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Disclaimer: This paper partially fulfills a writing requirement for first year (freshman) engineering students at the University of
Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering. This paper is a student paper, not a professional paper. This paper is based on publicly
available information and may not provide complete analyses of all relevant data. If this paper is used for any purpose other than
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JET PUMP TECHNOLOGY WORKS TO MAXIMIZE OIL PRODUCTION IN
OFFSHORE DRILLING SITES
Shira Hackman (seh147@pitt.edu)
INTRODUCTION
Oil is one of the most relied on natural resources in
the world. As industrialization increases, so does the
dependency on oil power. Oil is necessary in our daily
lives—from powering the cars that we drive, to
illuminating the buildings we work in--and is required to
produce chemicals and plastics [1]. In 2016 the United
States consumed 7.21 billion barrels of oil alone on
industry [1]. The United States has looked to oil drilling
offshore in the Gulf of Mexico, where oil is abundant
under the sea floor, to reduce America’s dependency on
foreign oil [2]. With drilling in the ocean comes
opposition due to concerns of environmental impacts.
The excretion of pollutants, especially in cases of oil
spills, poses a threat to surrounding marine life and
wetlands [2]. However, in recent years, scientists and
engineers have come up with new technology to address
these environmental impacts, and to improve production
and extraction of oil. Techniques such as artificial lift and
more specifically, jet pumps, work to enhance the overall
efficiency of drilling wells [3].
HOW ARTIFICAL LIFT JET PUMPS
WORK
Offshore oil drilling works by lifting fluids from
underwater reservoirs to the surface [3]. However, some
wells cannot lift oil from reservoirs naturally. When
wells do not contain enough energy and pressure to force
oil up from under the surface innately, they rely on a
technique called artificial lift [3]. Most wells rely on
artificial lift to recover more crude oil from reservoirs by
speeding the uplift of oils, at the same time, maximizing
production [4]. Artificial lift usually requires a
mechanical devise in the well, typically a pump that
works to decrease the weight of the oil by ejecting a high-
pressure gas, making it easier for crude oil to travel from
the ground to the surface [4].
There are many types of artificial lift, and picking
the proper method is crucial to maximize production over
time. One specific up-and-coming method is the use of
University of Pittsburgh, Swanson School of Engineering 1
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hydraulic jet pumps, which operate by using a multiplex
pump to pressurize fluid into the well [5]. The pump is
composed of a nozzle to increase the velocity and
decrease pressure of the power fluid, and a throat where
the power fluid encounters the produced fluid [5]. The
fluid then travels downhole through the pump throat
where the mixture transfers to the pump diffuser, at
which point the pressure is increased to raise the oils to
the surface quickly and effectively, thus maximizing
output [6]. The engineers at Tech-Flo, a consulting
company for artificial lift solutions, boast that jet pumps
are a “simple and trouble-free form of artificial lift”,
providing many advantages [5]. Jet pumps provide a
reliable low maintenance system, allowing for flexibility
in lift volumes [5]. The system is also durable and can
operate for an extended period without replacement or
intervention [6]. Interventions are expensive, at an
average cost of $250,000 per day, therefore minimizing
interventions is crucial to making oil wells more efficient
[7]. There are also no moving parts in jet pumps which
reduces maintenance and risk of failure [6]. Installation
of jet pumps is easier than the installation of other types
of artificial lift, like a process called gas lift; therefore, it
is less costly [7]. The system is also small, thus
minimizing production equipment space [6]. These
advantages work to maximize production of oil drilling
and reduce risk of disaster, benefitting the environment
and the economy in the long run.
On the other hand, jet pumps do present some
drawbacks. They require higher horsepower for the
power fluid pump to meet the same level of efficiency as
other artificial lift techniques [7]. As a result, power fluid
rates need to be twice the production rate, which can
increase internal turbulence and friction, thus decreasing
horsepower efficiency [8]. Although these shortcomings
can lower efficiency rates, the operational benefits of jet
pumps outweigh those shortcomings and combine to
make jet pumps a more “dependable and economic
solution” for many wells [8].
Jet pumps have been utilized on onshore drilling
locations and have proven to be effective overall. One
example includes the Wilcox Formation Well located in
Texas, which started utilizing jet pumps and have seen a
Shira Hackman
37% increase in oil production [9]. With success on
onshore sites, engineers have recently brought hydraulic
jet pump technology to offshore locations to maximize
production.
JET PUMP TECHNOLOGY IN
OFFSHORE SITE OUDNA FIELD
In 2015, the first hydraulic jet pump system was
utilized at the remote Oudna Field located in offshore
Tunisia to optimize well production [7]. Many types of
artificial lift were eliminated as ineffective, such as the
gas lift approach which would require Oudna to have a
readily available source of gas, which proved difficult for
this remote location [7]. The decision was made by
engineers from Lundin Tunisia, Norwell Engineering,
and Weatherford CPS to incorporate jet pump technology
into the Oudna Field as the first subsea installation [10].
After a successful installation, the Oudna field has
operated for several problem-free years, without need for
intervention [7]. With the new subsea jet pump system in
action, the Oudna field has been able to produce well
above its expected rate [7]. The jet pumps provided for
several hundred million dollars in oil production with
minimal intervention costs [10]. From the prosperity of
the Oudna Field, Jet pumps are being more seriously
considered for other offshore drilling sites [10].
Jet pumps have proven to be successful in both
onshore and offshore oil drilling locations, by
maximizing production and overall efficiency. However,
do the benefits of this new technology outweigh the cost
of potential environmental damage?
PROFESSIONAL VIEWPOINTS
With drilling in the ocean, opposition arises that
offshore oil drilling is not an environmentally sound
practice and that investment should be made in clean
energy rather than continued extraction of oil [1].
Environmental attorney Andrew Walter argues that
offshore oil drilling causes “irreparable harm”, being
responsible for the death of millions of animals, and
damaging fragile marine life in cases of oil spills [11].
Walter emphasized the BP oil spill in 2010, a disaster that
killed 11 workers, and released over five million barrels
of toxic oil into the Gulf of Mexico [11]. However,
Attorney Tracy DiLascio counters that most the
important factor to oil drilling is “ensuring that safety
measures are put into place before disasters happen” [12].
To reduce the risk of server problems on drilling sites, the
combination of the design of effective technologies and
legislation is required to protect the environment so that
there are strong backup plans if disaster strikes [12].
Although in cases of oil spills, offshore drilling can
pose significant risk to the environment, Bob Graham
and William K. Reily, Co-Chairs of the National Oil Spill
Commission, argue that “offshore drilling is safer” than
it was during the Gulf of Mexico incident seven years ago
[13]. Since 2010, there have been many technological
advances developed to help reduce the risk of
malfunctions and oil spills, jet pumps being an example.
However, do the efficient technologies outweigh the
negative impacts from offshore oil drilling?
SIGNIFICANCE
Oil is crucial for fueling society. In America, crude
oil accounts for 28% of the county’s energy production,
the second largest energy source behind natural gas [2].
However, society needs to be mindful of the pollution
and environmental risks offshore oil drilling poses,
especially those living near the coasts. Engineering plays
a crucial role in making offshore drilling more proficient
by minimizing risk of malfunctions in oil reservoirs.
Engineers strive to make technologies more efficient, to
better society, and ensure sustainability. With most of our
energy coming from crude oils and petroleum,
engineering is necessary to transform how we extract oil
and make it a cleaner process.
I’ve always had a passion for the environmental
issues and sustainability, especially after taking
Advanced Placement Environmental Science in high
school. As an aspiring civil engineer, I want to help make
technologies more cost-effective, without leaving a large
footprint on the environment. I believe oil drilling is
necessary to fuel society; however, drilling should be
done in a more efficient and clean manner. I believe jet
pump technology is the next step to making offshore oil
production cleaner and more productive, giving us the
energy we need.
After extensive research on the controversy of
offshore oil drilling and the effects of hydraulic jet pump,
I conclude that the effectiveness of jet pumps outweigh
the negative environmental impacts. Although
environmental issues shouldn’t be taken lightly, I believe
that offshore oil drilling shouldn’t be completely
prohibited due to how much society depends on oil.
Engineers and legislators must work together to ensure
the safety of drilling sites, by creating efficient
technology and creating laws to protect the environment.
The creation of jet pump technology helps to maximize
production, while minimizing intervention [7]. With no
moving parts, jet pumps allow for wells to run smoothly
without risk of failure [6]. Therefore, with minimal
intervention, there is less risk of reservoirs encountering
problems in offshore sites. Although, oil drilling can pose
a threat to the surrounding marine life and habitats,
engineers must continue to come up with technology to
reduce the risks of oils spill. Jet pumps are only one step
to making offshore oil drilling more ecofriendly and
2
Shira Hackman

efficient, but there is more to be done. As a future 30, 2017, from

engineer, I aspire to find solutions to reduce http://web.b.ebscohost.com/pov/detail/detail?vid=2&sid
environmental impact to problems in our society and =020084aa-b737-4e67-8f47-
ensure a sustainable world. 723146d6dc00%40sessionmgr120&bdata=JnNpdGU9c
G92LWxpdmU%3d#AN=55818888&db=pwh
SOURCES [13]Graham, B., & Reily, W. K. (2017, July 05). Trump’s
Risky Offshore Oil Strategy. Retrieved October 30, 2017,
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Independent Statistics and Analysis. (n.d.). Retrieved https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/05/opinion/trump-
October 29, 2017, from oil-drilling-energy-gulf.html
https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=41&t=6
[2]Consumption & Production . (2017, May 19). ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Retrieved October 29, 2017, from
https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/?page=us_energy I would like to thank the writing center for helping
_home me organize my thoughts and inspiring me to become a
[3]Goswami, S., & Chouhan, D. S. (2015). Artificial Lift better writer. I would also like to thank Hillman Library
to Boost Oil Production. International Journal of for providing me with endless resources and for staying
Engineering Trends and Technology, 26(1), 1-5. open 24 hours a day so I could finish this paper. Lastly, I
doi:10.18411/d-2016-154 would like to thank my engineering friends who stay with
[4]Artificial Lift Production and Solutions. (2014). me in Hillman until unreasonably late hours.
Retrieved October 29, 2017, from http://www.tech-
flo.net/artificial-lift.html
[5]Jet Pumps for Oil Production. (2014). Retrieved
October 29, 2017, from http://www.tech-flo.net/jet-
pumps.html
[6]Weatherford. (2015). Jet-Pump Lifting
Systems [Brochure]. Author.
[7] Khelifa, B., Fraser, K., & Pugh, T. (2015, November
18). Subsea hydraulic jet pump optimizes well
development offshore Tunisia. Retrieved October 30,
2017, from http://oilfieldmagazine.com/subsea-
hydraulic-jet-pump-optimizes-well-development-
offshore-tunisia/
[8]Moon, T. (2016). E&P Defining Series-Jet Pumps.
Retrieved October 30, 2017, from
http://www.slb.com/resources/oilfield_review/or_en_int
ro_article.aspx
[9]Wilcox Gas Lift to TFC Jet Pumps. (2014). Retrieved
October 30, 2017, from http://www.tech-flo.net/case-
studies.html
[10]Pugh, T., Khelifa, C. B., & Fraser, K. (2015, June
01). First Ever Sub-Sea Hydraulic Jet Pump System Used
To Optimize Single Well Development Offshore Tunisia.
Retrieved October 30, 2017, from
https://www.onepetro.org/download/conference-
paper/OMC-2015-207?id=conference-paper%2FOMC-
2015-207
[11]Walter, A. (2016, March 1). Offshore Oil Drilling Is
Not the Answer. Retrieved October 30, 2017, from
http://web.b.ebscohost.com/pov/detail/detail?vid=1&sid
=125b57c3-cd35-4d9e-8981-8598914081ee%40pdc-v-
sessmgr01&bdata=JnNpdGU9cG92LWxpdmU%3d#A
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[12]DiLascio, T. (2016, March 1). Point: The US Should
Permit & Expand Offshore Drilling. Retrieved October