Artificial Lift

Downhole separation of gas and solids for sucker rod pumping continues to be a significant challenge, particularly in horizontal wells. An advancement in downhole separation has been achieved by realizing there was an opportunity to intentionally take advantage of transient multiphase flow conditions where liquids and solids flow reversals exist. Multiple case studies in this presentation...

 Horizontal wells have a tendency to have surges of fluid and gas when producing. Especially in the case of gas, we tend to see gas production flowing in slugs, resulting in intermittent production of liquid and gas. This unpredictability of gas slugs and surges leads to free gas entering the pump more frequently and being harder to control than in a vertical well. This can lead to decreased...

More efficient operations and lower failure rates will result if sucker rod lifted wells are operated with a pump filled with liquid.  Dynamometer and fluid level surveys can be used to identify when the well is operating properly and when there are operating problems.  There are a variety of recommended practices for operating sucker rod lifted wells to provide low operating cost and low failure...

Review of Field Data To Evaluate Impact on Overall Maintenance Costs when Rod String Spacing Tool/Rod Rotator is implemented with a Wireless POC Load Cell As companies seek to optimize performance of rod pumped wells, they examine common problems which may include improper rod string spacing resulting in rod pump damage, rod failures and cable failures of pump off control (POC) wired load cells...

In the reciprocating rod lift system, the sucker rods are subjected to cyclic stresses during service which accumulate leading to fatigue failures. It is well known that the shot peen process increases the fatigue life on metal parts; with respect to sucker rods several manufacturers claim to have implemented shot peening in their manufacturing process for years. To achieve optimal parameters...

In sucker rod pumps, accurate downhole data is necessary for control and optimization of wells and assets. Downhole data is calculated from data measured at the surface.  In the 1990s, Sandia National Laboratory was contracted to conduct a series of tests using downhole dynamometer tools on vertical wells. This data validated the use of the wave equation and gave rise to most of the models and...

Unconventional wells are drilled in shale formations to produce oil and gas utilizing horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. Many think fracturing creates a ‘rubble zone’ around the wellbore allowing the free oil and gas to be produced. 

Unconventional wells are generally drilled “vertical” and then “kicked-off”, building the curve and then continuing to drill horizontally at a targeted...

Deviated wellbores, whether intentional or unintentionally drilled, are becoming ever more common. Rod-on-tubing friction occurs as a result of these wellbore deviations. This friction has a detrimental effect on the longevity of the equipment through accelerated mechanical wear. Downhole friction can also obscure analysis and optimization as the friction distorts the calculated downhole...

During the hydraulic fracturing age, hydraulic jet pumps have seen an increase of installation numbers across the most prolific unconventional well fields in the United States of America, as well as in overseas oil and gas fields. Its simplicity, reliability, robustness, and adaptability have made the jet pump one of the known artificial lift systems on the production of unconventional wells...

Gas and sand interference remain one of the most common challenges in the vast majority of wells in the Permian Basin. Gas interference can lead to poor pump efficiency and severe sand issues can lead to sticking and excessive wear and tear to the pump – both of which lead to unnecessary operational expenses and even well failure. Recognizing the ineffectiveness and shortcomings of current models...