THE TEMPERATURE IS RISING…
and that’s a good thing. Extracting
heavy oil is problematic in Canada’s Athabasca
region. There is a solution, and it’s right at your fingertip s.
In fact, it might be the very thing your thermal operation needs.
THE INCONVENIENT OIL
The global unconventional oil market has
an estimated 4,600 billion barrels of oil with
probable reserves ranging from 500 to 1,000
billion barrels. The majority of these reserves
are found in the Athabasca region in Northern
Alberta. Due to extreme viscosity, extracting
heavy oils at reservoir temperature is
difficult to impossible.
Thermal processes such as Steam Assisted
Gravity Drainage (SAGD) and Cyclic Steam
Stimulation (CSS) make it possible to produce
highly viscous crudes by heating up the oil
for extraction. The artificial lift used to pump
the oil is critical to the overall functioning and
efficiency of the well. The standard elastomer
technology has an operating temperature limit
around 160°C, far below thermal production
requirements. A new technology called the
PCM Vulcain™ is based on a completely
metal pump and pushes the temperature
limit to 350°C.
“Given the huge success of the elastomer
Progressing Cavity Pumps in conventional
heavy oil applications, it is obvious this
positive displacement pump is a perfect
fit for thermal recovery.” Sheldon Jahn,
Artificial Lift Specialist, KUDU Industries
SAGD, Athabasca
CSS, Cold Lake
THE KUDU SOLUTION
KUDU Industries and PCM have the
perfect solution for your thermal application.
The PCM Vulcain™ is a high temperature
Progressing Cavity Pump (PCP) that offers
great economics especially in directional
wells, viscous oil and wide production /
reservoir pressure ranges. This revolutionary
PCP has a pump capactity between
100m3/day to 800m3/day.
The complete thermal package includes the
PCM Vulcain™ metal pump, KUDU Drivehead
and high temperature Oryx Seal. The Oryx
Seal is a critical element due to its wide
temperature range, zero leakage rate and
minimal environmental impact.
Precise well control
Efficient pumping system
Low operating and maintenance cost
Easy installation and operation
No shearing or emulsions
FIELD TESTING IN PROGRESS
In 2006, the PCM Vulcain™ started field
testing in a SAGD well at Josyln Creek,
Alberta. The temperature ranged between
100°C to 180°C. The pump started effortlessly
in high viscosity and zero shearing or
emulsions occurred during the entire process.
Pump efficiency ranged from 70% to 40% plus
through its 7,300 hour run life it maintained
excellent well control and production range.
KUDU’s complete thermal package was tested in a CSS application in Cold Lake, Alberta
and ran for approximately 5,000 hours. Pump
efficiency ranged from 70% to 50% and the
temperature was between 60°C and 330°C.
Another field test in the same area provided
pump efficiencies of 90% to 80%. This pump is
ideal for fluctuating viscosities, which other
pumping technologies find challenging.
THE PERFECT FIT
KUDU continues to field test the high
temperature PCP for SAGD and CSS.
Results to date show it has moderate
production efficiency at a wide range of
temperatures. Volumetric pump efficiency
at start up is typically between 79% and
90%. Manufacturing and quality controls are
continually improving the pump efficiency.
The thermal package also requires low
Net Positive Suction Head, which reduces
the amount of steaming required before a
well is started, enabling the producer to
move forward at a quicker pace.
The high temperature package is able to
pump fluid dependent on your operation’s
needs. It also features a small footprint,
easy installation, low capital and operating
costs. KUDU’s thermal package is the prefect
fit for all production and temperature ranges.
KUDU Industries is a leading manufacturer
of complete PCP solutions. Since 1989, it
has been at the forefront of artificial lift
technology and quality. Find out why a pump
by any other name just isn’t the same.
Contact a KUDU representative today.
(403) 279-5838 or kudupump.com
Innovation by:
Applicable Published Articles:
‘’Development Status of a Metal PCP for Heavy Oil and
Hot Production Wells.” SPEInternational PS2005-365.
“Development Status of a Metal Progressing Cavity Pump for
Heavy-Oil and Hot-Production Wells.” JPT May 2006. 59-61.
‘’All Metal PCP Field Trial Update.” World Heavy Oil Congress
January 2008.
