Beam Gas Separator

Case Study Oil Well Gas Separator for House Mountain Horizontal Wells
By Reg Comstock, Shell Canada, May 1997
Overview
The Evolution Oil Tools Beam
Gas Separator has been shown
to make significant
improvements to pump
efficiencies in a number of
horizontal sidetrack wells.
Benefits include reduced
operating and capital costs as
well as increased production
when the tool has been used.
This document details eight of
twenty installations of the Beam
Gas Separator, which is also
known as a Get Rid of Gas

History
The successful drilling of horizontal sidetrack oil wells out of 114mm casing resulted in
the need to pump relatively large volumes of fluid from small casing. Due to the nature
of our completions, we are dimensionally challenged and have to pump from above the
window, some 125+ m above the producing zone.
During completion, a liner consisting of 60mm EUE tubing is run through the window
and down to the horizontal section to protect the unstable build section from collapse.
Minimum restriction through the liner is 44mm.
Production tubing consists of 73mm EUE and the rod insert pump has a 51mm plunger.
Unable to Sump the pump results in very low efficiencies causing the need to run larger
equipment and/or work the equipment harder to compensate. This increases capital
costs and operating costs.
Our goal was to find an effective gas separator. Prior to this, two systems on the market
were tested with poor and fair results. However, the unit with fair results was capacity

(GROG) Separator.

limited and our wells exceeded that limit.

Average benefit for the wells

Beam Gas Separator System

were:

Gross pump efficiency

increase to 70% from
41%

$9,600/year/well
capital cost reduction

$275,000/year gain in
OCIBT from a
5.7m3/day

A new separator system was developed that incorporated a velocity control chamber to
minimize the amount of gas that could be drawn into the pump. In addition, these units
could be run in series for maximum production capability. We have installed up to four
units in series to achieve maximum volumes. This option was not available on other
systems tested.
The GA is run on the bottom of the tubing string. Fluid rises between the casing ID and
the OD of the GS. At the top of the GS, fluid enters ports causing a 180-degree reversal as
it fills the velocity control chamber. During the pump intake cycle, fluid in the control
chambers is limited to a maximum downward velocity of 0.15m/sec. This permits any gas
in the chamber to remain stationary or rise depending upon viscosity, GOR and bubble
point.
As a result of the success of the Beam Gas Separator, they have become standard
installation during the completion of our horizontal wells and any other wells that must
be pumped from above the producing interval.

This document is uncontrolled when printed.

2014 Evolution Oil Tools Inc. All rights reserved.

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Toll Free: 1-800-265-TOOL

222-10-Case_History_Rev-A (Beam Gas

Separator) September 2014

Artificial Lift

Beam Gas Separator

Case Examples
1) SHELL OIL HOUSE MOUNTAIN UNIT 2, G.O.R. appr: 200m3 gas per 1m3 oil, September 1996
4 1/2 Beam G.R.O.G. installed
Before Installation: - 51mm pump operating at 36% efficiency
After Installation:

- able to reduce pump size to 38mm and operate at 73% efficiency

- oil gains of $135,000 per year expected
- operating costs savings projected at $40,000
- capital cost reduction of $30,0000

2) PROBE EXPLORATION, BLACKFOOT AREA, G.O.R. unavailable, December 1996

7 Beam G.R.O.G. installed
Results from
Installation:

- pump experienced at 15% increase in efficiency

- well became sanded in after a steam injection and pump was pulled
- G.R.O.G. will be run again for further evaluation

3) CINABAR, G.O.R. unavailable, December 1996

7 Beam G.R.O.G. installed
Before Installation: - well production was 6m3 per day at 15% oil cut
After Installation:

- well production was 22m3 per day at 30% oil cut

- well production has since remained consistent
- life expectancy of pump should increase

4) CINABAR, G.O.R. unavailable, December 1996

5 1/2 Beam G.R.O.G installed
Before Installation: - well unable to produce more than 8m3 of fluid per day
After Installation:

- well now has a consistent production of 20m3 of fluid per day

5) SHELL OIL, G.O.R. unavailable, November 1996

4 1/2 Beam G.R.O.G. installed
Before Installation: - well predicted to produce 30m3 per day at 30% efficiency
After Installation:

- well actually produces 47m3 per day at 62% efficiency

- operating costs reduced by $25,000 per year
- capital cost reduction of $150,000 as separators eliminated the need for an ESP pump to
achieve similar production gains

6) SHELL OIL, G.O.R. unavailable

4 1/2 Beam G.R.O.G installed
Before Installation:

- well produced 19m3 per day at 41% efficiency

After Installation:

- well now produces 21m3 per day at 60% efficiency

- operating costs reduced by $10,000 per year
- oil gains of $45,000 per year expected

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7) SHELL OIL, G.O.R. unavailable

4 1/2 Beam G.R.O.G. installed
Before Installation: - well produced 11.3m3 per day at 40% efficiency
After Installation:

- well now produces 10.7m3 per day at 78% efficiency

- operating cost reductions of $12,000

8). SHELL OIL, G.O.R unavailable, October 1996

4 1/2 Beam G.R.O.G. installed
Before Installation: - well produced 16m3 per day at 53% efficiency.
After Installation:

- well now produces 17m3 per day at 74% efficiency

- operating cost reductions of $10,000 per year
- capital cost reduction of $15,000

9) MOBIL OIL, CASING GAS: .04EM3/M3, March 8, 1998

5 1/2 Beam G.R.O.G. installed
Before Installation: - well used 2 Insert Pump, 8SPM, pump efficiency at 19.6%
After Installation:

- well now uses 11/2 Insert Pump, 6.5 SPM, 41.0% pump efficiency
- Got rid of foam in the annulus and now they can get a proper fluid shot

10) EWING OIL, CASING GAS: 11.0 EM3/M3, March 8, 1998

4 1/2 Beam G.R.O.G. Installed
Before Installation: - pump would repeatedly gas-locked
- longest operating time of pump was 8 hours
After Installation:

- pump runs at 10 SPM with 41% efficiency

- well consistently produces 7.0m3 of oil per day without gas lock

This document is uncontrolled when printed.

2014 Evolution Oil Tools Inc. All rights reserved.

www.eotools.com
Toll Free: 1-800-265-TOOL

222-10-Case_History_Rev-A (Beam Gas

Separator) September 2014

Artificial Lift

Beam Gas Separator

CANADA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

#3, 1820 30th Ave NE

P.O. Box 5363

Calgary, Alberta T2E 7M5

2908 Coffey Street

Toll Free: 1-800-265-TOOL (8665)

Victoria, Texas 77903

Main: 403-243-1442

Main: 361-575-7900

Fax: 403-258-2614

Fax: 361-575-8081

6415A - 63 St. Close

2400 Kermit Hwy

Lloydminster, Alberta T9V 3B5

Odessa, Texas 79764

Tel: 780-522-8294

Cell: 432-638-7902

Fax: 780-875-6337
4512 81 Ave
Edmonton, Alberta
Tel: 587-758-9091
Cell: 780-919-1722
Cell: 780-893-1019

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