Multi-phase flow conditioning

GasMaze

Condition multiphase flow before it reaches your ESP.

PetroQuip's GasMaze is a multiphase flow conditioner that uniformly mixes liquid, sand, and gas before the fluid stream enters the ESP, improving overall pump performance. The 10-ft assembly contains 18 sand screen sections that create a tortuous flow path breaking up gas and sand slugs to promote a consistent, blended flow state. All of this is achieved with minimal pressure drop.

Designed to run with SandStorm-E, the GasMaze receives pre-separated fluid and conditions it further before it reaches the pump, reducing the impact of slug flow and abrasive particles on ESP performance.

    • Uniformly mixes liquid, sand, and gas before entering the ESP, improving pump performance

    • 18 screen sections create a tortuous flow path that slows sand velocity and breaks up slugs

    • Disrupts gas slugs to promote homogeneous flow to the ESP

    • Low pressure drop

    • 4" OD, 10' OAL

    • Compatible with SandStorm-E for enhanced sand and flow conditioning

    • Available in L80, P110, and 13Cr material options

  • PROBLEM:

    Slug flow (bursts of sand, gas, or uneven fluid mixtures) creates inconsistent loading on ESP stages, accelerating wear and reducing pump efficiency. Sand slugs cause abrasive damage; gas slugs cause cavitation and vibration. Both shorten run life and increase workover frequency.

    SOLUTION:

    PetroQuip's GasMaze conditions the fluid stream before it reaches the ESP by creating a tortuous flow path through 18 sand screen sections. Sand particles, which cannot pass freely through the screens, are slowed and their slugging behavior is disrupted. Gas, passing through the small slots of the screen, is broken up and mixed with the fluid. The result is a more homogeneous, blended flow entering the pump, reducing damaging load variations and improving ESP performance.

    When run with SandStorm-E, most sand is separated from the produced fluid before it reaches the GasMaze, further reducing abrasive load and extending tool life.

  • Combine the Homogenizer with PetroQuip's ESP solutions for comprehensive protection.

Tech Sheet
Case Study
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Field Results from the Permian Basin

This chart shows ESP motor current from a well before and after a GasMaze install. The left side reflects pump operation without GasMaze. The right side reflects operation after the switch.

Smoother motor current indicates more uniform inflow at the pump intake, with fewer gas slugs and less variation in fluid composition. The major Permian operator described the post-install chart as "buttery smooth" and the best-looking ESP chart in any of their wells.

Case Study: Permian Basin Multi-Phase Flow Conditioning

PetroQuip’s GasMaze delivers smoother ESP operation and a 20% gas production gain in an unconventional Permian well.

Challenge

An unconventional Permian well ran a standard sand screen and an oversized ESP at a fixed 60 Hz. With no upstream flow conditioning, gas and sand slugs hit the pump intake unchecked, producing erratic motor current, inconsistent stage loading, and elevated power consumption. Drive current averaged 324.7 A and motor current averaged 42.2 A, while oil and gas production trended down as reservoir pressure declined.

Solution

During a planned workover, the operator installed GasMaze and right-sized the pump, replacing the oversized model with one matched to actual fluid rates. GasMaze conditions the multiphase stream before it reaches the ESP. Eighteen screen sections create a tortuous path that breaks up gas slugs and slows sand, delivering homogeneous flow to the pump intake with no moving parts and minimal pressure drop.

Results

✓ 20% gas production gain — increase from 361 to 445 Mcf/day

✓ Immediate motor-current stabilization and smoother stage loading

✓ Lower operating current and power consumption, combined with the right-sized pump for maximum efficiency

✓ Minimal pressure drop across the tool with no moving parts

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