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ESP: total dynamic head, stages and power

Required ESP head from the fluid level, the wellhead pressures and the tubing friction; the number of stages from the head per stage, the hydraulic power, the shaft power and the electrical input of the submersible motor.

Formula
H = H_dyn + (P_wh − P_c) / (ρ · g) + h_frZ = ⌈H / h_st⌉N_h = ρ · g · Q · HN_sh = N_h / η_p; N_el = N_sh / η_m

The head is in metres of the pumped liquid. Gas (the lighter column in the tubing and the head loss on a gassy mixture) and viscosity are not included — correct the pump curve for viscous oil. Cable and transformer losses are not in N_el; select the motor with a power margin.

Source: API RP 11S4 (ESP sizing and selection); Brown K.E., The Technology of Artificial Lift Methods

Inputs

You can change a field's unit: the value is converted to the formula's units automatically.

Q
H_dyn

Vertical depth of the level at which the inflow equals the pump rate (from the productivity index).

P_wh

The flowline pressure the pump works against; usually 1–2.5 MPa.

P_c
ρ

Of the water-oil mixture at the well's water cut.

h_fr
Calculate

For 2-7/8 in tubing (62 mm ID) at 100 m³/d of water, about 3 m per 1 000 m; they grow roughly as the rate squared.

h_st

From the pump curve; usually 4–6 m for 5-series (4.56 in) pumps.

η_p

At the operating point, from the curve: 0.4–0.65.

η_m

Induction motor 0.80–0.88, permanent-magnet motor about 0.9.

Unit converter for this formulaLiquid rate · Length · Pressure · Density and °API · Power · Fraction and percent
Metric
  • m³/d1
  • m³/h0.0416667
  • L/s0.0115741
  • L/min0.694444
  • m³/min0.000694444
US field units
  • bbl/d6.28981
  • Mbbl/d0.00628981
  • ft³/d35.3147
  • US gpm0.183453
  • bbl/min0.00436792

A day is 24 hours.

All units
Result
HRequired pump head (TDH)
Fill in all fields
  • ZNumber of stages
    pcs
  • N_hHydraulic power
  • N_shPump shaft power
  • N_elMotor electrical input

More in Artificial lift

Results are engineering estimates from standard formulas; for design decisions check them against the codes, project documents and specialists' calculations. The formulas carried over from the original set are unchanged, and their errors are described in the notes.