PRODUCTION

Hydraulic
Piston-Pump
Lifting Systems
Optimizing low- to medium-volume
production in challenging wells
>
 How can you extend the profitable life of wells that produce less
than optimal volume—especially in deep or deviated wellbores,
or wells with diminishing pressure and flow rates? When the
economics become as challenging as the reservoir conditions,
hydraulic piston pumps can boost your production and
profitability all the way to the end of the well life cycle.

With their compact, reliable design and rig-free deployment,

hydraulic piston pumps can significantly reduce your risk
of equipment failure while improving productivity in difficult
wellbores. Power fluid is injected downhole to easily set and
retrieve the pump, as well as to drive the reciprocating pump
assembly. Using positive displacement, piston-pump lifting
systems achieve steady, reliable production in lower-pressure
and even in near-depletion wells.

Give your lower-pressure,

underperforming wells
a new lease on life.
At Weatherford, we pride ourselves on a long-standing history
of innovation and expertise with hydraulic piston-pump lifting
systems. We own the brands that pioneered hydraulic-lift
technology: Kobe®, which ran the first hydraulic piston pump in
1932, as well as Guiberson and Oilmaster. Over the years, we
have updated these trusted brands with in-house engineering
and manufacturing innovations to help you put the most
advanced pumps to work in your wells.

2 © 2015 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

Leave no recoverable reserves
behind—even in challenging wells.
Hydraulic piston pumps offer
reliable performance across
diverse applications and in the
most difficult well conditions.
Horizontal, deviated wells
Because hydraulic piston pumps are
compact and powered by pressurized fluid
that can adapt to tight turns and curves,
the wellbore angle has no effect on pump
operation. Deployed rig free for added
flexibility, these pumps are as reliable in
deviated holes as in straight holes.
Steady production in aging
and low-pressure reservoirs
When pressure decreases and flow
dwindles in aging reservoirs, hydraulic
piston pumps can be the key to lifting
remaining recoverable hydrocarbons.
The positive-displacement configuration
of the pump enables it to deliver low- to
medium-volume production, even at low
bottomhole pressures.
MORE PRODUCTIVITY
Doubled liquid production
in Oklahoma well to 40 to 50 B/D and
increased gas production tenfold to
MORE THAN 200 MMcf/d
Deliquification of gas and
coalbed methane wells
Water buildup in gas and coalbed methane
wells can create pressures that hinder
hydrocarbon recovery. Hydraulic piston
pumps efficiently pump out liquids,
producing down to 13 B/D (2.07 m3/d).
Viscous, heavy oil
Hydraulic piston pumps can use heated
power fluid to dilute heavy, viscous crudes
and maintain a wellbore temperature that
minimizes friction and maintains consistent
flow. Weatherford was the first oilfield
services company to use hot water as
power fluid—an especially effective
method for producing viscous crudes.
Recovery from deep wells
Operated via circulated power fluid,
hydraulic piston pumps can recover more
liquid in deep wells than rod pumps—from
depths reaching 17,000 ft (5,281 m).
Oil and gas shale plays
Horizontal oil- and gas-shale formations
present new production challenges,
including deliquification. Hydraulic piston
pumps are among the few technologies
that can provide an economical and reliable
method to deliquify horizontal wells. They
are suited for a range of depths, volumes,
and well conditions.
Well pumpoff
Using positive displacement, hydraulic
piston pumps can easily pump off a well
without sustaining damage.
BETTER FLOW
Reduced oil viscosity in China well
from 60,000 to 500 cp and increased
flow rate and profitability using
200°F POWER FLUID
© 2015 Weatherford. All rights reserved. 3
 Packer
Nose

How Hydraulic Piston Pumps Work

The multiplex pump at the surface pressurizes the power fluid
(stored crude oil or water), which is then distributed to one or
more wellheads and directed downhole to drive the pump-
assembly engine. The engine piston connects to and drives
a reciprocating piston on the production end of the pump.
This positive-displacement configuration enables the pump
to operate at low bottomhole pressures. To deliver the best
pump configuration for your well, Weatherford uses Guiberson
Bottomhole design software to analyze reservoir conditions and to
Assembly determine optimal injection pressure.

Hydraulic
Piston
Pump

Return
Fluid
From seating nipple to
surface, Weatherford offers
comprehensive hydraulic
piston-pump lifting systems.

Standing
Valve

The Hydraulic Piston-Pump Advantage

• Freestyle installation for easy downhole insertion and removal
• Short, compact body that can navigate challenging wellbore angles
• Low installation and workover costs
• Reliable operation in horizontal, deviated, deep, and high-temperature wells
• Efficient performance at low bottomhole pressures and near-total well depletion
• Solution suited for viscous, corrosive, and heavy crude oils
• Volumetric efficiency of approximately 95%

4 © 2015 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

Gas Lock: Completely Eliminated
Our patented PowerLift™ III pump is the only hydraulic piston pump After each upstroke, the pump piston is at
in which gas lock is physically impossible. Using a unique flow path the top of the pump barrel. The lower section
of the pump barrel is full of liquids and gases
that enables low-volume production without interruption, the pump that the piston drew in during the upstroke.
completely eliminates this common problem that can occur while
deliquifying horizontal wells. And it’s available only from Weatherford.

Engine Piston

Reversing Valve

Engine Barrel

As each upstroke As each

progresses, the downstroke
engine piston forces progresses, the
spent power fluid out pump piston
of the engine barrel forces the
and into the pump reservoir liquids
Discharge Valve barrel. Because the and gases
volume of the spent into the upper
power fluid exceeds portion of the
Pump Barrel the pump-barrel pump barrel.
volume, the pump
barrel empties
Pump Piston
completely, even if it
is filled entirely with
Traveling Valve gas. As a result, gas
lock is impossible.

Pressurized power fluid

Drives both upstrokes and
downstrokes
Spent (depressurized)
power fluid
Remains in the engine barrel
after each downstroke and is
then routed into the pump
barrel during each upstroke
Reservoir hydrocarbons
Drawn into the pump barrel After each downstroke, the pump piston
during each upstroke is at its lowest position in the pump barrel.
Comingled fluids The space above the pump piston is full of
(spent power fluid and reservoir liquids and gases that transferred
reservoir hydrocarbons) there during the downstroke.
Pumped to the surface
via the annulus

© 2015 Weatherford. All rights reserved. 5

Versatile, High-Power
Surface Equipment
Hydraulic piston pumps and jet pumps share a common
power-fluid system at the surface. This system can serve
several wells from one package to lower overall costs, or it
can serve wells on an individual basis. This equipment also
enables you to change between hydraulic piston pumps
and jet pumps without incurring downtime or equipment
replacement costs.
CygNet Production Software
®

This two-skid system cleans, conditions, and pressurizes

reservoir fluid to operate the downhole piston pump. One
skid contains the multiplex pump, which ranges from 60 to
625 HP, and an electric motor or multicylinder drive. The
other skid contains a vessel in which production fluid and
exhaust power fluid are conditioned and the oil is separated
from gas and water. The pump and vessel are both
corrosion resistant.
Leveraging existing supervisory control and data acquisition
(SCADA) programs, CygNet software collects and manages
large volumes of wellbore and reservoir data—giving you a
complete view of your hydraulic piston-pump lifting operations
in real time. With this software, you can mitigate risks and
determine the best way to get the most life from your wells.

6 © 2015 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

Get more life from your wells. ™

Hydraulic piston-pump systems represent only a fraction of our production

solutions. With unparalleled experience and an unmatched breadth and
depth of solutions for all forms of artificial lift, we can optimize production
in any well. Our customer service centers are conveniently located in every
major oil-producing area of the world to address your needs efficiently
wherever you operate. We also offer comprehensive artificial-lift training
programs that enhance your team’s expertise and productivity.

Specifications
Typical operating depth
(total vertical depth)
Maximum operating depth
(total vertical depth)
Typical operating volume
Maximum operating volume
Typical operating temperature
Maximum operating temperature
Typical wellbore deviation
Maximum wellbore deviation
Corrosion handling
Gas handling
Solids handling
Fluid gravity
Servicing
Prime mover type
Offshore application
7,500 to 10,000 ft (2,286 to 3,048 m)
17,000 ft (5,182 m)
20 to 500 B/D (3.18 to 79.49 m3/d)
3,000 B/D (476.96 m3/d)
100 to 250°F (38 to 121°C)
500°F (260°C)
0° to 25° landed pump
0° to 90° pump displacement, <25°/100-ft build angle
Good
Poor
Poor
>8° API
Hydraulic or wireline
Multicylinder or electric
Good

PARAMETER KOBE® TYPE A POWERLIFT™ III

Pump designation 2 3/8 x 1 5/16 x 1 3/16 in. 2 x 1 5/8 x 1 1/16 in. 2 x 1 5/8 x 1 1/4 in.
Stroke length 12 in. (304.8 mm) 49 in. (1,244.6 mm) 49 in. (1,244.6 mm)
Displacement engine
4.17 (0.66) 15.08 (2.40) 15.08 (2.40)

Displacement pump
3.25 (0.52) 6.45 (1.030) 8.92 (1.42)

Maximum displacement 393 B/D (62.48 m3/d) 225 B/D (35.77 m3/d) 312 B/D (49.60 m3/d)
Maximum speed 121 spm 35 spm 35 spm
P/E ratio 0.78 0.52 0.72

© 2015 Weatherford. All rights reserved. 7

Hydraulic piston-pump lifting systems are among the most
versatile and effective forms of artificial lift and deliver high
performance in the most challenging conditions. To learn more
about our comprehensive portfolio of artificial-lift technologies
and whether hydraulic piston pumps are the best solution for
your well, contact your authorized Weatherford representative
or email PO-Info@weatherford.com.

weatherford.com © 2015 Weatherford. All rights reserved. 11514.00

Weatherford products and services are subject to the Company’s standard terms and conditions, available on request or at weatherford.com. For more information contact an authorized Weatherford
representative. Unless noted otherwise, trademarks and service marks herein are the property of Weatherford and may be registered in the United States and/or other countries. Weatherford products
named herein may be protected by one or more U.S. and/or foreign patents. Specifications are subject to change without notice. Weatherford sells its products and services in accordance with the terms
and conditions set forth in the applicable contract between Weatherford and the client.