Artificial Lift

Artificial lift optimization in marginal horizontal wells is often limited by gas interference and inefficient pump intake placement. Particularly in mature reservoirs producing below bubble point. As free gas evolves in the lateral, stratified flow conditions can reduce pump fillage and restrict drawdown in rod lift systems. This study presents a field case from a marginal horizontal well...

Sinker bars and sinker rods are both used as methods to help maintain tensile strength and minimize buckling of the rod string in rod pumped wells. They have different applications but primarily attempt to solve the same problem. This presentation will look to assess the advantages and disadvantages of using sinker rods vs sinker bars in horizontal rod pumped wells. 

Modern unconventional wells increasingly rely on gas lift compression, representing ~30% of initial artificial lift systems in the Midland Basin and ~40% in the Delaware Basin by 2024. Permian produced gas is often liquid-rich, containing higher propane and butane concentrations and specific gravities typically ranging from 0.72–0.79 (and occasionally up to ~0.97), forcing compressors to operate...

The efficient management of gas lift systems is pivotal in minimizing operational costs and maximizing production for a large majority of unconventional wells. By leveraging automated workflows to efficiently build and tune physics based nodal analysis models, operators can optimize well performance and gas injection rates thus reducing operational expenses. A cornerstone of effective gas lift...

Traditional metal-to-metal seal rings have long struggled with down hole sealing issues due to a functional lack of interchangeability among manufacturers, particulate contamination on the seal face, and a possible designed-in lack of precise control of the sealing angle on mating parts. These issues drive costly interventions and decrease pump performance. The hybrid seal introduces a solution by...

Development of AI controllers has allowed abnormal pumping conditions to be accurately identified remotely. Due to the geometry of most rod lifting systems corrective actions need to be undertaken manually at the well location. This paper introduces an automated approach to implementing corrective actions with the use of a non-fixed stroke length rod pumping system. The focus includes case studies...

Mechanical components used in artificial lift face significant environmental and functional challenges, primarily caused by factors such as corrosion, abrasion, erosion, and stress corrosion cracking in downhole conditions. To ensure a component remains operational, the material not only needs to meet mechanical requirements but also needs surface properties capable of withstanding the corrosive...

Sucker rod pumping for horizontal wells has advanced considerably over the past few years. Advancements in sucker rod pump technologies and bottomhole assembly (BHA) components/configurations have allowed for more efficient downhole gas separation and greater production drawdowns. The unintended consequence has been an escalation of solids in the produced fluids with increased failure frequencies...

The Polished Rod Transducer (PRT) is a practical and effective tool for well analysis, offering the ability to acquire dynamometer data quickly with minimal disruption to pumping operations. This paper provides guidance on best practices for obtaining reliable PRT readings and improving diagnostic accuracy. The paper begins with a brief overview of how the PRT measures load through polished rod...

Building upon the successes of cathodically protected rod strings in rotary applications, this study extends the evaluation to reciprocating sucker rod pump operations using anode-coated coiled rod strings. The paper presents results from a pilot project involving four wells for a major California oil and gas producer, achieving a remarkable 11-fold improvement in Mean Time to Failure (MTF)...