Ultra-Large Intensifier Pump for High Pressure Well Stimulation
Authors: Labyer Harold , Cole Clinton , Bomgardner Terry , Maddox Bill , Riley Dale 
Published: December 2007

This paper was prepared for the 48th Annual Fall Meeting of the Society of Petroleum Engineers of AIME, to be held in Las Vegas, Nev., Sept. 30-Oct. 3, 1973. Permission to copy is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words. Illustrations may not be copied. The abstract should contain conspicuous acknowledgment of where and by whom the paper is presented. Publication elsewhere after publication in the JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY or the SOCIETY OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERS JOURNAL is usually granted upon request to the Editor of the appropriate journal provided agreement to give proper credit is made.

Discussion of this paper is invited. Three copies of any discussion should be sent to the Society of Petroleum Engineers office. Such discussion may be presented at the above meeting and, with the paper, may be considered for publication in one of the two SPE magazines.

Increased depths of drilling operations has produced the need for pumping equipment that will perform reliably during long duration, extreme pressure stimulation treatments. Treating pressures above 15,000 psi and pumping of hot concentrated acids have rapidly pumping of hot concentrated acids have rapidly become more common practices in stimulation work.

The first generation of high horsepower intensifier pumps was introduced for use on an experimental drilling project in late 1969. Later these units were placed in field service work for stimulation of wells that required high pressure fracturing and acidizing treatments. The units have proven to be capable and reliable in oil field service operations and have been a major factor in the satisfactory completion of many deep wells.

Because of the excellent performance and acceptance of the first intensifier units, a new and much larger pump has been introduced. It is anticipated that the new unit will be capable of delivering over 4,000 hydraulic horsepower or approximately three times that of its predecessor.

To date the intensifier pumps have met the challenge and demands of deep well stimulation; and with further innovations, should successfully meet future ultra-service requirements.

Introduction

During mid-1965, work was initiated to develop a high horsepower duplex intensifier pump that would be applicable for use on high pump that would be applicable for use on high pressure erosional drilling and stimulation pressure erosional drilling and stimulation of ultra-deep formations. Past experience had shown that the performance of this type of work with conventional pumping equipment was for all practical purposes economically prohibitive. It was theorized that a slow prohibitive. It was theorized that a slow speed-large displacement intensifier pump concept would yield a more reliable pump with extended expendable part life. Laboratory experience gained with a duplex unit proved the theory of improved life, but dictated the development of a triplex design to obtain the desired performance characteristics.

The HT-1000 intensifier pump, shown in Figure 1, performed extremely well during laboratory testing that was performed concurrent with production of additional units. During the latter part of 1969, a complex of 10 prototype units was used in an experimental erosion drilling test, pumping abrasive laden mud at pressures of 10,000 to 15,000 psi.