Numerical and physical modelling of reciprocating pumps for use in gas wells

The production of natural gas from petroleum reservoirs often involves two-phase flow (gas and liquid phases). As the reservoir matures, its pressure becomes insufficient to sustain gas flow in this two-phase configuration. A new pumping concept has been patented by the Alberta Research Council in which gas and liquid phases flow separately and gas pressure is used to power a downhole device to pump the liquid phase to the surface. The merit of this pumping concept for application to gas wells in Alberta has been investigated through the construction of a mathematical model for both two-phase flow and separate phases flow gas well configurations.; The applicability of using reciprocating pumps to perform this new pumping concept has also been investigated. Results from mathematical and physical modelling of a reciprocating pump have been used to modify and improve the separate phases gas flow model. This improved model was used to determine optimum design parameters for implementation into a field application. The results of this research could now be used to design a prototype pumping device for field testing.