Gene Kliewer
Technology Editor, Subsea & Seismic
HOUSTON –Faced with heavy oil (17 ºAPI) and ultra deepwaters Petrobras and Baker Hughes Centrilift installed a 1,200 HP electric submersible pump (ESP) capable of producing more than 22,000 b/d of oil in the JUB-6 well of Jubarte field, Brazil. At the Deep Offshore Technology International today, Ignacio Martinez of Baker Hughes described the project.
An ESP was selected over gas lift because of the heavy oil, high flow rate and long step-out, Martinez said. "Reliability is one of the main concerns of ESPs," he said, "and the proper selection of the system for the application is critical for the run life of the equipment."
To meet the durability targets for operating in 1,400 m (4,593 ft) of water, a full string test to set the surface equipment, including simulation of the subsea umbilical, and a vibration analysis of the downhole equipment was done.
02/13/2008
