Lec 11
Ismailova J.A.
The need for artificial lift
Artificial lift is required when a
well will no longer flow or
when the production
rate is too low to be economic
Is it
possible for this well to
flow naturally under and
conditions?
Yes: If the well productivity Index is
sufficiently high and the produced
fluid contains enough gas that the flowing
fluid pressure gradient gives a positive
wellhead pressure. But, the well has to be
"kicked off" (started flowing) by swobbing
or other techniques.
Review of Artificial Lift Techniques
Rod Pumps - A downhole plunger is moved up and down by a rod connected to an engine at the surface. The plunger
movement displaces produced fluid into the tubing via a pump consisting of suitably arranged travelling and standing
valves mounted in a pump barrel.
Hydraulic Pumps use a high pressure power fluid to:
(a) Drive a downhole turbine pump or
(b) Flow through a venturi or jet, creating a low pressure area which
produces an increased drawdown and inflow from the reservoir
Electric Submersible Pump (ESP) employs a downhole centrifugal pump driven by a three phase, electric motor
supplied with electric power via a cable run from the surface on the outside of the tubing.
Review of Artificial Lift Techniques
Pump classification
Status of the role of artificial lift in field development
Relative frequency of different types of artificial-lift methods installed in the
USA in 1992 (data from J.Clegg, S.Buchan and N.Heln, JPT, December 1993, p1128)
Status of the role of artificial lift in field development
Production from artificial lift wells for a major international oil company
Artificial lift is being more widely applied in field development than ever before due to:
Artificial lift is being more widely applied in field development than ever before due to:
Implementation of a real time, Supervisory, Control and Data Analysis (SCADA) system in a
large artificial lift project consisting of more than 500 rod pumped wells resulted in a:
An integrated production model
Selection of Artificial Lift Criteria
Selection of Artificial Lift Criteria
Selection of Artificial Lift Criteria
Selection of Artificial Lift Criteria
Selection of Artificial Lift Criteria
Selection of Artificial Lift Criteria
Economics
Example full life cycle eceonomics
Selection of Artificial Lift Criteria
Comparison of the energy efficiency of the major artificial-lift methods adapted
from J.Clegg et al
Selection of Artificial Lift Criteria
Economics
Advantages of major artificial lift methods
Disadvantages of major artificial lift methods
Long Term Reservoir Performance and Facility Constraints
Typical application areas of artificial lift techniques
Typical application areas of artificial lift techniques
