case study of a well that was converted to jet pump from various other artificial lift methods, the jet pump:

  • Increased oil production by 8 BPD with less HP
  • Eliminated prior year beam pump repairs in excess of $130,000.00
  • Achieved payout in 2.6 months including repair cost reduction

Challenges and Optimization Strategies

Hydraulic jet pumps face challenges such as scaling, corrosion, erosion, and mechanical failures that can reduce their efficiency and performance. To optimize hydraulic jet pump system performance, real-time data analysis can be used to monitor, diagnose, and control the system. This includes:

  • Monitoring key parameters such as flow rates, pressures, and temperatures
  • Diagnosing issues such as wear, scaling, or mechanical failures
  • Controlling the system to maintain optimal performance and efficiency

By addressing these challenges and implementing optimization strategies, hydraulic jet pumps can continue to be a reliable and cost-effective solution for well unloading, particularly in unconventional resource development.

References:
Real-Time Data Analysis for Hydraulic Jet Pump Systems – LinkedIn
A discussion on measurement method by using hydraulic jet pump in well testing
Investigation of the characteristics of an oil jet pump when using a group ground drive
Well surveys with jet pumps after hydraulic fracturing – IOPscience
Tally – Hydraulic Jet Pumps Manufactured for Efficiency