Total Dynamic Head - TDH

Total Dynamic Head - TDH
Schlumberger Private
Total Dynamic Head
• In the pump sizing problem, we were given a value for
TDH. TDH is the total head which the pump must
produce in order to get the flow to the surface.
• We saw that with the TDH already given, sizing the

pump was fairly easy.
• But where did the TDH come from?
2 D.N.
Dec-00
Components of the TDH
Wellhead
Wellhead Pressure 3
Ground Level Flow
2 Net Vertical Lift
Total Friction Loss
Producing Fluid Level
Pump Set Depth
4 D.N.
Dec-00
Flow Flow
Total Dynamic Head
• First we will look at the "net vertical lift".
• This is the vertical distance through which the fluid must be
lifted to get to the surface.
• The energy required to lift the fluid can be determined by
the equation:
Work (energy) = mgh
• Where m is the mass of the fluid, g is the acceleration due to
gravity and h is the height the fluid is lifted.
5 D.N.
Dec-00
Net Vertical Lift
Wellhead
Flow
Ground Level
Note that the vertical lift only
depends on where the fluid
level is. 1
From the Net Lift stand Net Vertical Lift
point, it makes no difference
where the pump is set.
Pump Set Depth
6 D.N.
Dec-00
Flow Flow
Net Vertical Lift
Wellhead
Ground Level
Note that even
though the pump is much Net Vertical Lift
lower, the net lift does
not change.

Pump Set Depth
Pump Set Depth
7 D.N.
Dec-00 Flow Flow
For the purposes of this example, we will assume we
are given a fluid level of 4000 feet from surface
(vertical distance).
Net Vertical Lift = 4000 ft 1
Remember if the well is deviated, the total measured

distance from surface could be much greater but,
since the work done in moving the fluid sideways is
zero, only the vertical distance matters.
8 D.N.
Dec-00
Friction Loss
What is friction?
9 D.N.
Dec-00
Friction is an energy loss (we actually measure it as a
pressure loss) due to viscous shear of the flowing
fluid.
In a fluid, molecules are free to move past each other
but there may be a little resistance. This resistance is
due to shear forces which must be overcome.
The higher the shear forces, the higher the viscosity.
10 D.N.
Dec-00
In a single phase fluid, most of the liquid is moving
along together so there is not much shear in the liquid
itself and this friction can usually be ignored.
No
Worries
Excuse me
Sorry
Certainly
11 D.N.
Dec-00
The walls of the pipe, however, will tend to "stick" to
the fluid so shear forces between the pipe and the fluid
can be quite large and increase as the velocity of the
fluid increases.
I want out
of here!
Hey!
Velocity
Profile
(Laminar Flow)
12 D.N.
Dec-00
Ouch!
The amount of friction present can be represented by a
"friction factor" - f . There are several equations
available to calculate f but we will not review those here.
If we know f we can calculate the pressure loss from the
following:
Where P = pressure loss
f v 2  = fluid density
P  v = fluid velocity
gc = gravity constant
2g d
13 D.N.
c d = pipe diameter
Dec-00
Friction Loss
What is the friction loss at zero flow?
14 D.N.
Dec-00
Friction Loss
Assume the flow rate is not zero but is some constant
value. What happens to the friction as the pipe
diameter increases?
f v 2
P 
2 gc d
15 D.N.
Dec-00
Friction Loss
As the pipe diameter increases, the P decreases as can
be seen in the equation. But something else also
happens. What is it?
f v 2
P 
2 gc d
16 D.N.
Dec-00
As the pipe diameter increases, the velocity, v,
decreases by the square of the diameter change so it is
reduced drastically.
These two factors make an increase in pipe diameter
have a large impact on decreasing the frictional pressure
losses.
f v 2
P 
17 D.N.
Dec-00
2 gc d
Friction Loss
So how do we calculate friction loss?
18 D.N.
Dec-00
Fortunately, there are many charts available for
determining friction as we do not need to use these
equations. A very useful chart for our purposes
follows:
19 D.N.
Dec-00
20 D.N.
Dec-00
This is how to use the chart:
Say, for example, we have a total tubing length of 6500
feet and we want to produce 5000 bpd. We have both 2
3/8" tubing and 2 7/8" tubing in stock. What will the
friction be?
21 D.N.
Dec-00
540
200
2-3/8” 2-7/8”
First, find the flow

rate on the X axis
and move up to the
correct tubing
5000
22 D.N.
Dec-00
Since we have 6500' of tubing:
For 2 3/8", Friction = 540*6.5 = 3510 feet of loss
For 2 7/8", Friction = 200*6.5 = 1300 feet of loss2
You can see a small increase in tubing size makes a

big difference in friction loss. What about trying 3
1/2" tubing?
23 D.N.
Dec-00
2-3/8” 2-7/8” 3-1/2”
7
3
5000
24 D.N.
Dec-00
Since we have 6500' of tubing:
For 3 1/2", Friction = 73*6.5 = 475 feet of loss
If we can use 3 1/2" tubing, this will allow us to use a
smaller pump and motor which will reduce cost. It
will also be less expensive to operate since we will not
have to pay for electricity which will only go to heat
the tubing.
25 D.N.
Dec-00
Is bigger tubing always better?
No
If a well is producing a lot of sand, the higher fluid

velocity in small tubing helps carry the sand to the
surface. If the tubing gets too large, the lower velocity
can allow sand to accumulate on top of the pump
discharge and eventually plug it up.
Unfortunately the best teacher here is experience.
26 D.N.
Dec-00
However, in general, friction is something which
cannot be avoided but you should make every attempt
to minimize it.
27 D.N.
Dec-00
Wellhead Pressure
Wellhead pressure is sometimes called "Surface
Pressure", "Back Pressure" or even "Flowline
Pressure". Actually the most accurate term is
"Tubing Discharge Pressure" since this is the pressure
at the discharge of the tubing from the well.
28 D.N.
Dec-00
Up to this point, we have been calculating everything in
terms of "feet". This is very convenient when sizing a
pump.
WHY?
29 D.N.
Dec-00
Wellhead Pressure
Because pump curves are usually plotted in terms of feet
of head which makes it easy to calculate the number of
stages.
30 D.N.
Dec-00
Say we are told that we need a wellhead pressure of
200 psi.
100 to 200 psi is an average number and usually gives
enough pressure to get the fluid through the flowline
into a separator or some other piece of equipment. If
the flowline is very long or has to go up a high hill, a
larger pressure could be needed.
31 D.N.
Dec-00
Wellhead Pressure
Now that we know what wellhead pressure is, what do we
do with it?
32 D.N.
Dec-00
Up to this point, we have determined a vertical lift in
feet and calculated a friction loss in feet.
We cannot add "psi" to "feet".
The easiest way to do this is to convert the wellhead

pressure to feet but in order to do this, we need to
know the specific gravity.
33 D.N.
Dec-00
Wellhead Pressure
This is the equation to convert from psi to feet but we still
need to know the specific gravity.
Wellhead Pressure*2.31
Wellhead "Feet" = ----------------------------------
sp.gr.
34 D.N.
Dec-00
Example: 60% Water Cut, Water SG 1.07
Water gravities usually vary from about 1.03 (sea
water) to 1.10 although they can go as high as 1.20 in
very heavy water.
35 D.N.
Dec-00
Wellhead Pressure
Now consider the oil (remember the well is only 60%
water). Oil gravities can vary a great deal from one
reservoir to another.
Additionally, oil gravities are usually referred to in
"API" gravity rather than specific gravity.
This is similar to measuring temperature in Celsius and

Fahrenheit. 37°C is the exact same as 98.6°F. They are
just two different ways of saying the same thing.
36 D.N.
Dec-00
Wellhead Pressure
Petroleum Engineers prefer to use the API gravity
because it is a larger number and easier to "get a feel
for". The equations for converting from one unit to the
other are:
141.5
Sp.Gr. =
131.5 + API
141.5
API =  131.5
Sp.Gr.
37 D.N.
Dec-00
Wellhead Pressure
So if we know one of the units, we can easily convert to
the other.
141.5
Sp.Gr. =
131.5 + API
141.5
API =  131.5
Sp.Gr.
38 D.N.
Dec-00
Wellhead Pressure
What is the specific gravity of an oil with API=28?
What is the API of fresh water (sp.gr.=1.0)?
141.5
Sp.Gr. =
131.5 + API
141.5
API =  131.5
Sp.Gr.
39 D.N.
Dec-00
What is the specific gravity of an oil with API=28?
141.5
Sp.Gr. = = 0.887
131.5 + 28
40 D.N.
Dec-00
What is the API of fresh water (sp.gr.=1.0)?
141.5
API =  131.5 = 10.0
1.0
41 D.N.
Dec-00
Wellhead Pressure
Now we know how to convert, but we still do not know
what value to use.
42 D.N.
Dec-00
Wellhead Pressure
Oil API gravities can vary all the way from 6 or 7 on the
heavy end to as much as 60 or 70 on the light end.
Remember that high API gravity means lower specific
gravity so -- Higher is Lighter.
43 D.N.
Dec-00
Wellhead Pressure
This large spread of numbers is why engineers prefer
the API units. It is much easier to "conceptualize" the
difference between a 20 API oil and a 40 API oil than to
imagine the difference between a specific gravity of
0.934 and 0.825 although they mean the same thing.
44 D.N.
Dec-00
Wellhead Pressure
An API of 6 is not very common and usually makes you
think of paving roads.
An API of 60 is also not very common and makes you
think of pulling your car up to the well and filling the gas
tank directly.
45 D.N.
Dec-00
Wellhead Pressure
If we need to make a "guess" as we do in this case, an API
in the range of 25 to 35 is a good safe guess. For this
example, let's use an API of 30.0 -- but we now need to
convert it to specific gravity.
46 D.N.
Dec-00
Wellhead Pressure
This means that we are assuming the oil specific gravity is
0.876.
141.5
Sp.Gr. = = 0.876
131.5 + 30
47 D.N.
Dec-00
For our case, the specific gravity is 0.992
Sp. Gr. = (fw x w) + (fo x o)
Sp. Gr. = (0.60 x 1.07) + (0.40 x 0.876) = 0.992
48 D.N.
Dec-00
Wellhead Pressure
Now that we have gotten a specific gravity, let's convert
the wellhead pressure from [psi] to feet.
Wellhead Pressure*2.31
Wellhead "Feet" = ----------------------------------
sp.gr.
49 D.N.
Dec-00
Wellhead Pressure
Using our actual numbers:
200*2.31
Wellhead "Feet" = ------------- = 465 feet 3
0.992
50 D.N.
Dec-00
Total Dynamic Head
The TDH will be the sum of lift, friction and wellhead
pressure. We will assume 2 7/8" tubing since it was in
inventory:
51 D.N.
Dec-00
Total Dynamic Head
Wellhead Pressure = 465 feet
Wellhead 3
Ground Level Flow
2 Net Vertical Lift
Total Friction Loss =
1300'
4000
Pump Set Depth +1300
+ 465
5,765 ft of TDH
52 D.N.
Dec-00 Flow Flow
Sizing Exercise
Well Conditions
Casing Size 7” 23 lb/ft

Tubing size 3-1/2” 8 rd EUE
Water Cut: 95%
Water Gravity: 1.05
Oil Gravity: 30 deg API (0.876)
Design Flow Rate: 7000 BPD
Producting Fluid Level @ 7000 BPD: 5800 ft.
Pump Set Depth: 6000 ft.
Wellhead pressure required: 100 PSI
How many stages of GN7000? Horsepower required?
53 D.N.
Dec-00
Well Conditions
Sizing Exercise
Casing Size 7” 23 lb/ft
Tubing size 3-1/2” 8 rd EUE
Water Cut: 95%
Water Gravity: 1.05
Oil Gravity: 30 deg API (0.876)
Design Flow Rate: 7000 BPD
Producing Fluid Level @ 7000 BPD: 3750 ft.
Pump Set Depth: 4000 ft.
Wellhead pressure required: 100 PSI

TDH(ft) = Net Lift(ft) + Frictional Losses(ft) + WHP(ft)
WHP (psi) * 2.31

Wellhead "Feet" = ------------------------
54 D.N. sp.gr.
Dec-00
Sizing Exercise
3750 ft
55 D.N.
Dec-00
Sizing Exercise
130 ft / 1000 ft
56 D.N.
Dec-00
Sizing Exercise
3750 ft + 520ft (4*130)
57 D.N.
Dec-00
Sizing Exercise
3750 ft + 520ft (4*130) + 222ft
TDH = 4492 ft
100 psi * 2.31

Wellhead "Feet" = ----------------------------------
.95*(1.05) + .05*(0.876)
58 D.N.
Dec-00
Sizing Exercise
Reda Pump Performance Curve
REDA Production Systems GN7000
540 Series - 1 Stage(s) - 3500 RPM - 60 Hz
Rev. A Minimum Casing Size 6.625 OD Check Clearances Fluid Specific Gravity 1.00
Feet B.E.P. Hp Eff
Q = 7389
H = 31.64
60 P = 2.59 15.00 60%
E = 66.55
50 12.50 50%
33 40ft / stage 10.00 40%
30 7.50 30%
20 5.00 20%
10 2.50 10%
0 2,500 5,000 7,500 10,000 12,500

Capacity - Barrels per Day
59 D.N.
Dec-00
Sizing Exercise
3750 ft + 520ft (4*130) + 222ft
TDH = 4492 ft
# stages required 4492 ft / 33 ft/stage = 136 stages
60 D.N.
Dec-00
Sizing Exercise
Reda Pump Performance Curve
REDA Production Systems GN7000
540 Series - 1 Stage(s) - 3500 RPM - 60 Hz
Rev. A Minimum Casing Size 6.625 OD Check Clearances Fluid Specific Gravity 1.00
Feet B.E.P. Hp Eff
Q = 7389
H = 31.64
60 P = 2.59 15.00 60%
E = 66.55
50 12.50 50%
40 10.00 40%
30 7.50 30%
2.520HP / stage 5.00 20%
10 2.50 10%
0 2,500 5,000 7,500 10,000 12,500

Capacity - Barrels per Day
61 D.N.
Dec-00
Sizing Exercise
3750 ft + 520ft (4*130) + 222ft
TDH = 4492 ft
# stages required 4492 ft / 33 ft/stage = 136 stages
HP Required 136 stages * 2.5 HP/stage * 1.041 = 354 HP
62 D.N.
Dec-00

Total Dynamic Head - TDH

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Total Dynamic Head - TDH

• We saw that with the TDH already given, sizing the

• But where did the TDH come from?

Producing Fluid Level

Pump Set Depth

Pump Set Depth

Note that even

Producing Fluid Level

Pump Set Depth

Remember if the well is deviated, the total measured

The higher the shear forces, the higher the viscosity.

Where P = pressure loss

Say, for example, we have a total tubing length of 6500

First, find the flow

For 2 3/8", Friction = 540*6.5 = 3510 feet of loss

You can see a small increase in tubing size makes a

For 3 1/2", Friction = 73*6.5 = 475 feet of loss

If a well is producing a lot of sand, the higher fluid

The easiest way to do this is to convert the wellhead

Water gravities usually vary from about 1.03 (sea

This is similar to measuring temperature in Celsius and

What is the API of fresh water (sp.gr.=1.0)?

Sp. Gr. = (0.60 x 1.07) + (0.40 x 0.876) = 0.992

Ground Level Flow

Producing Fluid Level

Casing Size 7” 23 lb/ft

How many stages of GN7000? Horsepower required?

How many stages of GN7000? Horsepower required?

WHP (psi) * 2.31

100 psi * 2.31

0 2,500 5,000 7,500 10,000 12,500

# stages required 4492 ft / 33 ft/stage = 136 stages

2.520HP / stage 5.00 20%

0 2,500 5,000 7,500 10,000 12,500

# stages required 4492 ft / 33 ft/stage = 136 stages

HP Required 136 stages * 2.5 HP/stage * 1.041 = 354 HP

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