REPUBLIQUE DU CAMEROUN

Paix – Travail – Patrie

REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON
Peace – work – fatherland
UNIVERSITE DE NGAOUNDERE
THE UNIVERSITY OF NGAOUNDERE
ECOLE DE GÉOLOGIE ET D’EXPLOITATION MINIÈRE
SCHOOL OF GEOLOGY AND MINING ENGINEERING

Département de Génie du Pétrole et Gaz

Department of petroleum and Gas Engineering

TPE DE MODELISATION ET SIMULATION DES

PROCEDES MINIERS, PETROLIERS ET GAZIERS

Rédigé par:

NGAMI AYUK Wilfried Ivan

Matricule : 19A086EM

Spécialité : TIEPG

Sous l’encadrement de : Dr. NZEUGA

Année académique : 2023-2024

TAF1: Give the principle of the different artificial lifting tools;
Artificial lifting is a process used in oil wells to increase pressure at the bottom of the well
to push oil to the surface. Artificial lifting refers to technologies used in hydrocarbon wells to
produce liquids at a rate greater than that which could be obtained by natural flow. This
includes not only wells that cannot flow naturally (wells not eruptive), but all wells that flow
naturally (eruptive wells), but at rates that are not considered economically important. These
systems are designed to provide the energy necessary to move fluids from the bottom of the
well to the surface at the desired speed and pressure. This energy supplements the flow
pressure available at the bottom of the well which depends on the productivity of the
reservoir. The proper selection and design of an artificial lifting system is based entirely on
the reservoir's characteristic relationship between dynamic pressure and flow rate. Artificial
lifting methods are: gas lift; Electrical submersible pump (ESP); The Sucker Rod pump;
Progressive cavity pump (PCP); Jet pump; Hydraulically submersible pump (HSP).
a. The gas lifts
Generally, the Gas lift is a closed system powered by high pressure gas. The objective of
the Gas lift is to lift the fluid from a well by injecting gas into the tubing to reduce the density
gradient of the well fluid, and therefore the weight of the hydrostatic column. Many
parameters influence the design of a Gas lift system, such as changes in head and bottom
pressure (BHP), type of fluid produced and well productivity index (PI). As these parameters
change, the gas injection pressure changes. This system requires a surface compression unit
and in-well gas lift valves (GLVs).

Figure 1: The Gas lift system

i. The advantages of the Gas lift
▪ Best artificial lifting mechanism.
▪ High GLR (Gas Liquide Ratio).
▪ High productivity indices.
▪ Crooked holes can be easily lifted with a gas lift.
▪ A central Gas lift system can be used to service many wells.

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 ▪ The gas lift installation is compatible with underground safety valves and other
surface equipment.
▪ Deflected or twisted holes can be easily lifted with a gas.
▪ The Gas lift is flexible; it can be used in a wide range of volume and depth.
▪ Applicable in offshore and onshore.
▪ Can handle large volumes of solids with minor problems.

ii. The disadvantages of the Gas lift

▪ Need additional gas if GLR low.
▪ Limited reduction in reservoir pressure.
▪ Risk of foam.
▪ Safety issues related to high pressure gases.
▪ Emulsion difficult to lift and viscous crude.

b. Jet pump
The jet pump is the only form of artificial lift that does not require any moving parts
downhole. The jet pump is an ejector-type dynamic displacement pump driven by a high-
pressure fluid stream that converges into a jet in the pump nozzle. Downstream of the nozzle,
the high-velocity, low-pressure jet is mixed with the well fluid. The flow of the mixture is
then deployed into a diffuser, and as the flow speed drops, pressure builds. They find
widespread application, generally in low to moderate wells.
i. The advantages of the jet pump
▪ No moving parts.
▪ The pump can be evacuated to the surface without pulling the tubing.
▪ Simple, only five parts in the whole pump.
▪ Inspection and replacement costs are generally low.
▪ Ease of installation and handling, no large grease fittings or lifting
requirements for installation or recovery.
▪ Depth is not a limiting factor for many installations that flow less than 12,000
ft and produce 150 to 300 BPD.
▪ Suitable for twisted or deviated wells.
▪ Pump speed and size can be easily changed to suit well conditions.
▪ Blending with a lighter oil-based fluid has advantages for very viscous and
heavy crudes.
▪ Additives can be mixed into the fluid to help control corrosive paraffin and
emulsion problems.
▪ A central station on the surface can accommodate several wells.
▪ A compact unit is also available for isolated wells.

ii. The disadvantages of the jet pump

▪ Sensitivity to solids, corrosion and erosion reducing the life of surface and
downhole equipment.
▪ Fire and safety hazards associated with handling oil at high pressure.
▪ Well testing in central systems is problematic and requires special measures.

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 ▪ Requires at least 20% immersion to achieve best lifting efficiency.
▪ High investment in surface equipment.
▪ High maintenance rating primarily for the aforementioned equipment.

c. Sucker Rod Pump

The sucker rod pump is one of the oldest and most widely used production methods
for oil wells. It is an artificial lift pumping system that uses a surface energy source to
drive a downhole pump. Use a positive displacement piston and surface drive unit that
converts the rotary motion of the motor into reciprocating vertical motion, use a string of
rods that connect the downhole positive displacement pump to the surface drive
mechanism, it consists of a surface pumping unit of the bottom hole assembly.
i. The advantages of Sucker Rod pump
▪ The most widespread technology, relatively simple and well known in the
industry
▪ Simple to use and analyse.
▪ Well suited for low and moderate flow rates (only if the pump is not too deep)
▪ Compatible with very low bottom pressure.
▪ The installation design is relatively simple and can also be carried out in the
field.
▪ Suitable for insulated wells.
▪ High system efficiency.
▪ Pumping capacity, within limits, can easily be varied to account for changes in
well inlet performance.

ii. Disadvantages of Sucker Rod Pump

▪ Pumping depth is limited, mainly by the mechanical strength of the sucker rod
material.
▪ Free gas present at pump intake drastically reduces liquid production.
▪ Potential for tubing and rod wear due to friction of metals parts, mainly in
deviated or crooked wells.
▪ Not suitable for highly deviated wells.
▪ Surface pumping unit heavy and obtrusive, requires a large surface area not
suitable for offshore.
▪ Environmental and aesthetic concerns.

d. Progressive cavity pump

Progressive cavity pumps (PCPs) are a common form of artificial lifting for low to
moderate flow wells, particularly on land and for heavy fluids (and loaded solids). PCPs are
positive displacement pumps, unlike jet pumps, PSEs and PSHs. Their operation involves the
rotation of a metallic spiral rotor inside a metallic or elastomeric spiral stator. The rotation
causes the movement of a constant volume cavity formed by the rotor and the stator.

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Figure 4: The progressive cavity pump (PCP)
i. The advantages of the progressive cavity pump
▪ Simple design.
▪ Quick pump repaired by replacing the rotor and stator as a complete unit.
▪ High volumetric efficiency, in the absence of gas.
▪ High energy efficiency: over 80%.
▪ Emulsion not formed due to low shear pumping action – ESP and HSP pumps
promote emulsion formation due to high pump speeds.
▪ Ability to pump viscous crude oil.
▪ Long life without abrasive fluid.
▪ Compact and reliable.
▪ Simple operation: ideal for remote areas.

ii. The disadvantages of the progressive cavity pump

▪ High starting torque.
▪ Short life with abrasive fluid.
▪ The presence of the elastomeric seal is the hell of the PCP Achilles pump.

e. Hydraulic submersible pump

Hydraulic pumps use high pressure fluid pumped from the surface that:
• Drives a volumetric bottom pump
•Powers a centrifugal or turbine pump.
• Reduces pressure by passing through a venturi or nozzle where pressure energy is
converted to velocity. This high speed/low pressure flow of the power fluid merges with
the production flow in the pump throat.

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 Figure 5: the HSP submersible hydraulic pump

f. Electrical submersible pump

Electric submersible pump called ESP, it is a multi-stage centrifugal pump, it is an
efficient and reliable artificial lifting method for lifting moderate to high volume of well fluid.

TAF2: Principles of different types of pumps

Pumps are mechanical devices used to transport liquids from point A to point B. They
allow in particular to take a liquid at pressure P1 and bring it to a pressure P2 (with P2>P1).
Faced with the great diversity of possible situations, there are a large number of machines that
can be classified into two large groups: centrifugal pumps and positive displacement pumps.
a. Centrifugal pumps
Here the movement of the liquid results from the increase in Energy communicated to it
by centrifugal force.
The basic principle of centrifugal pumps is based on rotating the fluid to be pumped by
circulating it in an impeller rotating at a more or less high speed (w, in rpm -1 ).
The fluid is admitted to the centre of the impeller with a pressure called suction pressure. As
it rotates and moves toward the periphery of the wheel, its speed and kinetic energy increase.
The resulting dynamic pressure therefore also increases by a term of the type rv 2 /2.

At the periphery of the wheel, the fluid is channelled towards the discharge pipe via a volute,
and its slowdown transforms part of the acquired dynamic pressure (Pd=rv 2/2 ) into static
pressure (Ps, in pascal).

Some pumps also have a diffuser, the purpose of which is to direct the fluid streams towards
the volute while minimizing pressure losses.

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To be characteristic of the pump and independent of the pumped fluid, the dynamic pressure
gain provided by the centrifugal pump (Pd=rv 2 /2) is generally expressed in fluid height (ml
per meter of liquid column) and named HMT for Total Manometric Head. Its expression is
a function of the term v 2 /2g.
By considering roughly that the speed of the fluid leaving the wheel is equal to the peripheral
speed of the wheel, the HMT can then be roughly estimated by the term (2 p R w) 2 /2g.
(https://www.azprocede.fr/cours_GC, s.d.)

b. Volumetric pumps
The basic principle of a hydraulic pump is to circulate a fluid to allow its delivery. It
involves pumping a constant volume of liquid to evacuate or distribute it.
The particularity of the volumetric pump is to be composed of moving elements placed
in a fixed part. When the engine is started, these parts move creating a partial vacuum.
Under atmospheric pressure, the liquid contained in the tank is pushed into this space
where it becomes trapped. The movement of the parts will then reduce this space and put
the liquid under pressure. Driven by the rotation speed, the fluid is pushed to the pump
outlet.

The operating principle of a positive displacement pump is therefore based on variations

in volume allowing the movement of a liquid. In other words, in a given time, the pump
will collect a quantity of liquid. This is sucked into the mechanism then transferred
thanks to the discharge pressure. This is why we also find, in patent databases, the name
“positive displacement pump”.
You should know that the flow rate of a positive displacement pump depends on its
rotation speed as well as the number of cycles and the size (volume) of the chambers.
(https://www.pompes-japy.fr/, s.d.)

TAF3: Identify all the different types of geological formations

that contain hydrocarbons and characterize them
Hydrocarbons are generally found in geological formations known as reservoir
rocks. Here are some of the geological formations most commonly associated with the
presence of hydrocarbons:

Sedimentary rocks:

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Hydrocarbons are primarily found in sedimentary rocks, which form from the compression
and accumulation of sediment over millions of years. The most productive sedimentary
formations include sandstones, limestones, mudstones and shales.

a. Porous sandstone:

The mineral particles that accumulate in this rock throughout the process of its
formation are called clasts. For this sedimentary rock to form, these minerals are
compacted and accumulated under the influence of air or water pressure. Once they have
made contact, they become more and more compact under the effect of the pressure
exerted by the deposits on these minerals.

Certain materials such as silica, calcium, carbonate or clay are involved in the cementation of
this rock. We can find empty spaces when we take a sandstone into which the cement does
not enter. These spaces give the sandstone a porous appearance. The pores allow water and
other liquids to flow through.

This rock has a colour that differs from the material that acted as cement... We can find
sandstones of red colour, reddish brown, etc. They are the ones that accumulate iron oxides in
their formation. On the other hand, we can find white, yellow or grey sandstones which have
been compacted by silica or carbonate.

As one of the most common and abundant rocks on earth, it's only fitting that we know this. It
represents 20% of all sedimentary rocks that exist on the planet. (Portillo)

b. Dolomite limestones:

Dolomitic limestone is a type of carbonate evaporitic sedimentary rock that includes up to

50% dolomite. Dolomite is a double carbonate of calcium and magnesium with the formula
(Ca,Mg) (CO3)2 (Spiegato). Certain limestones rich in dolomite can also be hydrocarbon
reservoirs.

c. Oil shale:

Oil shale is rich in organic sedimentary rocks containing kerogen. When subjected to
intense heat, these shales produce oil. Oil shales range from brown to black. They are
flammable and burn with a sooty flame. Some oil shales are true shales in which clay minerals
are predominant. Others are actually limestones and dolomites. Much of the original organic

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matter in oil shales is unrecognizable, but is believed to come from plankton, algae and
microorganisms that live in the fresh sediments. (https://fr.geologyscience.com/, s.d.)

d. Mudstones:

Mudstone is a type of sedimentary rock that is characterized by its fine-grained nature and
is composed primarily of silt- and clay-sized particles. Here are some key characteristics of
mudstones:
▪ Fine grain texture:
Mudstone has a fine-grained texture, with particles smaller than 0.0625 mm (classified as clay
and silt). The fineness of the particles contributes to a smooth and often dense appearance.
▪ Lack of fissility:
Unlike shale, another fine-grained sedimentary rock, mudstone generally lacks fissility.
Fissility refers to the ability of a rock to split into thin layers along close-up planes. Mudstone
tends to break into irregular fragments or blocks rather than thin, flat layers.
▪ Smooth surface:
The surface of mudstone is often smooth and the rock may have a slightly shiny appearance
due to the presence of clay minerals.
▪ Colour Variability:
Mudstone can feature a range of colours including grey, brown, red, green and black. Colour
is influenced by mineral composition, the presence of organic matter and diagenetic
processes.
▪ Compacted structure:
Mudstone forms by the compaction and cementation of fine-grained sediments. The particles
are packed tightly together, and over time, pressure and mineral cementation transform the
loose sediment into solid rock.
▪ Preservation of sedimentary structures:
Mudstone is known for preserving sedimentary structures and features, such as ripple marks,
mud cracks, and bedding. These structures provide valuable information about the
environment and depositional processes.
▪ Source of microfossils:
Mudstone is often rich in microfossils and other microscopic remains of organisms. The fine-
grained matrix preserves these delicate structures, making mudstone a valuable resource for
palaeontologists studying ancient life forms.
▪ Water absorption:
Mud stone tends to absorb water and its physical properties can be influenced by changes in
moisture content. This can have geotechnical implications, particularly in construction and
engineering.
▪ Commonly associated with shales:

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Mudstone is closely related to shale, another fine-grained sedimentary rock. The distinction
between the two is the lack of fissility of mudstone compared to the pronounced layering of
shale.
▪ Environmental indicators:
Mudstone layers often provide clues to past environmental conditions, including sea level
variations, climate changes, and the nature of the depositional basin.
(https://fr.geologyscience.com/, s.d.)

TAF4: The different parameters of choosing a pump

a. Type of fluid: to avoid corrosion phenomena and therefore premature wear of your
pump, it is essential to know the chemical composition of the fluid to be pumped, its
viscosity and the possible presence of solid components. A thorough knowledge of all
the physical properties of the fluid being processed will allow you to choose the ideal
technology for your application and construction materials compatible with the
pumped fluid;
b. Desired flow rate: generally expressed in m3/h (cubic meters per hour), l/s (liters per
second) or GPM (gallons per minute), the flow rate necessarily influences the size and
dimensions of your pump;
c. Pressure;
d. Temperature;
e. Suction height (height between the inlet of the suction pipe and the pump): generally
speaking, the suction height should not exceed 10 meters. Beyond that it is necessary
to consider the use of a submerged pump;
f. Discharge height (height between the pump and the outlet of the discharge pipe);
g. Load losses: linked to obstacles on the pumping circuit (valves, elbows, etc.).
(https://www.directindustry.fr/, s.d.)

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BIBIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES
(nd). Retrieved from https://fr.geologyscience.com/.
(nd). Retrieved from https://www.directindustry.fr/.
(nd). Retrieved from https://www.pompes-japy.fr/.
(nd). Retrieved from https://www.azprocede.fr/cours_GC.
(2023). In ST LANTRY Asmaa Leila, The choice and design of artificial lift (ESP) systems for
CPF (BRN) distant wells with the sizing of their collector (pp. 4-11).
Portillo, A. (n.d.). Retrieved from https:/www.meteorologiaenred.com/fr/auteur/portillo-
allemand.
Spiegato. (nd). Retrieved from https:/Spiegato.com/fr/what-is-limestone-dolomite.

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