Artificial Lift

Two widely used methods of artificial lift are Electrical Submersible Pumps (ESP) and Sucker Rod Pumps (SRP. Each of these methods frequently require methods to avoid or handle gas for successful operations. Presented here are discussions of methods of gas separation for each method and graphical techniques for prediction of the gas separator performance that will allow the user to better select a...

It is recognized in the industry that it is wise to have AL in place before liquid loading is expected for a number of reasons.  These reasons include no production loss when the well drops below critical, convenience as the rig may/may not be available when the well drops below critical later, and in some cases some uplift is observed when installing plunger other AL before the rate drops below a...

In unconventional wells unstable dynamic behavior ensuing from an exchange of energy in the casing and tubing is the biggest challenge in gas lift design. As reservoir and tubing pressures decline from early conditions, wells show erratic behavior in decreasing fluid levels and hence unload and operate at variable depths. This case study presents the full workflow of creating an effective gas-lift...

Contemporary lift strategy for a newly completed well generally includes a period of unassisted flow followed by an Electrical Submersible Pump (ESP) system - up to half a dozen in certain situations. This is followed by one of a multitude of artificial lift options often culminating in a rod lift strategy for low-production to end of life. Ignoring entirely the financial component of these...

Lessons Learned with Jet Pumps in a Low Pressure Gassy and Sandy Reservoir with High Deviation The jet pump is said to be a flexible tool adaptable to produce where other artificial lift methods have shortcomings: however, it too requires special considerations in search of economics and life cycle optimization. This report reviews design and equipment upgrades to the jet pump system with...

Carbon fiber sucker rods were first installed in wells in 2015, and significant material and design improvements have been made since. Originally developed to rod pump the deepest wells with small-diameter tubing, high-strength, light-weight carbon fiber rods are optimal for rod pumping through the build section in pad-drilled wells. This paper will show how carbon fiber rods reduce friction and...

This paper proposes an analytical methodology that consists of an evaluation of the particle size distribution, viability for the use of sand screens and centrifugal separation systems for sand control management in wells with high sand and fluid production producing through an ESP. All the technical considerations are explained focusing on the information required and the parameters analyzed to...

Gas production is one of the main problems on ESP systems; causing premature failures and low efficiency, these are the reasons why many companies have developed a number of solutions to separate gas before reaches the pump. To solve this problem a New Downhole Gas Regulator has been developed in order to avoid large amounts of free gas flowing directly into the pump intake. This system regulates...

Horizontal Unconventional declines have a rapidly declining hyperbolic decline section and a slower declining exponential decline section. Rapidly changing production volumes from the decline curve and more rapid changes from slugging gas as a result of undulations in the horizontal leg plus sand from massive frac jobs result in challenges in artificial lift selection. This paper will explore...

This paper discusses the principal of ball lifting systems (Lizard) for oil and gas wells and its possible applications. Typical applications are: 1. Acts as moving standing valve to minimize dry runs while reducing tubing wear. 2. Will continually operate in transition area; Lizard will move the to transition flow area to deliver ball to lifting sleeve, unloading wells and work itself to the...