Energy efficiency of inflow pumping stations

Relevance. Pumping units of reservoir pressure maintenance systems and in-field oil pumping consume about a third of all electricity consumed by oil and gas producing enterprises. Improving the energy efficiency of pumping units is an important and urgent task in the development plans of oil and gas producing enterprises and ultimately contributes to achieving sustainable development goals and reducing the carbon footprint. Aim. To analyze the factors affecting the energy consumption of pumping stations for in-field oil pumping. To study the possibility and methods of increasing the energy efficiency of pumping units by improving technologies, equipment, and optimizing the operating mode of pumping units. Methods. The specific power consumption for pumping one cubic meter of liquid is used as an indicator of the energy efficiency of oil pumping. The main parameters affecting the value of the specific power consumption are: density of the pumped liquid, pressure, efficiency of the pumping unit. Results. During energy surveys at in-field oil pumping facilities, a number of problems were identified that lead to an increase in power consumption: high water cut in the product, cyclic operation of pumping units, high viscosity of the pumped liquid, etc. Further analysis reveals the effect of various factors on the increase in pressure in the hydraulic system, decrease in the efficiency of pumping units relative to their nominal values. The paper considers the measures to improve the energy efficiency of pumping units: the introduction of energy-efficient pumps and electric motors, frequency regulation of pumping units, etc. The use of an integrated approach to improving the energy efficiency of pumping units will significantly reduce the specific energy consumption for pumping oil and operating costs, increase the reliability of the pumping units.