The discovery wells for this high BTU field were drilled in the early 1920's. As drilling progressed, it became obvious the most lucrative and easily produced resource in the field was natural gas.
BTU values as high as 2700 are found in the field, with 1700 to 2000 BTU quite common. This makes even relatively small quantities of gas economically feasible to produce. Original pressures (200+ psi) in the field were more than adequate for delivery into most pipelines found in the area. Even until the 1960's, few companies found need for compression in the field. Just as the reserve engineers had projected, the pressure base was being depleted and reciprocating compression was showing up in the field to re-stimulate a declining pressure base. As late as the late 1970's and early 1980's, many major companies began divesting properties by selling off one by one to area independent producers. Many opened up new production opportunities by looking into untouched oil reserves, opening new potentials for casing head gas production in association with oil production; the boom was on again!
For a 10-year period, drilling and completion was the name of the game. Tremendous numbers of wells were put into operation over this time. With every well put into production, another straw was placed into the reservoir and more and more reciprocating compressors were coming on the scene. By early 1990, Screw compressors, Vane compressors, and small Lobe compressor packages were being used. Success was limited to a short time frame because deeper and deeper vacuum was the name of the game. Limitations were being reached trying to pull 10"-15" vac and discharge into pipelines at 15lbs. to 25lbs. The doors seemed to be closing for continued operation in much of the field.
During the 1980’s and early 1990’s, Liquid Ring Recovery Systems, Inc. (L.R.S), Pampa, Texas was a major supplier of the compressor packages of all types in this field. Having packaged in excess of 500 compressor packages for this area. L.R.S. had extensive experience and knowledge of this declining field. It was becoming quite evident the equipment being used was being taxed beyond its limits. L.R.S. started experimenting with liquid ring technology by adapting it to the natural gas industry applications, putting the 1st prototype in the field in the summer of 1993. Having packaged in excess of 700 liquid ring packages, the "proof was in the pudding." The rest is history.
Attributes found in liquid ring technology, have extended the life of the Panhandle field by 15 or more years. We have the ability to pull vacuums in excess of 20" and discharge into line pressures up to 15 psig as single stage units. In the last 2 years, the envelope of technology has been advanced with the introduction of 2 stage liquid ring compressors. These have capabilities of 20" vacuum suctions and increased discharge pressures of up to 25 psig.
So what if you have oil production and little or no casing head production in association with the oil? Listen up!
One of the unique and phenomenal qualities of the Liquid Ring Compression is found in the fact that gas moving through the pump is not the "coolant". This is accomplished by the service liquid; therefore, the unit can be operated in applications where very, very small volumes of gas are present, and vacuums of 24" are obtained.
This opened a new frontier by pulling deep vacuum on some oil wells that may not have potential for marketing gas for a number of reasons; no pipelines in the area, volumes too small for marketing, or other reasons. By exerting deep vacuum on the casing side of the well, a high vacuum is created on the formation at the well bore sight, and oil is "drawn" to the well bore at a faster rate than would be found without this added stimulation. Many wells in the panhandle of Texas have commonly seen increase in oil production of 40% and more, using this technology. This application is presently being used in Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, California, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Colorado to maximize oil production in older depleted wells giving new life to the "stripper" well industry. Where they may not have added potential from gas sales, the unique feature can stimulate oil production significantly in many areas. If oil production is your game and it’s into the "end of the 4th quarter" in the life of those wells, L.R.S. may have a new "PLAYBOOK" for your future.