Hydraulic jet pump artificial lift systems are unique in that the energy transfer happens through fluid dynamics rather than through moving mechanical components downhole. To understand their effectiveness, it is necessary to examine the anatomy of the pump and its supporting surface system.
Power Fluid System
The foundation of any jet pump installation is the power fluid circuit. At surface, a high-pressure pump delivers produced water or lease crude down the tubing to drive the jet pump. This power fluid supplies the energy that, when accelerated through the nozzle, entrains produced fluids.
Key to system performance is power fluid quality. Filtration and conditioning must be maintained to prevent plugging of the nozzle or erosion of the throat. The circuit also doubles as a conduit for chemical treatment—scale inhibitors, corrosion inhibitors, or paraffin solvents can be injected directly into the power fluid and delivered precisely at pump depth.
Jet Pump Anatomy
At its core, the jet pump is composed of three primary fluid-dynamic elements—nozzle, throat, and diffuser—mounted in a retrievable insert or carrier assembly.
- Nozzle. The nozzle constricts the power fluid into a high-velocity jet. As fluid velocity increases, static pressure decreases. This controlled pressure drop creates the suction force that initiates production flow.
- Throat. The throat is aligned with the nozzle outlet and is where reservoir fluids enter the stream. The low-pressure zone generated by the nozzle draws formation liquids into the mixing chamber, where they combine with the jet of power fluid. Throat diameter is carefully sized relative to the nozzle to optimize entrainment and to balance efficiency against solids handling.
- Diffuser. After mixing, the diffuser gradually expands the combined flow path, converting velocity energy back into pressure sufficient to lift the mixture to surface. The diffuser’s design ensures pressure recovery without significant turbulence or erosion.
- Downhole Assembly. The nozzle/throat/diffuser unit is contained in an insert that lands in a carrier anchored in the tubing string. This insert is retrievable by circulating fluid down the tubing/casing annulus, allowing it to be swapped or resized without a workover rig to pull the tubing. This rigless retrievability is one of the strongest operational advantages of the system.
A cutaway diagram of the jet pump would show the power fluid path through the nozzle, the intake of reservoir fluids at the throat, and the expansion through the diffuser, with arrows illustrating energy conversion from pressure to velocity and back again.
Seal-less Diaphragm Surface Pump Integration
For many operators, the most effective surface driver for jet pumps is a seal-less, hydraulically-balanced diaphragm pump. Unlike traditional plunger pumps, this design eliminates packing and seals altogether, thereby removing the most common wear points. The pumping chamber is isolated from the drive end, which prevents leakage, eliminates the need for external lubrication, and minimizes fugitive emissions.
Because there are no dynamic seals in contact with the pumped fluid, diaphragm pumps are highly tolerant of sand, fines, and abrasive solids commonly found in produced water streams. The hydraulically balanced design ensures that the diaphragms operate under equalized pressure, reducing stress and extending run life. This configuration produces smooth, pulse-reduced flow that enhances jet pump performance by maintaining a stable power fluid stream.
Reliability and Maintenance Advantages
The integration of a jet pump downhole and a seal-less diaphragm pump at surface produces a system with reliability engineered into both ends. Downhole, there are no moving parts to wear or fail. Surface-side, the diaphragm pump avoids the chronic failures of packing, and seals that plague reciprocating pumps. The combination reduces unplanned interventions and shifts maintenance to predictable, surface-accessible components.
This synergy directly minimizes workovers. Instead of pulling tubing or fishing downhole equipment after a failure, operators can circulate out a jet pump insert or swap a diaphragm cartridge in the surface pump. Both tasks can be performed quickly and at far lower cost than an ESP pull.
Field Perspective
Hydraulic jet pump systems provide a solution for difficult wells—abrasive, corrosive, gassy, or deviated—where traditional mechanical lift struggles. Paired with a diaphragm surface pump, it delivers stable operation, long intervals between service, and rigless intervention capability.
The trade-off is somewhat higher energy intensity compared to mechanical lift methods, but for wells where uptime and intervention avoidance outweigh incremental horsepower, the jet pump/diaphragm pump combination is a highly effective artificial lift strategy.