1/1/2010

Selection of Artificial Lift Methods

D. R. Davies

Institute of Petroleum Engineering, Heriot-Watt University

Revised 2010 HWU MSc. PT - David Davies

Learning Objectives

INTRODUCTION
• Explain the importance of Artificial Lift for world
oil production.
• List the different types of Artificial Lift .

SELECTION
• Select appropriate type Artificial Lift based on
ranking criteria

Revised 2010 HWU MSc. PT - David Davies

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• 7% of wells
produce under
natural flow
• This well (1994)
is unable to
initiate
flow

The need for

Revised 2010
Artificial Lift HWU MSc. PT - David Davies

• Pump initiates flow

• Low drawdown only
Revised 2010 HWU MSc. PT - David Davies

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• Place pump below perforations

• Maximum Drawdown
• Maximum
Revised 2010
Production Rate HWU MSc. PT - David Davies

Artificial
Lift
Techniques

Revised 2010 HWU MSc. PT - David Davies

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Pump Classification

Revised 2010 HWU MSc. PT - David Davies

Artificial Lift Application

• Selected type
of Artificial Lift
varies according
to particular
conditions of the
oilfield being
produced World-Wide

Major Operator
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Integration of Artificial Lift into Field Development

System Scope

Business
Long Term
Reservoir

Medium Term
Optimisation System

Platform
Time Frames
Train Short Term

min hr day week month year field life

Optimisation Time Frame

• Tools for “Thinking in Systems” available:

o 1975: Single well “snap shot” optimisation
o 1985: Field wide surveillance
o 1995: Reservoir / well / production system models began
to be
Revised 2010linked to integrate Artificial Lift over complete field
HWU MSc. PT - Davidlife
Davies

Integration of Artificial Lift into Field Development

• Tools for “Thinking in Systems” are now available:
– reservoir / well / production system models

• Minimise “total lifetime cost i.e. (CAPEX + OPEX)

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Real-Time Production Management Advantages

• Implementation of a Supervisory, Control and Data

Analysis (SCADA) system in a large artificial lift
project (> 500 rod pumped wells) resulted in:
(a) 6% production increase
(optimise lift conditions + alarms when wells cease producing)
(b) 50% reduction in well entries
(early problem recognition allows preventive maintenance)
(c) 5% reduction in energy consumption
(wasteful “over-lifting” recognised immediately)
Revised 2010 HWU MSc. PT - David Davies

Technology Development & Innovation

• Novel Lift Systems developed e.g.
- multiphase pumping - Moyno Pumps
- turbine pumps - critical flow gas lift valve
• Hybrid Technologies e.g. combined ESPs & gas lift, Downhole
Separation and subsea Pressure Boosting
• Step change in (ESP) Reliability
- Improved Design, Materials Selection, Downhole Monitoring &
Training

Revised 2010 HWU MSc. PT - David Davies

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Well Characteristics
• Production casing size & Oil Production Rate required
• Maximum Size of tubing - required gross production rate
• Annular / tubing safety systems
• Depth
• Deviation & doglegs - planned & unplanned
• Nature of Produced fluids
– Oil Viscosity & Gas - liquid ratio
– Water cut (gross production rate & Emulsion formation)
– Sand / Wax / Asphaltene deposition
• Well Inflow characteristics
Revised 2010 HWU MSc. PT - David Davies

Well Inflow Characteristics

• Production increase with artificial lift depends on:

– Increase in drawdown
Revised 2010 – well inflow characteristics HWU MSc. PT - David Davies

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Field Location
• Onshore
– Urban / Farming / National Park / isolated
– Desert / Jungle / Mountainous / Arctic
• Offshore
– platform size & facilities
– distance to processing facilities
• Isolated Well or Close Spacing
• Power source for prime mover
– natural gas /mains electricity /diesel powered
electricity generating set
Revised 2010 HWU MSc. PT - David Davies

Operational Problems
• Sand / formation fines production
• Solid deposition: Remove or Inhibit depositsby
chemical injection formation
– Paraffin (Temperature reduction)
– Asphaltenes (Pressure reduction)
– (Inorganic) Scale (CaCO3, BaSO4, NaCl etc.)
– Hydrates (low temperatures)
• Construction Materials
– Bottom Hole Temperature
– Corrosive conditions (e.g. H2S, CO2 )
– extent of solids production
– producing velocities (erosion)
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Economics
• Initial CAPEX
– Centralised Facilities?
• Operating Costs
– Equipment Life
– Energy efficiency
• Well count
– automation?
• Run lifetime
– downhole
monitoring
– training

Revised 2010 HWU MSc. PT - David Davies

Relative Advantages of Artificial Lift Methods

Revised 2010 HWU MSc. PT - David Davies

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Relative Disadvantages of Artificial Lift Methods

Revised 2010 HWU MSc. PT - David Davies

Further Reading
(1) CHOLET, C “Progressing Cavity Pumps”
Paris: Edition Technip 1997
ISBN 2-7108-0724-6

(2) BROWN, K E “The Technology of Artificial Lift

Methods. Volumes 1-4”
Pen Well Books, 1980

(3) PERRIN, D. “Well Completion and Servicing - Oil and

Gas Field Development Techniques”
Paris: Editions Technip, 1999
ISBN 2710807653
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Learning Objectives

INTRODUCTION
• Explain the importance of Artificial Lift for world
oil production.
• List the different types of Artificial Lift .

SELECTION
• Select appropriate type Artificial Lift based on
ranking criteria

Revised 2010 HWU MSc. PT - David Davies

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