ARTICAL 01

Overview of Artificial Lift Systems

This paper provides an overview of artificial lift systems and gives guidelines indicating when one system is
better to use than another. Advantages and disadvantages are given with examples in the selection of lift
methods.

This list represents the relative standing of lift systems based on the number of installations throughout the
world: (1) sucker rod pumping (beam pumping) (2) gas lift (3) electric submersible pumping, (4) hydraulic
piston pumping, (5) hydraulic jet pumping, (6) plunger piston pumping, (5) hydraulic jet pumping, (6)
plunger (free-piston) lift, and (7) other methods. This differs according to field, state, and country.

New lift systems are being developed and tested continually. The lifting of heavy viscous crude oils
requires special attention, and methods designed specifically for this purpose are being tested. Wells
located offshore and in deep water present specific problems, and surface- space limitations become
important. The artificial lift method should be considered before the well is drilled. Obviously this cannot be
done on wildcat wells. but it must be done on all subsequent development wells. The drilling program must
be set out to ensure hole sizes that permit adequate casing and tubing sizes. permit adequate casing and
tubing sizes. One serious limitation to artificial lift installations has been the installation of small casing
sizes, which limits the installation to specific tubing sizes to obtain the objective flow rate and, in particular,
limits the size of retrievable gas lift equipment and/or pumping equipment. The installation of gas-lift
mandrels that accept only 1 -in. (2.5-cm) OD gas-lift valves is common in the U.S.. and serious limitations
on gas passage volumes are imposed on the system with this small valve. Also, the better performance
characteristics of the 1 1/2-in. (3.8 1 -cm) OD valve are lost. For the pumping systems. the smaller capacity
pumps must be used in the smaller casing sizes, and sometimes the advantage of retrievable pumps is
lost. pumps is lost. Surface-space limitations become an important factor. For example, if large
compressors for gas lift or large generators for electrical pumping are anticipated for offshore platforms,
provisions must be made in the original design to allow for both weight and space on the platforms. Some
engineers are invariably optimistic about platforms. Some engineers are invariably optimistic about natural
flow in the planning stage, and in many instances they still maintain that artificial lift will not be required
during the life of a field. This leads to very poor planning, especially on offshore facilities. planning,
especially on offshore facilities. In the design of artificial lift systems for a well, it is recommended that it
initially be treated as if it were a flowing well--i.e., a production systems graph should be prepared to see if
the well is capable of flowing and, if it is, at what rate. The artificial lift analysis can be placed on the same
plot. Numerous flowing wells will show increased flow rates when placed on artificial lift.

The purpose of any artificial lift system is to create a predetermined tubing intake pressure such that the
predetermined tubing intake pressure such that the reservoir may respond and produce the objective flow
rate. The design and analysis of any lifting system can be divided into two main components. The first is
the reservoir component (inflow performance relationship), which represents the well's ability to produce
fluids.
 ARTICAL 02

Selection of Artificial Lift

Selection of the most economical artificial lift method is necessary for theoperator to realize the maximum
potential from developing any oil or gas field.Historically the methods used to select the method of lift for a
particularfield have varied broadly across the industry, including

 Determining what methods will lift at the desired rates and from therequired depths.
 Evaluating lists of advantages and disadvantages.
 Use of "expert" systems to both eliminate and select systems.
 Evaluation of initial costs, operating costs, production capabilities, etc.using economics as a tool of
selection.

This paper will highlight some of the methods commonly used for selectionand also include some examples
of costs and profits over time calculated to thepresent time as a tool of selection. The operator should
consider all of thesemethods when selecting a method of artificial lift, especially for alarge, long-term projet

In artificial lift design the engineer is faced with matching facilityconstraints,artificial lift capabilities and the
well productivity so that anefficient lift installation results. Energy efficiency will partially determinethe cost
of operation, but this is only one of many factors to beconsidered.

In the typical artificial lift problem, the type of lift has already beendetermined and the engineer has the
problem of applying that system to theparticular well. The more basic question, however, is how to
determine what isthe proper type of artificial lift to apply in a given field.

Each of the four major types of artificial lift will be discussed beforeexamining some of the selection
techniques. Some additional methods of liftwill also be discussed. Preliminary comments related to
reservoir and wellfactors that should be taken into consideration are presented.
ARTICAL 03

Decision Tree for Selection of Artificial Lift Method

Recent changes, upgrades and development in artificial lift equipment haveexpanded the considerations
for selection of pumping method. This paper coverssucker rod pumping, continuous gas-lift, intermittent
gas-lift, electricsubmersible pumping, hydraulic reciprocating pumping, hydraulic jet systems,plunger lift,
progressing cavity pumping, and additional miscellaneous pumpingmethods. Changes in well conditions
and equipment capabilities demand timelyreviews of the original lift method decision to determine if it is still
thebest choice. Often the selection of the lift method is based on operatingpersonnel/decision tree should
be a long term economic analysis. This paperwill consider how new advances in individual methods have
changed their costeffectiveness and provided solutions to unique problems.

There is not a single lift system that is the most economic system for allwells. In order to access the
practically and the economics of various methodsof artificial lift, the first step is to generate an IPR (Inflow
PerformanceRelationship) curve or a PI (Productivity Index). Then a profile of expectedand desired
production versus time should be determined. Figures 1 & 2.

With the above information, potential artificial lift methods can beintroduced, including expected run lives
and cost considerations for the mostobvious methods. Detailed cost estimates of the well operating cost
are thenreported and compared to the numbers used in the economic evaluation of thefield. The
economics of low rate wells and high rate wells need to be adjustedto account for the economics of the
project.
ARTICAL 04

Global Optimization of Gas Allocation to a Group of Wells in

Artificial Lift Using Nonlinear Constrained Programming
Continuous flow gas lift is one of the most common artificial lift methods widely used in the
oil industry. A continuous volume of high-pressure gas is injected as deep as possible into
the tubing, to gasify the oil column, and thus facilitate the production. If there is no restriction
in the amount of injection gas available, sufficient gas can be injected into each oil well to
reach maximum production. However, the injection gas available is generally insufficient. An
inefficient gas allocation in a field with limited gas supply reduces the revenues, since
excessive gas injection is expensive due to the high gas prices and compressing costs.
Therefore, it is necessary to assign the injection gas into each well in optimal form to obtain
the field maximum oil production rate. The gas allocation optimization can be considered as
a maximization of a nonlinear function, which models the total oil production rate for a group
of wells. The variables or unknowns for this function are the gas injection rates for each well,
which are subject to physical restrictions. In this work a nonlinear optimization technique,
based on an objective function with constraints, was implemented to find the optimal gas
injection rates. A new mathematical fit to the gas-lift performance curve (GLPC) is presented
and the numeric results of the optimization are given and compared with those of other
methods published in the specialized literature. The GLPC can be either measured in the
field, or alternatively generated by computer simulations, by mean of nodal analysis. The
optimization technique proved fast convergence and broad application
ARTICAL 05

Selection of Artificial Lift Method

In artificial lift design the engineer is faced with matching artificial lift capabilities and the well productivity so
that an efficient lift installation results. With the increasing cost of energy, it is becoming more important
that the best efficiency possible be obtained. In the typical artificial lift problem, the type of lift has already
been determined and the engineer has the problem of applying that system to the particular well. The more
basic question, however, is how do we determine what is the proper type of artificial lift to apply in a given
field. Each of the four major types of artificial lift will be discussed a little later by one of the panel members.
This introduction will attempt to look at some of the reservoir and well factors that should be taken into
consideration in making this initial basic decision on the type of artificial lift to use.

There are certain environmental and geographical considerations that may be overriding issues. For
example, sucker rod pumping is by far the most widely used artificial lift method in the United States.
However, if we are in the middle of a densely populated city or on an offshore platform with forty wells
contained in a very small deck area, sucker rod pumping may be eliminated as a viable means of lift to be
considered. These geographic and environmental considerations may simply make our decision for us;
however, there are many considerations that need to be taken into account when these conditions are not
predetermining factors.

Among the most important factors to consider are reservoir pressure and well productivity. If producing rate
vs. producing bottom-hole pressure is plotted, one of two relationships will usually occur. Above
bubblepoint pressure, it will be a straight line. Below bubblepoint pressure, a curve as described by Vogel
will occur. These two types of productivity relationships are shown in Figure 1. Some types of artificial lift
are able to reduce the producing pressure to a lower level than other types. The reward for achieving a
lower producing pressure will depend on the type of productivity relationship. For example, a well in a
reservoir with 2000 psi reservoir pressure and a producing pressure of 500 psi will be producing 75 percent
of the maximum rate if the well has a straight line productivity relationship. On the other hand, if it is
following a Vogel curve relationship, it will be producing 90 percent of the maximum rate. The
characteristics of the reservoir fluids must also be considered. Paraffin is a much more difficult problem
with some kinds of lift than others. The production of solids from the formation along with the well fluids
needs to be considered. Sand can be very detrimental to some types of lift and much less so on others.
The producing gas-liquid ratio is very important to the lift designer. Gas is a significant problem to all of the
pumping methods. Gas lift, on the other hand, utilizes the energy contained in the produced gas and simply
supplements this source of energy