Which Positions in Oilfields Can Use Cam Rotor Pumps?
In the entire chain of oil extraction and processing, although centrifugal pumps dominate in large-flow clean water working conditions, cam rotor pumps have become the ideal solution for many key positions in oilfields. They rely on their positive displacement, low-shear, and impurity-resistant characteristics. These features make them suitable for scenarios involving high-viscosity crude oil, water-containing and solid-containing mixtures, chemical agents, or requiring strong self-priming capability.
Then, in which specific positions of oilfields can Omron Tech Pumps cam rotor pumps be used? Combining practical application scenarios, this paper systematically sorts out four core application fields and provides selection references.
I. Oil Production Link: Efficient Conveying of High-Viscosity Crude Oil and Multiphase Fluids
During the oil well production process, the fluid extracted from the bottom of the well is often a complex mixture of crude oil, formation water, natural gas, and sand particles. Traditional centrifugal pumps are prone to cavitation, reduced efficiency, and even blockage under such working conditions.
Cam rotor pumps have the following advantages:
- Strong self-priming capacity (up to 8.5 meters), enabling startup without priming the pump;
- Capable of stably conveying heavy crude oil with viscosity up to 100,000 cP;
- Strong adaptability to gas-containing and solid-containing media, with stable and pulsation-free operation.
Therefore, cam rotor pumps are widely used in single-well metering stations, gathering and transfer pump stations, mobile oil production units, and other positions. They are used to convey wellhead produced fluid to the treatment system.
II. Oil-Water Separation System: Ensuring Separation Efficiency and Medium Integrity
After the produced fluid enters the treatment station, the first process is usually the preliminary oil-water separation. At this stage, the fluid still contains a large amount of emulsified oil, suspended solids, and polymers (such as HPAM remaining from tertiary oil recovery).
The value of cam rotor pumps in this link lies in:
- Low-shear design, avoiding damage to the oil-water emulsification structure or degradation of polymers;
- Capable of reliably conveying oily wastewater (with solid content ≤ 30%) to sedimentation tanks, hydrocyclones, or centrifuges;
- Stable flow rate, helping to maintain a constant feed pressure for separation equipment.
III. Water Injection Operation: Accurate and Reliable Re-injection of Formation Water
To maintain reservoir pressure and improve oil recovery, oilfields generally adopt water injection development methods. Water injection pumps need to inject treated formation water or seawater into high-pressure wellbores from the ground.
Although high-pressure plunger pumps are commonly used in the main water injection trunk lines, cam rotor pumps are selected in scenarios such as water injection distribution rooms, small-displacement water injection wells, and mobile water injection skids due to the following characteristics:
- Stable startup, with no water hammer risk;
- Capable of handling re-injection water containing trace impurities, reducing filter screen blockage;
- Cooperating with frequency converters to achieve precise flow regulation, meeting the water distribution requirements of different well groups.
Note: Cam rotor pumps are usually used for medium and low-pressure water injection (< 10 bar). For high-pressure scenarios, multi-stage centrifugal pumps or reciprocating pumps are still required.
IV. Chemical Agent Injection: High-Precision Conveying of Shear-Sensitive Media
In processes such as corrosion prevention, scale inhibition, demulsification, and oil displacement, various chemical agents (such as corrosion inhibitors, demulsifiers, and polymer solutions) need to be injected into wellheads or pipelines. These media are often viscous, expensive, and sensitive to shear.
Cam rotor pumps perform excellently in such metering and injection systems:
- Flow rate is proportional to rotational speed, with high metering accuracy (±1%);
- Large rotor clearance, not prone to wear, suitable for long-term continuous operation;
- Optional sanitary grade or fully enclosed magnetic drive structure, eliminating leakage risks.
Conclusion: Cam Rotor Pumps — The Preferred Equipment for Full-Process Conveying in Oilfields
In summary, relying on pulsation-free operation, strong self-priming capacity, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and excellent adaptability to high-viscosity media, Omron Tech Pumps cam rotor pumps have been widely used in various positions in oilfields. These positions include drilling, crude oil extraction, oil-water separation, water injection operations, chemical agent injection, and various auxiliary positions. They fully cover the entire oilfield production process.
Choosing Omron Tech Pumps means choosing a trustworthy partner for fluid conveying in oilfields.