A California EOR Field Demonstration of a Novel All-Metal Positive Displacement Pump

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Abstract Heavy oil production poses significant challenges due to its high viscosity, necessitating enhanced oil recovery techniques, including steam-based methods to mobilize the oil for extraction. This paper presents the results from a field demonstration of a novel, all-metal, elliptical-trichoidal-helical-planetary motion, progressing cavity positive displacement pump – a mouthful for this paper, so it shall be referred to simply as a rotary positive displacement pump (RPDP). This EOR field trial was piloted in southern California in 2023-24. This pump was chosen for commercial application after a successful demonstration in another of their wells. The technology can address underperforming artificial lift issues in both conventional and unconventional wells and is applicable to waterflood, steam-assisted gravity drainage, and cyclic steam stimulation (CSS) recovery methods. The field demonstration showed that the RPDP provided consistent, reliable production, maintaining the well in a pumped-off condition despite changing well conditions. Oil production rates achieved target levels throughout the RPDP demonstration, and no negative effects from anticipated vapor (steam) flashing were observed, thus eliminating the need to pause steam injection or perform well interventions to mitigate the flashing. The RPDP demonstrated improved performance compared to reciprocating rod lift (RRL) systems, proving its viability as an alternative artificial lift method for continuous and CSS operations, alongside other recovery methods.

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