Journal of
Petroleum and Gas Engineering

  • Abbreviation: J. Petroleum Gas Eng.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2677
  • DOI: 10.5897/JPGE
  • Start Year: 2010
  • Published Articles: 124

Full Length Research Paper

Hands-on model of sucker rod pumping facility for oil well production

Kennedy Folepai FOZAO*
  • Kennedy Folepai FOZAO*
  • Petroleum Research Group, University of Buea, 063 Buea, Cameroon.
  • Google Scholar
Michel LISSOUCK
  • Michel LISSOUCK
  • Energy Laboratory, University of Douala, 3353 Douala, Cameroon.
  • Google Scholar
Frederic LONTSI
  • Frederic LONTSI
  • Energy Laboratory, University of Douala, 3353 Douala, Cameroon.
  • Google Scholar
Abbas NGASA
  • Abbas NGASA
  • Petroleum Research Group, University of Buea, 063 Buea, Cameroon.
  • Google Scholar
Njoke MBANDA
  • Njoke MBANDA
  • Petroleum Research Group, University of Buea, 063 Buea, Cameroon.
  • Google Scholar


  •  Received: 28 February 2015
  •  Accepted: 29 April 2015
  •  Published: 30 April 2015

Abstract

Often students of the petroleum engineering programs at the early stage of their studies in institutions of developing countries do not have easy access to the oil and gas industry facilities. Multinational petroleum companies come in with the state-of-the-arts technology, with expatriates who work and leave without technology transfer. Laboratory equipment is very costly to developing institutions of petroleum studies in developing nation. As such, different hands-on models have been developed to simulate different processes of the oil and gas industry in the laboratory. This model captioned “Golden Horse Head” Sucker Rod Pumping model is one of such hands-on models that has been constructed and successfully tested. This model is 88 cm in length, 52 cm wide and 56.5 cm high. It was made using very basic local materials to represent the actual field components, for the purpose of better understanding of how such systems operate. The materials are very affordable and less costly. The overall cost of the model is about 75,000FRS CFA, that is, about US$150.0. This low cost of construction makes the model very affordable to developing institutions of petroleum studies. In this model, there was a reduction from the prime mover speed of 2000 rpm to the pumping speed of 38 rpm, giving a reduction ratio of 52.6:1. It has been tested with a multiphase fluid (water and oil (diesel) simulating crude oil) model, during which 75.4% oil and 97.7% of water were produced.  Its functioning accurately simulates that of a practical oil field sucker rod pumping facility.

 

Key words: Developing countries, oil well, model, low-cost, Sucker-rod, pump unit.

Abbreviation

Nomenclature: A, cross sectional area (cm2); d, pipe diameter (mm); E, efficiency; h, height of reservoir model (cm); N, pump speed, (spm); initial reservoir volume of oil (cm3); q, volumetric flow rate (m3/day); rpm, revolutions per minute; SBC, Schlumberger Business Consulting; S, saturation, length (m); SPE, Society of Petroleum Engineers; spm, strokes per minute; t , time (mn); V, volume (m3); Ø, porosity;

 

Subscripts: n, nominal; p, plunger; r, residual; t, total; v, volume; w, water;