Flow Analyses Inside Jet Pumps Used for Oil Wells

Abstract

Jet pump is one type of artificial lifts and is used when depth and deviation of producing wells increases and pressure depletion occurs. In the present study, numerical analysis has been carried out to analyze the flow behavior and find the performance of the jet pump. Reynolds-averaged Navier Stokes equations were solved and k-ε turbulence model was used for simulations. Water and light oil as primary fluids were used to pump water, light oil and heavy oil. The ratios of area and length to diameter of the mixing tube were considered as design parameters. The pump efficiency was considered to maximize for the downhole conditions. It was found that the increase in viscosity and density of the secondary fluid reduced efficiency of the system. Water as primary fluid produced better efficiency than the light oil. It was also found that the longer throat length increased efficiency upto 40% if light oil was used as primary fluid and secondary fluid viscosity was 350 cSt.