The oil and gas industry is a multifaceted business that covers the discovery of underground sites for gathering, refining, manufacturing, transporting and then storage. During this immense production and supply chain, the pumps need to transfer fluids and gases to and from several points. For decades, the pumping equipment of choice in many fluid-transporting applications in oil and gas production has primarily been centrifugal pumps, which have achieved great results in these conditions.

The technique of operation is in which fluid moves into the pump impeller along or near to the rotating axis and is speeded by the impeller. The flow then moves radially outward into the volute discharge port making them ideal for the high volume and severe duty transfer applications that are most common in the oil and gas industry. Centrifugal pumps also perform equally well with thin, water-like fluids that must be conveyed through series of piping with variety of flow rates.

As centrifugal pumps have built a reputation as the go-to equipment for fluid-handling applications, some operators might not have considered a tried and tested alternative to the centrifugal pump in this oil and gas industry. The other option is positive displacement, twin and triple-screw pumps which have proved to be multipurpose, adaptable, efficient and reliable.

Screw pumps today have gained outstanding advancements in terms of the flow-rates that range from 833 litres per minute (L/min) or 220 gallons per minute (gpm) to 41,635 L/min (11,000 gpm) are not unusual. The design of positive displacement screw pumps makes them ideal of handling a number of different liquids, even those with higher thicknesses such as the crude oil.

The pump’s operative principle sees contrasting screws engaged to form a sealed cavity with the casing. As the drive screws revolve, the fluid is then moved and continually conveyed to the pump’s discharge port, which generates a volumetrically consistent flow-rate no matter the pumping pressure.

• The operational advantages of screw-pumps in oil and gas fluid-handling applications include:
• The ability to handle a wide range of pressures, flows, liquids and thicknesses
• Self-priming operation and excellent suction capabilities
• Low mechanical vibration means long service life
• Fundamentally smooth running and quiet operation
• Particularly low pulsation moderates stress and extends the life of related fluid-transfer components
• Low axial flow velocity means excellent priming
• High volumetric and overall operating efficiencies equals low operating costs
• High tolerance for entrained air and gases, means it’s an perfect option for in oil production

With regards to screw pump products, on offer are twin screw with timing gear and triple screw models for oil and gas fluid-transfer operations. Twin screw pumps are designed with external bearings and a timing-gear transmission, which creates double-suction, self-priming operation with zero metal-to-metal contact between the internal components within the pump. The deliverable flow-rate of a positive displacement screw pump increases as the fluid’s viscosity rises. The design characteristics also mean screw pumps are appropriate for all types of transfer applications, including high or low viscosity, lubricating or non-lubricating, aggressive or neutral, and clean or polluted fluids.

Leistritz are the specialists in screw pump technology with 90 years of experience in design and manufacturing, making them the most innovative screw pumps available today. To discuss the advantages of screw pumps in Oil & Gas Applications, please contact one of our Leistritz Pump Specialists at Dynapumps on 1300 788 579 or email sales@dynapumps.com.au