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In the realm of artificial lift systems, the monitoring and optimization of Electrical Submersible Pumps (ESPs) are paramount due to the high costs associated with unintended shutdowns and failures. Traditional methods, ranging from simple logic-based local alarms to sophisticated 24/7 surveillance centers, have shown tangible improvements in ESP operation. However, scaling such surveillance...

Reciprocating rod pumps (RRP) have globally shown that with longer strokes increased productivity and reduced operational costs can be achieved over that of a progressive cavity pump (PCP) in clean to moderate solids producing wells. This has also been extended to suggest that with the right equipment mean time to failure can be increased.  This information has been pivotal in a large-scale change...

Using gas to displace fluid and reduce hydrostatic pressure has been a producing practice since the late 19th century. As time has passed and technology has accelerated, we now are able to build a communication stream between gas lift optimization and the data acquired during production operations. 

In our fast-paced industry, data is often looked upon to help us make decisions and solve...

As an operator, success rests in trying to maximize safety and production while minimizing your cost and downtime. Most operators choose ESP as a first form of lift and will later transition to gas lift, rod pumps, jet lift, etc. Other operators choose to use gas lift or rod lift as a first form of lift.

Each of these forms of lift presents its own rewards and drawbacks.  For example, overtime...

Sucker rod pumping can experience reliability challenges when produced fluid contains solids. Any improvement in the ability for a sucker rod pumping system to handle solids would be highly beneficial. The sucker rod pump is one component of a complex downhole system of components for sucker rod pumping. Other components of this system include a downhole gas separator, a downhole solids separator...

A sucker rod pump is an essential component for rod pumping, but it has been limited by use of machined componentry and a ball/seat valve design. Today’s deep, gassy-sluggy, foamy, solids ladened, horizontal wells commonly have high initial liquid rates that are beyond the rate capacity of sucker rod pumping, which can require use of higher operating expense ESP’s or gas lift methods. Improving...

ESP permanent magnet motors (PMMs) have been confirmed to conserve power when compared to conventional induction motors (IMs) in various industry papers and studies. However, most production comparisons comprise a snapshot in time or the partial life of a single ESP. This analysis is useful, but it doesn’t convey the full power-saving value of a PMM installation.

This paper aims to investigate...

As the complexity of well profiles on rod pumped wells increases, traditional rod rotators experience more frequent failures due to the challenging conditions. The consequence is a decline in well productivity, often accompanied by a significant increase in well maintenance costs. This session will examine common rod rotator failures and root causes. It will introduce a new alternative rod rotator...

Closed-loop gas capture (CLGC) offers a viable pathway for the oil and gas sector to reduce flaring, improve sustainability, and minimize environmental impact during midstream upsets. Instead of flaring gas during disruptions, this technology re-injects the gas for short term storage until the issue is resolved. Two recent trials in the Midland Basin demonstrated the feasibility and benefits of...

Current models for design and analysis of rod pumped wells are based on data from vertical wells. The assumption that these models work is only theoretical. Such models have never been validated with actual measurements from deviated or horizontal wells.  The result has been rod string designs which are either too conservative or overly optimistic. This can result in excess rod string weight which...

In sucker rod pumps, work at the surface is translated to the pump downhole using a polished rod and rod string. Three factors reduce the energy available at the pump and decrease the efficiency of the rod pump installation.

The first factor is elasticity. Due to the elastic nature of the rod string and the cyclic motion of the pumping unit, stress waves travel up and down the rod string at the...

Rod rotators are designed to distribute wear evenly around the circumference of sucker rods. However, in practice, rods, guides, and couplings frequently develop flat spots on one side, indicating uneven rotation. The industry has not adequately studied the implications of this condition on the entire pumping system. Instead, solutions have focused on implementing higher torque rotators or...

Gas lift remains a cornerstone of artificial lift technology, particularly for addressing challenges in high Gas-Liquid Ratio (GLR) wells and heavily deviated wellbore geometries. However, declining reservoir pressures, high water cuts, and limited gas compression capacity present significant operational challenges. Coupled with increasing emphasis on cost efficiency and sustainability, these...

The fatigue performance of sucker rods is intrinsically tied to their manufacturing processes and the mechanical properties of various grades. One of the most transformative advancements introduced in the past decade is the application of shot peening, a process that has emerged as a cornerstone of performance enhancement in the sucker rod industry. TRC Services has been a pioneer in integrating...

The relative motion between sucker rods and tubing in rod-lifted wells, particularly in corrosive fluids, leads to degradation mechanisms that often cause material loss, commonly referred to as wear. In U.S. unconventional wells, this wear mechanism accounts for over 50% of the operational expenditure (OPEX) in rod-lifted systems.

Through the application of Root Cause Analysis, the primary...

High Pressure Gas Lift (HPGL) has established itself as a viable and valuable high-rate artificial lift method well suited to the challenges in modern unconventional production environments. Operators across all unconventional basins in North American unconventional basins are increasingly turning to HPGL to help them produce wells, especially during the initial production (IP) phase of the well’s...

The Eagle Ford, Bakken and other operating areas often prove to be challenging areas for the successful, long-term operation of gas lift valves due to numerous factors which may compromise the efficiency of the installation and reduce production and life expectancy of the valve. These factors may include well bore heat, well bore fluids and gases, well bore contaminants and debris, offset...

Rod-lifted wells in U.S. unconventional fields have been pushed beyond their limits since the onset of the unconventional reservoir (UR) revolution. Sixteen years later, the demand for higher production rates with rod-lift systems remains strong. As the industry progresses toward the Aspirational Goal of 1,000 barrels per day (bfpd) at depths of 10,000 feet (1K @ 10K), new challenges continue to...

Electric Gas Lift (eGL) is a relatively new artificial lift method. While fundamentally similar to traditional gas lift, using gas to aid in the production of wellbore fluids, the operating principle of the valves are different. Traditional gas lift systems use nitrogen charged bellows to open and close the valves at certain wellbore conditions, whereas electric gas lift valves (eGLVs) function by...

As global pressure mounts to reduce methane emissions, the energy industry faces increasingly stringent regulations to detect and repair leaks. In December 2023, the EPA finalized rules, including New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) OOOOb and Emissions Guidelines, mandating facilities to implement robust Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) programs. These programs can leverage either traditional...

This paper explores the application of boron-carbide (B4C) treated rod pump parts in sucker rod pump (SRP) wells, as a solution to the challenges posed by modern-day drilling and completions practices. These practices often result in sandy, corrosive, and highly deviated wellbores, leading to increased wear, frequent interventions, and downtime in rod lift systems. The paper highlights the...

1. OBJECTIVES/SCOPE: Please list the objectives and scope of the proposed paper. Environmental performance plays a crucial role in energy production today, and providing effective solutions to reduce carbon footprint of oil field operations is a top priority. Extensive research has been conducted to develop energy efficient technologies aimed at reducing power consumption, particularly in the...

Through the motion of a rod pump well, stress oscillations typically appear in the rod string at the beginning of both the upstroke and downstroke phases. This dynamic phenomenon has several adverse consequences on the well. The load in the road string is drastically increased, thus reducing its service life; the plunger velocity is higher thus increasing erosion and wear on the pumps and the...

This paper discusses and provides a number of routines codified in practical spreadsheets that production engineers and operating personnel will be able to use to do calculations helpful for visualizing, analyzing and evaluating common production problems/scenarios.  Using these spreadsheets will save time and increase the user’s effectiveness in handling various production challenges and...

This paper presents a novel technology designed to address the challenges posed by 100-mesh frac sand (149 microns) in rod pumps, particularly in the Permian Basin. This sand often causes premature pump failures by clogging and damaging key components like the plunger and barrel. The solution extends pump run life and prevents pump sticking.

The multilayer filtering system leverages the concept...