D. Neil Dickson, Bob L. Herd Department of Petroleum Engineering, Texas Tech University
Artificial lift selection in unconventional horizontal wells is increasingly influenced by high deviation angles, rising gas–oil ratios, declining production rates, and solids production. Historically, Traditional Rod Pump systems were limited in highly deviated Delaware Basin wells due to rod-on-tubing wear, friction losses, and elevated intervention frequency.3 However, recent advancements in PMM technology, including motor efficiency, torque density and variable-speed control have made units more compact with more versatile flow rates. This combined with improvements in PCP technology, namely gas-handling capability through elastomer chemical advancements and rotor–stator geometry, have expanded the technical feasibility of Electric Submersible Progressive Cavity Pump (ESPCP) systems in unconventional applications.6
These technological developments now provide a traditional rod-pump alternative that is inherently less sensitive to wellbore deviation, eliminating deviation-induced rod–tubing contact, frictional losses, and related mechanical wear mechanisms.