Abstract:
Externally arranged cables are prone to damage when offshore extended reach wells adopt conventional dual-tank dual-pump technology for production. Moreover, the dual-tank dual-pump configuration creates excessive projection area, increasing risks of flow restriction and erosion. In the dual Y-joint structure, the combined projection area of the bypass tubing and high-capacity electric submersible pumps (ESPs) exceeds the casing’s inner diameter, with the bypass tubing also facing erosion risks. To address these challenges, a machine-assisted production scheme featuring a single-tank dual-ESP configuration was developed through a comparative analysis of actual equipment structures by using design software. By employing specialized tools such as in-tank packers and expandable rotating subs to arrange cables and pipelines within the tank, a single-tank dual-ESP technology was formed. Research results show that this technology reduces the outer diameter of the tank’s projection to 193.7 mm, significantly smaller than the ESP’s outer diameter of 215.9 mm in the dual Y-joint structure. This solution effectively mitigates frequent cable damage and severe equipment erosion in traditional external ESP arrangements. Successful field application of the technology has been achieved in the Enping 21−4 Oilfield and Liuhua Oilfield in the South China Sea. The research results provide technical support for the popularization and application of ESPs in offshore extended reach wells.