Transfer Pumps

Introduction
Figure 1 shows the relationship of the transfer pump to the other surface
testing equipment.

Figure 1

On the upstream side, the transfer pump is connected to the oil outlet line of either the
surge tank or gauge tank. On the downstream side, it is connected to the burner oil
line.

The most common application of the transfer pump is to empty the tank and send the
oil to the burner under sufficient pressure to ensure efficient burning. The transfer
pump can also be used to send oil from a tank to a pipeline, another tank or a tanker.
On rare occasions, it can even be used to reinject oil into the reservoir. Pumps are
driven with electric or diesel engines.

Well testing operations use many different types of oil transfer pumps. This training
page does not discuss them individually. Instead, it describes the operating principles
is provided for the most common types of transfer pumps: positive displacement and
centrifugal. This training page also covers the diaphragm pump (not an oil transfer
pump, but frequently used in testing operations) and pump piping.

Objectives
Upon completion of this package, you should be able to:

Explain the main purpose of the transfer pump.

Describe the operating principles for the two types of pumps covered in this
training page.
Explain the purpose of a safety relief valve and describe how a typical safety
relief valve works.
Draw a fluid circuit schematic for a pump equipped with a bypass valve and
explain the purpose of the bypass valve.
List four safety rules that should be observed when working with electrically
driven transfer pumps.

Upon completion of the practical exercises for the transfer pumps, you should be able
to:

Identify the type of transfer pumps available in your location.

Disassemble the pump section and explain the function of each component.
Change the set pressure of the safety relief valve that's presented in this
training page.
Reassemble the pump section and perform a FIT check.

Principles of Operation
There are many different types and models of pumps. However, most pumps can
either be broadly classified as positive displacement or centrifugal, depending on the
action used to move the liquid to a higher pressure level.

Positive Displacement Pumps

Positive displacement pumps employ a moving piston and either a plunger

(reciprocating pump), diaphragm (diaphragm pump), or rotor (rotary pump) to move a
fixed volume of liquid per revolution of the pump. From these different categories of
positive displacement pumps, only the rotor type and the diaphragm type, which are
widely used in testing operations, are discussed here.

Rotary Pumps

Rotary pumps are positive displacement pumps that operate by turning a rotating
member inside a housing in such a way that the rotation moves the oil through the
transfer pump.

Figures 2 and 3 show schematics of two different types of rotary pumps used in the
oilfield.
Gear Type Transfer Pump
An electric or diesel engine drives
the rotor that drives the idler, as
Fig. 2 shows. The rotor gears and
the idler gears mesh closely,
taking fluid from the suction port
of the pump and force it out the
discharge port in a continuous
stream.

Figure 2

Screw Type Transfer Pump

The pump shown in Fig. 3 is usually called a screw pump. Although the geometry of
its pumping elements may seem complex, its operating principle is simple. The rotor
and rubber stator are the key components. The rotor is a single, external helix with a
round cross-section that's machined from high strength steel.

Figure 3

The rubber stator is a double internal helix molded of a tough, abrasion-resistant

elastomer, permanently bonded in an alloy steel tube. As the rotor turns in the stator,
oil is conveyed from the pump's suction port to its discharge port. A continuous seal
between the rotor and the stator helices keeps the fluid moving steadily, at a fixed
flow rate proportional to the pump's rotational speed. This pump must be filled with
fluid before it is run.

The pump shown in Fig. 4 is fitted with a bypass line. A valve is mounted at the
intersection of the bypass line and the discharge line. Before starting the pump, the
discharge line is closed and the valve turned so that the fluid can only circulate
through the pump. This ensures the pump is full of fluid before its started. When the
pump is full, the bypass valve is rotated a quarter turn, opening the pump to the
discharge line and closing the bypass line. Just before the pump is stopped, the valve
is turned back to its original position so fluid can circulate through the pump. This
practice ensures that the pump is filled with fluid before the next operation or prior to
storage.

Figure 4

Safety Relief Valve

As these two types of pumps rotate, liquid is delivered to the discharge side of the
pump. If the discharge line is blocked or closed, pressure builds up until the motor
stalls, a pump part breaks, or the discharge line bursts. To avoid these problems,
pumps are equipped with a safety relief valve that prevents pressure buildup.

Figure 5 shows a typical safety

relief valve mounted on the gear
type transfer pump.

The spring holds the poppet

against the seat in the valve Figure 6
body with a force that's shows how
determined by the spring size the relief
and how much the spring is valve is
compressed by the adjusting connected to
screw. When the force exerted Figure 5
the pump.
by the liquid against the poppet
exceeds the force exerted by the
spring, the poppet moves and
liquid starts to flow through the
relief valve, returning to the
suction side of the pump.
Figure 6

Advantages and Disadvantages

Some advantages of rotary pumps are:

They are relatively inexpensive.

 They function well over a wide range of flow rate capacities, net positive
suction head (NPSH) conditions and oil viscosities.
They are well adapted to handling viscous fluids.
They are self priming.

Some disadvantages of rotary pumps are:

The close clearances and rubbing contact between moving parts in the pump
limit the choice of construction materials.
These pumps are suitable for oil but not water because close clearances
between moving parts require the liquid to have lubricating value.

Diaphragm Pump

For pumping jobs other than oil transfer, testing operations frequently use diaphragm
pumps. The most common diaphragm pump used in testing operations is certainly the
"Texsteam" pump powered by an integral gas motor. It is commonly used as a
chemical injection pump and is designed for continuous operation.

As Fig. 7 shows, the motive energy (max. 50 psi) enters through the master valve to
the diaphragm actuator. As the pressure builds up, it moves the thrust rod, which in
turn forces the plunger into the injection head. This action expels the chemical
through the injector head into the chemical injection line and on its way to the
process. At the end of its stroke, a lever trips the pilot valve assembly into a position
that allows air (max. 12 psi) to enter the underside of the master valve. The master
valve inlet is closed and exhausts the air from the diaphragm actuator into the
atmosphere.

A spring is positioned on the reverse side of the diaphragm to return it and the thrust
rod to their original positions. This action closes the check valve to the discharge line,
opens the check valve on the supply side and draws a charge of the chemical to be
injected into the pump.

When the thrust rod reaches the end of its return stroke, the lever again trips the pilot
valve, venting air from the underside of the master valve. The valve is closed to the
atmosphere and the inlet opens. Pressure again builds up on the diaphragm and the
cycle is restarted.

Injection rate is determined by the amount of air supplied to the master valve and the
size of the plunger. Pump speed can vary from 5 to 75 strokes per minute and the
output pressure is determined by the size of the plunger/injector. More informations
about the Texsteam pump performance are available in the Field Operating
Handbook, Vol. 1" under Texsteam pumps performance data.

The Texsteam pump is a very reliable piece of equipment when used correctly. It is
capable of performing across a large range of operating parameters. The pump is air-
driven, easy to work on and requires very little maintenance. Note, however, that the
Texsteam pump can stick when operated at very low speed (stroke rates).

Texsteam Injection Pump Multimedia

Objective: To understand the operation of a Texsteam 5005 pump to inject chemicals
into the well effluent.

Comment: This animation illustrates the diaphragm pump's components and

mechanical principles, shows how to prepare the pump for operation, and explains
how to adjust pump speed and volume to meet the requirements of a particular job.

Centrifugal Pumps

A centrifugal pump contains a central rotating wheel, the impeller, that uses
centrifugal force to impart high velocity to the liquid, and then converts most of this
velocity to pressure. Centrifugal pumps operate at relatively high rotation speeds
(3600 rpm).

Centrifugal pumps can be of radial flow construction, axial flow construction, or some
combination of the two. The flow in axial flow pumps is parallel to the pump shaft
axis, and in radial flow pumps, the flow enters the center of the wheel and is propelled
radially to the outside.

Axial Flow Pump

The two main components of an axial centrifugal pump which are the impeller and the
volute. The impeller produces liquid velocity and the volute forces the liquid to
discharge from the pump. This is accomplished by offsetting the impeller in the volute
and by maintaining a close clearance between the impeller and the volute at the cut-
water. Please note the impeller rotation. A centrifugal pump impeller slings the liquid
out of the volute. It does not cup the liquidRadial Flow Pump

Figure 9 shows a cut-view of a radial flow pump.

 Figure 9

The pump shown in Fig. 10 is equipped with a bypass valve (a ball valve) mounted on
a bypass line. The centrifugal pump requires a lot of power to start the electric motor.
If all the fluid is diverted to the pump, the pump will require even more power to start.
The bypass valve allows some of the flow to be diverted, making it easier to start the
pump and preventing pump overload. When the motor reaches normal speed, the
bypass valve can be gradually closed to divert the entire flow through the pump. The
bypass valve can also be used to control and adjust the flow rate by diverting some of
the flow.

Figure 10
Depending on the flow rate capacity of the centrifugal pump, the configuration of the
piping and valves mounted on the pump differs from pump to pump. Some pumps, for
example, may be equipped with a control valve and/or a check valve.

To control and adjust the flow rate, the discharge line for some centrifugal pumps is
fitted with a control valve. This valve be operated either manually or automatically.
For optimum efficiency, centrifugal pumps should be operated at the flow rate and
pressure for which they were designed.

For some centrifugal pumps, a check valve is mounted on the discharge line
(downstream of the control valve) to prevent fluid from returning to the pump.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Some advantages of centrifugal pumps are

simple construction and quiet operation

small space requirements relative to flow rate capacity
no close clearances between moving parts (handle fluids containing small,
solid particles)
low maintenance requirements (highly dependable).

Some disadvantages of centrifugal pumps, compared to positive displacement pumps,

are

lower discharge pressures

less efficiency, especially when used at lower flow rates and pressures than
they are designed for
higher electric power requirements
higher NPSH requirements.

Pump Piping and Installation Details

Suction Piping

It is essential that the suction port of the transfer pump be flooded. A transfer pump
should never be run without fluid. The NPSH recommended by the manufacturer
must be applied. To provide this NPSH and ensure that the suction port is flooded at
all times, it is necessary that:

The storage tank supplying the pump should be at sufficient elevation above
the fluid entry of the pump.
If a surge tank is used, it can be pressurized to provide sufficient NPSH.
The suction piping should be of sufficient size to minimize friction losses in
the pipe between the tank and the pump. The suction pipe should be at least as
large as the pump suction inlet, preferably larger.

Long radius elbows are recommended to eliminate sharp turns. In addition, the
suction piping should be flushed out and cleaned prior to starting the pump.
Discharge Piping

Like the suction piping, the discharge piping should be of sufficient size to minimize
friction losses in the pipe in order for the pump to supply the required discharge
pressure.

Equipment
Transfer pumps are usually described by their maximum flow rate capacity and
discharge pressure. At Schlumberger, the typical transfer pumps are 2000 bbl/d, 4000
bbl/d, 5000 bbl/d or 10,000 bbl/d capacities. Some models can be driven either by an
electric motor or a diesel engine, sometimes referred to as a pump primer. The choice
of the pump primer depends on the applicable safety regulations. The range of pumps
available makes it possible to select a transfer pump that accommodates the required
well tests while not being larger, more complicated or more expensive than the overall
project demands.

These drawings show examples of several types of transfer pumps and their
characteristics. For each drawing, specifications are provided. If you would like a
printed version of these tool specifications, please use the PDF's provided in the
original graphics.

Transfer Pump Electric Pump for Diesel Oil Transfer Pump

2000 bbl/d 4000 bbl/d
(PMP-ECB/TCB) 1600 bbl/d (PMP-EDB)
(PMP-EDC/TDC)

Transfer Pump Transfer Pump Transfer Pump

10,000 bbl/d 2000 bbl/d 5000 bbl/d
(PMP-GB) (PMP-GC) (PMP-GD)

Transfer Pump Selection Guidelines

The principal criteria for selecting a transfer pump are:

 The pumping capacity required.
The discharge pressure required.
Safety regulations dictate the use of an electric or diesel driven pump.

Additional selection considerations are:

Three-phase electric supply is required for electric pumps. (The 10,000 bbl/d
pump requires a high starting current (200 A) that some rigs cannot supply.)
The availability of electricity or diesel at the wellsite.
The 10,000 bbl/d pump needs a heavy and expensive electric cable.
If power is not available from the rig, a generator is needed.

Safety
The following is a list of some general safety considerations to observe when using
transfer pumps. Its important to be aware that each type of pump has its own specific
safety points. Please refer to the proper maintenance manuals.

Pumps must only be operated by experienced personnel.

To prevent electrical shocks, the electrical starting box should always be
closed when switching the pump on or off.
Electric pumps must be correctly grounded.
Electric cables, plugs, and sockets must be in good condition.
Because electric pumps require a lot of power, the power supply to the pump
must be equipped with a circuit breaker.
Rotate the pump shaft by hand to ensure it turns freely.
If the operating voltage of the pump is changed, verify that the pump is
rotating in the right direction.
When the pump is rotating, never try make any adjustments or repair; turn off
the pump first.
Verify that the suction valve is open before starting the pump. Running the
pump without fluid will destroy the pump.
When starting the pump, make sure it turns in the correct direction. The
correct direction is usually indicated by an arrow stamped on the pump.
To ensure that the suction is flooded at all times, set the tank supplying the
pump at sufficient elevation above the inlet of the pump.
Use pressure gauges mounted on suction and discharge lines to quickly verify
that the pump is working properly.
Right after starting the pump, bleed off the air or vapors that could be trapped
in the pump.
If the pump does not deliver fluid at the discharge port within 30 seconds, stop
the pump and verify step-by-step the recommended starting procedure.
Verify that the suction and discharge pressures are within the pressure range
specified by the manufacturer. Don't apply pressure that's higher than that
required for efficient operation.

Maintenance
For information about pump preparation, functional checks, and equipment
maintenance, see the maintenance manuals for the pumps and the Field Operating
Handbook II (FOH II).

For this type of equipment, it is quite common to implement some modifications

which originate from the engineering center. The changes to be made are listed on
modification recaps (MR) and can be mandatory.

Summary
In this training page, we have discussed the following points:

The most common application of the transfer pump.

The two broad categories of transfer pumps used in well testing operations.
The two different types of rotary pumps (gear type and screw type) described
in this training page.
The importance of flooding the suction port of the transfer pump before
running the pump.
The key safety points concerning the pumps.

Self Test
1. What is the purpose of a transfer pump in a well testing setup?
2. What types of transfer pumps are used in well testing?
3. How do you decide which pump to use for a particular job? What factors
should you consider?
4. What is the NPSH?
5. Why are the positive displacement pumps equipped with a safety relief valve?
Introduction

In well testing, a transfer pump is usually part of the surface

equipment. It is used to transfer the oil temporarily stored in
a tank (gauge or surge) to the burners or to another storage
location.

Features and Benefits

Transfer pumps are available in many different types and models, and in a wide range
of flow rate capacities. Either an electric motor or a diesel engine drives the pump,
depending upon the applicable safety regulations. The types of transfer pumps
commonly used in well testing operations fall into two broad categories: positive
displacement and centrifugal.

Common transfer pump applications include:

Moving oil to burners.

Under normal operations, there may not be sufficient separator pressure to

boost the oil from the separator to the burners. In this situation, oil from the
separator goes into a temporary tank (gauge or surge). A transfer pump then
moves the oil, at sufficiently high pressure, to the burners.

Emptying temporary storage tanks.

Some measurements diverting oil flow to a temporary tank. In order to obtain

certain measurements, it may be necessary to divert the oil flow to a temporary
tank. After the measurements are taken, a transfer pump is used to empty the
tank.

Applications

The most common transfer pump application is sending oil from the tank to the
burners. Other applications include moving oil from the tank to a production flow
line, to another tank or to a tanker, and emptying one compartment of a double
compartment tank while the other compartment is being filled.
 Transfer pumps

Description

A transfer pump connected to the gauge tank outlet is used to empty one compartment
of the gauge tank while the other is being filled.

Transfer pumps can be used for pressure boosting when there is insufficient pressure
to achieve atomization at the burner. The unit consists of a gear pump driven by an
electric motor or a diesel engine. This pump is equipped with a relief valve set at 200
psi and is skid mounted.