Maximizing Well Production on Tight Casing ESP Applications in the Permian Basin

Electric Submersible Pumps (ESPs) are commonly known in the Artificial Lift Systems for high flowrates capabilities; however, it’s been limited on tight casing application due to not only HP constrains, but also for presenting restriction in terms of chemical treatment all the way down to the bottom of the equipment and reliability concern on tandem motor applications. Recently an operating company in the Permian Basin was experiencing production limitation on one of their wells with an unusual completion with 5” 18# production casing where a conventional slimline ESP was originally installed with 375 tandem induction motors. The described system was not able to draw the well down, minimum pump intake pressure was above the 2000psi, with the unit running at high motor loads and total fluid rates only averaging ~720BPD. After proposal was presented, the operator decided to proactively pull the system and successfully installed the Reynolds Permanent Magnet 399 Series Motor in less risk associated with fishing jobs with significant lower operating costs. New HP capability allowed to upsize the ESP which resulted in an increased production of 4 times in oil, 8 times in gas and over 2 times in total fluid ~1850BPD, with a drawdown of ~60psi/day for the first 2 weeks taking the pump intake pressure down to ~1100psi after just 20 days of start up, and now after 80~days by the time the abstract is being written pump intake pressure is down to ~850psi exceeding customer expectations and production targets, being able to operate the unit on steady conditions at a more reliable motor load  and improving operational performance and maintaining stable production of the well. Moreover, similar results have been observed in 5.5” casing applications with extended laterals, where operators are targeting flowrates exceeding 6500–7000 BFPD. These scenarios demand significantly higher HP levels that are not achievable with conventional induction motors, further highlighting the performance advantages and broader applicability of Permanent Magnet Motor technology in modern high-demand ESP environments.