Artificial lift engineer achievements

Joseph Z. Bracic, P. Eng.
Consultant/Advisor Petroleum/Completion/Production/Artificial Lift Engineer
Calgary, Alberta, Canada Mobile: 403-560-7112
Email: josephzb2004@yahoo.com Phone: 403-203-4722
joe_bracic@shaw.ca
Page 1 of 11
ACHIVEMENTS / SKILLS
As an Artificial Lift Engineer with Chevron, Royal Dutch Shell, AGOCO, IPM/Schlumberger, Apex/BHP
Billiton Petroleum, SGS/Petrofac Development and Hess Corporation included:
Investigates, researches and makes the safest and most cost effective methods of well/field production utilizing
Artificial Lift, while minimizing any loss of production revenue through evaluation of new technology and use of
innovative techniques, computer simulation modelling, specific well/production engineering procedures and
equipment.
Leads domestic and international Oil and Gas upstream operations, including production operations and
optimization in artificially lifted fields.
Utilizes intimate knowledge ofinternational regulations and standards and good oilfield practice as it relates to
artificial lift.
Insists on making extended visits to operational sites around the world, with particular focus on production gains
from any and all types of artificial lift:
Assess the need for and makes recommendations on the type ofand adviss on the implementation ofwell artificial
lift programs, processes, tools and procedures.
Provides advice, review and direct operational support to asset and operational teams, both in mature assets and sets
up of new operations teams
Directsthe life-cycle design, implementation, trouble shooting, and optimization ofall artificial lift systems [gaslift,
beam pumping, jet pumping, PCP and ESP] associated with the Field Development o, surveillance, well diagnostics,
problem solving.
Launches TWM, and UPC Global programs used in conjunction with Echometer on all naturally flowing and
artificially lifted well.
Reviews the stimulation designs and results and makes recommendations as to howthe designs can be enhanced
to yield better, faster, and/or cheaper results.
Identifies optimization/workover candidates based on propriety well surveillance and optimization technology in
order to advance Artificial Lift performance.
Recommends and monitors all permanent downhole gauge data for artificial lift applications.
Streamlines daily support to field locations to ensure uninterrupted and optimum performance of pumping oil
wells.
Directs Artificial and lift design, implementation, surveillance and enhancement using Beam Pumps, Gas lift,
ESP's, Plunger Lift and PCPs.

joe_bracic@shaw.ca
Page 2 of 11
Caries out Optimization study of installed artificial lifts across all assets which may include redesign, and
performance evaluation.
Designs and implements new and innovative solutions to existing wells with artificial lift.
Utilizes Echometer instrument using TWM software program and all other known programs used for designing
and diagnostic purposes.
Executes TWM programs used in conjunction with Echometer on all naturally flowing and artificially lifted wells.
Attendedclassesboth in Wichita Falls, Texasand in Red Deer,Alberta on the utilization of both Echometerand TWM
programs.
Designed and executed complete Reports for any assigned well utilizing Artificial Lift.
Performs root-cause failure analysis of artificial lift pumping system problems; tracks and implements
enhancements to reduce failures and increase well productivity.
Establishes how optimization service can meet the well performance needs, and accomplish the most benefits.
Extends sphere of influence beyond Artificial Lift current team into other teams in the same area and across
divisions.
Administers enthusiastic technical support to ensure uninterrupted and optimum performance of pumping oil wells.
Leads the AL team to understand their technical problems and requirements.
Nurtures ongoing relationships with field operators, field foremen and engineering staff.
Ensures all pumps are running at optimal rates.
Establishes regular training and product support relating to field operations and to engineering staff.
Presents summary reports demonstrating the benefits of actions; including specific optimization activities and results
in production and decreases in costs.
Conducts regular meetings, submits weekly reports and monthly KPIs,leads well review sessions from Artificial Lift
perspective, conducts field audits, leads the quarterly Service Quality Meetings, etc.
Oversees equipmentteardowns performed at vendor workshop,validates and approves pump designs,specifically;
pump setting depth, equipment sizing, material selection, requirement for scale inhibition; and inventory for smooth
operations, (invoicing, cost tracking, cost saving initiatives, input in the tendering documents, and technical
evaluation).

joe_bracic@shaw.ca
Page 3 of 11
An additional goal is shortening the timeline between pump failure, root cause identification, and equipment repair.
Ensures that all operations are in compliance with the Safety Management System.
Stops operations at any time if safety of people, equipment, wellbore or environment is at danger.
Coaching Operations team members to international operating and safety standards.
Ensures all pumping facilities are maintained properly to minimize losses.
Supports group to ensure the production lossesfrom pumps are reported in conjunction with loss classification,
data review, and subsequent loss mitigation action items.
Directs vendor’s quarterly performance reviews.
Managing related Maintenance contracts in terms of performance,spares,work and people quality,call-offs,budget
and others.
Conducts inspection of the tubing, downhole and wellhead equipment recovered from company operated wells;
analyzes the condition of these equipment.
Analyzes problems and finds solutions to increase the equipment running time.
Implements technical studies concerning water/gas injection and artificial lift projects, oil and gas operations,
facilities optimization or modification, as assigned.
Designs detailed workover programs utilizing artificial lift systems involving Beam Pumps, ESP, PCP, Plunger
and Gas Lift.
Reviews artificial lift performance, flow assurance, corrosion/erosion, well performance, or mal-operation.
Directs peer assist and direct operational support promoting technical excellence and safe practice in optimizing
artificial lift in existing operations.
Initiates technical analysis for artificial lift including Beam Pumps, ESP - Electrical Submersible Pumps, Gas &
Plunger lift; and PCPs - Progressive Cavity Pumps.
Launches artificial lift newdevelopments andmature assets; status of wells and the upside potentialexpansion from
artificial lift in new business opportunities.
Carries outartificial lift enhancements,opportunities and changes to optimize production coupled with performance
of current artificial lift systems.

joe_bracic@shaw.ca
Page 4 of 11
Administers artificial lift types and systems, installations, procedures and operations,and is able to demonstrate
safety leadership.
Selects best artificial lift methods for different productivity rates during reservoir development phases.
Transfers best practice for safe operation and maintenance of artificial lift, well maintenance and intervention.
Identifies competence and resource requirements, and reviews performance of those supervising and operating
artificial lift systems.
Monitoring, installation, troubleshooting, and optimizing of artificial lift.
Introduces knowledge and experience of setting up and operating artificial lift systems, and/or artificial lift
optimization.
Identifies Gas Lift and Electrical Submersible Pump artificial lift opportunities.
Overhauls input to Operations & Projects engineering for the design of the topsides artificial lift.
Generates newideas and projects, initiates field trial program for new equipment, analyze trial results and makes
approval for design and field-wide deployment.
Reviews field compression for optimization by removing, adding or relocating compression to address future projects
that impact compression.
Models wellbores with NODAL type analysis or Vendor’s Pump Programs to determine if wells have been
optimized.
Well performance is analyzed against the well model.
Reviews existing tank, pressure vessel, motor, pump, compressor and other related equipment design fitness and
create AFE packages to address safety, regulatory, reliability or economic issues.
Carries out computer simulation packages allowing modeling based on in situ fluid data and comparison to bench-
test performance curves for each specific pump.
Pressure data at each node, combined with completion and fluid properties information, directs periodic well reservoir
diagnostic checks and identification of under-performing pumping wells.
With a variable-setting intelligentflowcontrolvalve acting as achoke atthe sandface,the flowis eitherincreased
or reduced into the wellbore and drawdown adjusted accordingly.

joe_bracic@shaw.ca
Page 5 of 11
Uses Inflow Control Devices (ICDs) in the openhole completion for each lateral to enhance the well's influx
balance and control/delay water production (if the wells are completed with multilaterals targeting different
layers in the reservoir).
In addition, a hydraulic line wet-mate (HLWM) connect system is used to combine an ESP system with an
intelligent completion in multilateral wells.
The HLWM connect system providesthe flexibility to replace the ESP without having to retrieve the intelligent
completion (ICVs, multiport packers, etc.), which improved cost (24%) and time.
The integrated completion system enhances/optimizes well production, allowing for efficiently draining the
reservoir and maximizing production and recovery.
Checks and approves all design and equipment selection made by the service contractor.
Oversees all designs and equipment selection of artificial lift and all failure analysis.
Identifies artificial lift candidates and models different lift methods for basis of design documentation.
Directs all contracts and service orders of the related artificial lift systems.
Manages field staff and operation engineers in important trouble shootings of problematic wells.
Identifies, selects, and designs the artificial lift equipment (down hole and surface).
Launches specialist support for the development of the company’s artificial lift pump designs and operations.
Implements well completion prognosis to reflect installation requirements.
Communicates with reservoir/petroleum engineers to translate field/well artificial lift requirement into project
designs.
Carries out field equipment installation, commissioning and monitoring activity.
Conducting techno-economic feasibility studies to screen available techniques and field development plans taking
in consideration reservoir, well and surface facility performance.
Inspects contractor’s workshop/services to ensure quality control and good coverage of contracts.
Controls the RCFA (Root Cause Failure Analysis) process.
Designs artificial lift completions and field wide lift systems most appropriate for the reservoir assets.

joe_bracic@shaw.ca
Page 6 of 11
Identifies, monitors and assesses new technology related to artificial lift which could reduce production cost,
improve well performance and safety.
Evaluates well lifting requirement and defines operating envelope coupled with equipment material selection.
Reviews well site engineering designs to optimize the well pumping facilities, and ensures unified companywide
design.
Oversees the company’s development plans and translates that into detailed plans for equipment sizing and
procurement.
Monitors well/equipment performance using appropriate software and present lessons learnt for future design.
Directs artificial lift material requirement forecasts and drives timely procurement.
Offers broad experience in minimizing artificial lift failures.
Generates detailed design of the downhole equipment and associated topside equipment.
Identifies problematic applications/wells, conducts necessary studies, and remedial actions.
Designs artificial lift equipment, wellhead and lateral compression to optimize field gas gathering and production.
Determines the optimum artificial lift method (Gas lift, Electric Submersible Pumps, Beam Pumps, Progressive
Cavity Pumps, Plunger Lift, etc.) taking into consideration the life cycle costs.
Reviews selection methodology and design of artificial lift. This may include chemical applications for scale
inhibition or other chemical treatment procedure.
Initiates artificial lift design, monitoring, installation, troubleshooting, optimization and reviews.
Executes artificial lift study to assess options and anticipated optimum timing for installation of artificial lift.
Offers methodology for monitoring the artificial lift wells, preventive maintenance philosophy, maximizing
efficiency etc.
Implements local expertise requirements and assess candidates.
Knowledge of field lease operational costs.
Carries out contracting strategy for procurement of artificial lift equipment and services.

joe_bracic@shaw.ca
Page 7 of 11
Offers particular focus on production increases from any and all types of artificial lift.
Carries out implementation of well artificial lift programs, processes, tools and procedures.
Assesses technical performance of all artificial lift installations.
Reviews of artificial lift performance, requirements and practices.
Introduced safe working practices.
Setting up of artificial lift monitoring, maintenance and operation of those systems.
Carries out Standard operating procedures for the operating artificial lift.
Tracks costs by reviewing and approving invoices, costs, and price quotes.
Directs advice,reviewand direct operational support to asset and operational teams,both in mature assets and set
up of new operations teams in installation and setup of artificial lift systems.
Analyzes production data in order to install downhole and surface configuration(s) of wells and supplementary
processes to enhance production of recently completed and older wells.
Monitors production volumes on wells utilizing various techniques for tracking production performance.
Diagnoses production enhancement opportunities for improving performance.
Capability to analyze and predict the well behavior.
Works closely with the field operations staff to optimize artificial lift and facility performance.
Application of off-the-shelf new technology in production of assets where ever applicable.
Identifies new/emerging technologies with high business impact through enhanced production performance from
reservoir, wells, and facilities.
Selects suitable artificial lift method based on technical and economic analysis for the new development and for
already developed fields/wells.
Caries out work in the areas of inflow performance relationship, multiphase flow, hydraulic fracturing, acidization,
sand control, downhole tools, packers, pumps, pumping units and motors.
Offers broad experience and knowledge of petroleum engineering including artificial lift selection, design and
optimization, wellbore hydraulics, well completion and multiphase pumping.

joe_bracic@shaw.ca
Page 8 of 11
Analyzes well tests and make representations for improving the performance of individual wells.
Directs and monitors the evaluation of well productivity, well testing, and well optimization.
Generates new ideas and projects, initiates field trial program for newequipment,analyzes trial results and makes
design for field-wide deployment.
Serves as an information resource for failure analysis ofartificial lift equipment,well and equipment performance
analysis.
Develops and implements processes for optimum artificial lift in wells.
Establishes metrics to identify target areas to lower field lifting cost while optimizing production.
Reviews failure analysis data to optimize pumping well installations.
Carries out production enhancement opportunities for naturally flowing and artificial lift wells performing
production forecasting and real time production surveillance.
Reviews well data to find suitable candidates for increasing production by stimulation, perforating or artificial lift.
Streamlines expertise in artificial lift production techniques - selection, performance and design.
Optimizes outflow performance (e.g. artificial lift performance) within the field constraints.
Directs assurance of artificial lift in new developments and mature assets and in the assessment ofstatus ofwells and
the upside potential gain from artificial lift in new business opportunities.
Providing peer assist and direct operational support promoting technical excellence and safe practice in optimising
artificial lift in existing operations and recommending artificial lift enhancements, opportunities and changes to
optimise production.
Performance assessment of current artificial lift systems.
Advising on artificial lift types and systems, installations, procedures and operations.
Identifies competence and resource requirements, reviewofperformance and competence assessment of those
supervising and operating artificial lift systems.
Leads Production operations management in an artificially lifted field, directs artificial lift operation and ensures
optimisation in artificially lifted fields.
Experience of setting up and operating artificial lift systems and/or advising on artificial lift optimization.

joe_bracic@shaw.ca
Page 9 of 11
Knowledge and experience ofall types ofartificial lift and selection processes,well and pumping system monitoring,
maintenance and optimization tools and processes.
Advises on local expertise requirements and assess candidates.
Troubleshooting artificial lift problems, whether due to design, installation, mechanical failure, flow assurance,
corrosion/erosion, well performance, or mal-operation.
Competence assessment and mentoring of staff responsible for operating, maintaining and optimizing artificial lift in
assets.
Generates transfer of best practice for safe operation and maintenance of artificial lift, well maintenance and
intervention.
Acts as the Expert in Artificial Lift and is a part of the Technical Assurance Team.
Demonstrates safety leadership. Advises on safe working practice, conduct and take part in safety reviews.
Coordinates technical assurance on artificial lift requirements and existing system issues on all significant new
business and existing asset investment opportunities
Artificial lift run-time improvements: analyses failure reports for electric submersible, sucker rod pumps and gas lift
wells and make recommendations for improvement of run times.
Checks and approves all the recommended ESP/ PCP design and equipment selection made by the service
contractor.
Coordinates down-hole remediation work with contractors.
Approves all designs and equipment selection.
Manages all ESP, PCP, Gas Lift, Plunger Lift & BP failure analysis.
Accomplishes to check all contracts and service orders of the related artificial lift systems.
Directs field stuff and operation engineers in important trouble shootings of problematic wells.
Initiates and optimizes inventory levels to ensure enough stock levels to execute new conversions and replacement
jobs.
Ensures contractor allocate enough resources to support field operations.
Leadsspecialist support for the development of the company’s artificial lift pump designs and operations with emphasis
on Gas/ESP lift covering both oil and water.
Communicates with reservoir/petroleum engineers and other AL engineers to translate field/well artificial lift
requirement into project designs.

joe_bracic@shaw.ca
Page 10 of 11
Drafts operating procedure manuals and conducts training sessions.
Sets quality and operating efficiency standards and communicates with field operators to achieve the same.
Evaluates well lifting requirement, with emphasis on Gas/ESP and other pumping applications (Sucker rod and jet
pumps) and defines operating envelop and equipment material selection.
Develops and promotes the company’s Gas/ESP lift designs and operation best practices across all fields.
Designs Gas/ESP lift completions and field wide systems most appropriate to the field asset.
Conducts studies to determine the required surface facilities capacities.
Evaluates equipment performance and presents comparative studies between different technologies/equipment.
Sets the design envelop for the manufacturers to meet.
Reviews well site engineering P&IDdesigns to optimize the wellpumping facilities and ensuresunified the company
wide design.
Reviews the company’s development plans and translate that into detailed plans for equipment sizing and
procurement.
Organizes well completion prognosis to reflect Gas/ESP design and installation requirements.
Monitors well/equipment performance using appropriate software and present lessons learnt for future design
improvements.
Advises on well monitoring, control and surveillance tools required for production optimization.
Trains field and asset team personnel to analyze the data.
Identifies problematic applications/wells, conduct necessary studies,and advise on remedial actions. This may include
chemical applications for scale inhibition or other chemical treatment procedure.
Sets quality and operating efficiency standards and effectively communicates with field operators to achieve the
same.
Drafts operating procedure manuals and conducts training sessions to cover well performance.
Sets service quality standards and procedures for equipment vendors and field service contractors.
Ensures contractors allocate enough resources to support field operations.

joe_bracic@shaw.ca
Page 11 of 11
Designs, optimizes, and troubleshoots ESP and rod pump systems; improves run-times; provides input to vendor and
equipment selection.
Directs operations engineering and petroleum engineering with good specialization in artificial lift work.
Organizes artificial lift material requirement forecasts and drives timely procurement.
Directs production and injection forecasts.
Drafts contract terms and conditions. This would cover, testing and maintenance, wire line operations to set and
retrieve the valves on Y tools.
Realizes long-standing experience managing production and artificial lift facilities.
Oversees technical analysis and recommendations on artificial lift including rod pumps, ESP's, gas lift, plunger
lift, hydraulic and progressive cavity pumps.
Leading and execution ofcompletions design (incl. Sand Control, artificial lift, gas lift & ESPs) and development
wells with a focus on production optimization throughout the entire well life cycle.
Leads internal clients with analysis of well performance to optimize production form existing horizons or to estimate
production performance from new zones utilizing NODAL analysis, pressure transient analysis, and other
diagnostic techniques.
Launches all artificial lift failure analysis.
Plans in finding new ESP & PCP conversion candidate with tangible gains.
Directs and carries out complete artificial lift study to assess options and anticipated optimum timing for
installation of ESP's, PCP's or other recommended artificial lift.
Promotes experience - well performance monitoring and optimization, well hydraulic modeling, artificial lift (ESPs,
jet pumps, gas lift), developing well-work programs, and ability to identify optimization opportunities.
Leads well interventions: slickline, e-line, coil, rig workovers and downhole tools.
Initiates multiple disciplines and teams to streamline procedures: Operations, Wells, Reservoir Management
Promotes SCADA system experience.
Leads with demonstrated proficiency in production optimization, well fracturing, water flooding, and ESP/rod
pump design, installation, AL failure analysis and run-time optimization.

Artificial lift engineer achievements

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (20)

Similar to Artificial lift engineer achievements

Similar to Artificial lift engineer achievements (20)

More from Joseph Bracic

More from Joseph Bracic (6)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Artificial lift engineer achievements