Muhamad Umar

1. Soran University
Faculty of Engineering
Department of Petroleum Engineering
Well Completion and Intervention
Title: Artificial Lift Methods
Name: Muhamad Umar Hamad
Assignment: 1
Supervisors: Mr. Barham
Date: May 19, 2022

2. Contents
Aim ........................................................................................................................................... 1
Introduction............................................................................................................................... 1
Artificial Lift Methods.............................................................................................................. 2
Progressive Cavity Pump (PCP)............................................................................................... 2
Rod Lift..................................................................................................................................... 2
Plunger Lift............................................................................................................................... 3
Gas Lift ..................................................................................................................................... 3
Hydraulic Lift............................................................................................................................ 4
Electric Submersible Pump (ESP) ............................................................................................ 4
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 5
Reference ................................................................................................................................. 5
List of figures
Figure 1: Components of a beam pump artificial lift system..............................................................2
Figure 2: Progressive Cavity Pump (PCP)...............................................................................................2
Figure 3: Gas Lift.............................................................................................................................................3
Figure 4 Electric Submersible Pump (ESP).............................................................................................4

3. Aim
Artificial lift is a technique for lowering the producing bottomhole pressure (BHP) on a formation
in order to increase the well's production rate. To lower the flowing pressure at the pump intake, a
positive-displacement downhole pump, such as a beam pump or a progressive cavity pump
(PCP), can be used.
Introduction
A downhole centrifugal pump, which might be part of an electrical submersible pump (ESP)
system, can also be used. Gas lift allows for a lower bottomhole flowing pressure and higher
flow rate by lowering the density of the fluid in the tubing and using expanding gas to help
raise the fluids. Artificial lift can be used to generate flow from a well that isn't producing or
to improve flow from a well that is already producing. Most oil wells require artificial lift at
some time during their existence, and many gas wells benefit from artificial lift to remove
liquids from the formation and allow gas to flow more freely. Artificial lift refers to a number
of techniques used by oil and gas companies to boost downhole pressure and push resources
to the surface. There is usually enough existing pressure and volume to get oil and gas to the
producers in select regions, such as Colorado's DJ Basin, even start new wells with artificial
lift to get production flowing quickly.Artificial lift is employed primarily for two reasons: to
increase output and to make a well last longerProgressive Cavity Pump (PCP), Rod Lift,
Plunger Lift, Gas Lift, Hydraulic Lift, and Electric Submersible Pump are some of the most
prevalent artificial lifts (ESP). The top red piece is an electric motor with a gear reduction. A
series of rods rotates all the way to the pump's location. A massive screw revolves at that
moment, effectively augering fluid out of the well.The progressive cavity pump can be seen
laying horizontally in the well in the photo. For horizontal wells, this is one of the greatest
methods of artificial lift. Because all shale plays include horizontal activity, this is critical.
One difficulty for PCP is that it requires electricity to function. Because many younger shale
plays are located in places where grid electricity is not yet available, they may have to rely on
rented generators to power their pumps. Brown Kermit E (1980)
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4. Artificial Lift Methods
In the oilfield business, there are numerous artificial lift methods. However, the following are the
most commonly utilized artificial lifts:
❖
Progressive Cavity Pump (PCP),
❖
Rod Lift,
❖
Plunger Lift,
❖
Gas Lift,
❖
Hydraulic Lift
❖
Electric Submersible Pump (ESP)
Progressive Cavity Pump (PCP)
Progressing Cavity Pumps (PCP) are commonly used in the oil sector to pump highly viscous
fluids. They have a rotor and a stator and are positive displacement pumps. The rotor is rotated
using a top side or bottom hole motor, which creates sequential cavities to push the oil to the
surface. Progressive cavity pumps, as artificial life solutions, offer a wide range of variable rate
and depth flexibility. In comparison to other artificial lift systems, PCPs have a cheap operating
and capital cost due to their simple design. Their artificial lift method's efficient performance is
particularly effective because they offer remarkable resistance to abrasives and solids.
Figure 2: Progressive Cavity Pump (PCP)
Rod Lift
One of the most prevalent artificial lift technologies is rod lift. Rod lift works as an artificial lift
solution by using a pump jack at the surface. Pump jacks are also known as sucker rod pumps
(SRP), dinosaurs, horse heads, nodding donkeys, and other names. They are also known as beam
pumps and are driven by electricity or gas. Figure 1 depicts the key components of beam pump
artificial lift systems:
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5. The pump jack uses a sucker rod string and pump to pressurize the well downhole and bring
resources (oil and gas) to the surface pipelines and equipment. The rods are inserted into the tube
within the casing. A pump and two check valves are located at the bottom of the rod string.
Plunger Lift
Plunger lifts create a differential pressure that forces liquid up the casing and into the production
equipment and pipework. This sort of artificial lift monitors valve opening and fluid lifting using
a timer control attached to a high-pressure control valve. The well's flow stops when the tube is
shut in. The artificial lift plunger then descends to the well's bottom, where liquid collects on top
of it. Solid plungers, brush plungers, pad plungers, and continuous flow plungers are examples of
plungers. Their working methods are essentially same. Plunger lifts are an excellent artificial lift
option. Plunger lift services are quite popular due to their low cost.
Gas Lift
Gas lift is an artificial lift technique that involves injecting gas into the reservoir and forcing the
product to the surface. Gas injection lowers the density of the gas, oil, and water mixture by
increasing the gas-liquid ratio. Abrasive materials such as sand can be handled by gas lift
installations. This artificial lift device is employed in wells with low productivity, high gas/oil
ratios, or deviated wellbores. The well is pressured with a pressurized gas (typically carbon
dioxide or nitrogen), which forces the liquid to reach the apparatus and surface pipework. Gas lift
valves are positioned at certain depths in the tube to inject high-pressure gas.Gas lifts provide
excellent artificial lift performance, with daily production ranging from hundreds to thousands of
barrels of fluid. The components of a gas lift system are shown in Figure 2:
Figure 3: Gas Lift
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6. The primary advantages of gas lift as an artificial lift type are its high versatility, wireless
retrievability, ability to handle sandy conditions, small footprint, multi-well production from a
single compressor, full bore tubing drift, and so on.
Hydraulic Lift
Hydraulic lift is an artificial lift method that involves pressurizing the well fluid with a surface
pump. Surface high-pressure injection pump and pipeline, injection tubing, downhole assembly,
and positive displace or jet pump are the major components of this sort of artificial lift system.
The wellhead of the hydraulic lift well is connected to the power fluid manifold.
Electric Submersible Pump (ESP)
Production fluid is also pushed out of the well using electric submersible pumps (ESP). They can
be employed to maximize output in a variety of applications, including high temperature,
unconventional, conventional, and offshore requirements. An ESP is connected to a lengthy
electric motor and situated below the reservoir fluids at the bottom of the tubing string. The
blades of the electrically powered pump move the liquid in the well. Large amounts of fluid can
be moved using ESPs. The pump's need to increase or decrease the fluid volume demand is
detected by a control box. A typical electric submersible pump can pump about 20,000 barrels of
fluid per day. Electrical power cable, electrical submersible motor, motor protector, seal electric
cable, gas separator, motor controller, and centrifugal pump are the key components of an
electrical submersible pump system.The key benefits of ESP include its great volume and depth
capability, high efficiency, low maintenance, and minimal surface equipment requirements,
among others. Electricity is required, in-field repairs are difficult, and pulling costs are higher, am
Figure 4: Electric Submersible Pump (ESP)
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7. Conclusion
This chapter discusses the many ways for determining the optimal artificial lift system for a
particular set of field circumstances. The subject covers depth-rate feasibility maps, tables of
benefits and drawbacks, expert system programs that include feasibility, technical, and economic
programs, and economic analysis approaches such as present-value analysis. The user is obliged
to analyze difficult conditions, etc., throughout the design process because the present-value
method compels designs to reach target rates. Before performing the NPV analysis, the user must
add gas separators, sand control, or whatever else is required to accomplish the target rates.
Various feasibility criteria must be addressed by necessity; thus, even if all data required for a
thorough economic analysis is not available, moving on is necessary. The user is forced to
examine or make best estimates of essential parameters as a result of the analysis, indicating a
better selection process, Although there are some reasonably full expert systems for selection,
their application is not yet mainstream. This could be due to the ongoing updating necessary, or it
could be because alternative types of selection methods using experienced personnel work just as
well or better. The lack of utilization could also be due to a general lack of expertise with these
technologies and a lack of awareness of the potential outcomes of their application.
Reference
❖
The technology of artificial lift methods Book by Kermit Brown. Penn Well Books, 1977
- Technology & Engineering - 1087 pages
❖ Gas Lift Manual Book by Gabor Takacs, (2005 ) - 478 pages
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