Abstract: A two-phase liquid-gas flow system for testing electrical submersible pumps (ESP) includes an oil pump, a water pump, an oil storage tank, a water storage tank, a pressurized air system, an air pressure regulator (PR), and a transparent test section with the ESP. The pressurized air system includes air storage tanks, compressors, and air flow meters (AFM). The oil pump and the water pump supply oil and water from the oil storage tank and the water storage tank through an oil flow meter and a water flow meter, respectively, to the transparent test section. The air storage tanks are in fluid communication with the PR by valves, which channel air through the PR and the AFMs to the transparent test section. A camera is provided to capture photos and videos of flow patterns of the working fluid in the transparent test section.

Abstract: The operational performance of pumps can be improved when pumping liquids with at least 10 vol. % gas volume fraction (GVF) as found in many oil fields, wherein wells produce mixtures of gas and oil in varying proportions. An increase in the GVF that would have led to slugging in the flow, degrading the performance of pump in multiphase flow loop, and would have necessitated a check valve at each fluid stream to avoid flow reversal, can be overcome by a multiphase flow loop including a solenoid valve on the gas stream, which maintains the same intake gas pressure as that of oil/liquid pressure during the experiments. By testing pumps at more accurate GVFs, pump performance can be better assessed, resulting in reduced power consumption and increased efficiency.

Abstract: The operational performance of pumps can be improved when pumping liquids with at least 10 vol. % gas volume fraction (GVF) as found in many oil fields, wherein wells produce mixtures of gas and oil in varying proportions. An increase in the GVF that would have led to slugging in the flow, degrading the performance of pump in multiphase flow loop, and would have necessitated a check valve at each fluid stream to avoid flow reversal, can be overcome by a multiphase flow loop including a solenoid valve on the gas stream, which maintains the same intake gas pressure as that of oil/liquid pressure during the experiments. By testing pumps at more accurate GVFs, pump performance can be better assessed, resulting in reduced power consumption and increased efficiency.