Enhancing Electric Submersible Pump Producer Run Life with Cost-Effective GRE Lined Tubing Completion

Abstract

Electric Submersible Pump (ESP) is extensively used by Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) for the producer wells. In the Minagish field (West Kuwait) of KOC, Corrosion related issues in ESP producer wells have been observed due to increasing water cut (WC), H2S, and CO2. KOC embarked on a trial in the Minagish field to install Glass Reinforced Epoxy (GRE) lined tubing for ESP completion in a candidate well having increasing WC, CO2, and H2S. The installation was done in 1 well, and the well has been producing without any issues for more than 2 years, thereby increasing the Mean-Time-before-Failure (MTBF) and contributing to sustained production as compared to when the well was completed with Carbon steel tubing. Corrosion in the tubing can lead to loss of tubing metal wall or corrosive scale formation. In several cases, holes in tubing were formed, causing the produced fluid to recirculate within the wellbore, altering the ESP performance and loads. The GRE liner acts as a protective isolating layer between the carbon steel tubing and the produced fluid. Because of their inert nature, GRE liners are unaffected by the produced fluids. Moreover, the smooth surface provides flow assurance benefits by eliminating corrosion and mitigating deposit formation. Experience based on other fields within KOC has shown that GRE lined tubing can be re-used without any issue for the ESP producer wells as the system provides protection to the thread connection area by using Corrosion Barrier Rings (CBR). These help KOC reduce the operating expenditure (OPEX) during workover jobs to replace the ESP pump and reuse the same GRE lined tubing. The company plans to expand GRE-lined tubing application for ESP producers with feed-thru packer PAD completion and wells with retrievable ESP.