Artificial Lift

Rod wear and corrosion have a complex relationship that is often misunderstood of oversimplified.  This paper provides a technical framework and provides empirical evidence of principles that clarify this complex relationship.  In particular, this paper will review stress levels and metal failure mechanisms that dispel many commonly held beliefs.  A better understanding of these principles will...

Downhole sucker rod pump clearance changes from shop conditions to bottom hole conditions due to bottomhole pressure and temperature that the pump components are subjected to. Presented here are equations to estimate the change in dimensions of the plunger and barrel of top and bottom hold down pumps at bottomhole pressure and temperature conditions. The approach uses one equation for cylinder...

Pumping wells hard involves a tradeoff between operating cost and production. Increased idle time or holding additional back pressure on the reservoir can decrease production but pumping a well harder will likely increase failure frequency. The existing reservoir pressure has a significant impact on the potential change in production.  Pump-Off Controllers (POCs) are used to regulate run time on...

New unconventional wells have been a huge challenge for ESPs in the Permian Basin because in horizontal wells with high-formation GORs or GLRs, the pumped fluid can cause issues such as gas interference, gas locking, short run life, low production, poor energy efficiency, increased failure rates, shutdowns, so forth. A major problem is gas presence around the ESPs, it causes the motor to rapidly...

America needs energy. Good techniques (Vogel’s Method and Constant PI) exist for estimating production from wells. These are phrased in terms of pressure. Pressure is not easy to measure especially in deep gassy wells. Fluid level is a logical remedy for the problem and can be measured at virtually any depth. But this creates the need for a method for deriving pressure (PIP) from fluid level...

Historically as many as 30% of bottom hold down pumps have been stuck. This can result in extra cost associated with pulling tubing on pump repairs or rod failures. This paper focuses on efforts with various tools and techniques that have been used to lessen the number of pumps stuck in tubing.

Relating Polished Rod Velocity and ratio of MPRL/PPRL to Failure Frequency. This study uses historical data to understand these relationships. The data is primarily from San Andres and Clearfork water floods and CO2 floods located in the Permian Basin.

A casing gas separator (CGS) is a safe to run, low-risk, and efficiency altering tool that pairs naturally with existing wellbore design and work practices to vastly improve gas handling and capacity in virtually any form of artificial lift.

When a new well is drilled the hole is cased and cemented and during that process a CGS is run permanently into place on the casing with no alteration to the...

Rod pumps with isolated tailpipe systems have been growing in popularity over the past few years and applied in basins all over the US.  Some earlier system component designs had vital shortcomings that became more evident over time with the growing install base.   The important fact is that these lessons learned have been a driving force in making positive strides to improve installation...

Over 70% of the artificially lifted wells in the US are using sucker rod pumping systems. The sucker rod pumping system has been ameliorated during past years due to the high investment of companies and installers as performance of the sucker rod pumping system directly impacts production volume and consequently revenue of E&P companies. The sucker rod is one of the most vulnerable components of a...