The slide-pack covers a large variety of artificial lift methods. Explanations are supported by breakdown of pros and cons, calculations and questions. Questions will shed light of roughly how to decide which method(s) to use in a specific case.

1. ARTIFICIAL LIFT
Farida Ismayilova

2. AGENDA
 Natural flow
 Artificial lift:
• Rod pump
• Progressive cavity pump (PCP)
• Hydraulic pump
• Plunger lift
• Gas lift
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3. NATURAL FLOW
 The flow thanks to the natural energy of
the field(the formation pressure)
 Flow condition:
Pformation>
PBH=Phydrostatic+Pfriction+Ptubinghead
Phydrostatic=ρgh
Ρ-density, h-the height of the mud column
h
Pformation
PBH
PTH
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4. EXERCISE 1
 A vertical well has 4000 feet depth
 Formation pressure is 1500 psi
 Fluid gradient is 0.42 psi/ft
 Does the well flow?
Answer: No, formation pressure isn’t sufficient to
reach wellhead.
1500 / 0.42 = 3571ft < 4000ft
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5. EXERCISE 2
 A vertical well has 4000 feet depth
 Formation pressure is 1500 psi
 Fluid gradient is 0.42 psi/ft
 Identify the static liquid level in the well
Answer: Static liquid level is at depth of 3571ft.
1500 / 0.42 = 3571ft
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6. ARTIFICIAL LIFT
 Petrowiki:
 Artificial lift is a method used to lower the producing
bottom hole pressure (BHP) on the formation to
obtain a higher production rate from the well.
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7.  ~2 million oil wells in the world
 ~1 million wells utilize artificial lift
 ~750,000 of these use sucker rod pumps
 Gas Lifted wells produce more oil than any other
method
 More $ are spent on ESP’s worldwide than any other
method
Artificial lift worldwide
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8. EXERCISE 3
 A vertical well has 4000 feet depth
 Formation pressure is 1500 psi
 Fluid gradient is 0.42 psi/ft
 How much additional pressure is required to flow the
well?
Answer: 180psi
Total pressure required = 4000 * 0.42 = 1680psi
Additional pressure required on top of formation
pressure = 1680 -1500 = 180 psi
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9. EXERCISE 4
 A vertical well has 4000 feet depth
 Formation pressure is 1500 psi
 Fluid gradient is 0.42 psi/ft
 Flow line pressure is 120 psi
 How much additional pressure is required to flow the well?
Answer: 300psi = 180 + 120
Summing answer from Exercise 3 and Flow line pressure.
(180psi)
Flow line pressure is additional force to overcome for the
fluid(well) to flow.
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10. ROD PUMP
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11. ROD PUMP SCHEMATICS
~ 5-40 liters liquid/stroke
Could provide rates up to 60-480
bbl/day liquid
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12. PROS AND CONS
Advantages
 High system efficiency
 Optimization controls
available
 Economical
Disadvantages
 Potential for tubing
and rod wear
 GOR
 Depth limited (load)
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13. APPLICATION CONSIDERATIONS
 Depth 30-3000 m
 Volume 5-1500 bpd
 Temperature 35-175 C
 Inclination 0-20 deg
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14. PROGRESSIVE CAVITY PUMPS
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15. PCP
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16.  Good for heavy oils
 Handles solids(metal
debris, sand, cale)
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17. PROS AND CONS
Advantages
 Low cost and power
consumption
 Pumps liquids with
solids
 Use in horizontal
wells
Disadvantages
 Potential for tubing
and rod wear
 GOR
 Depth limited
 Requires constant
fluid level
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18. APPLICATION CONSIDERATIONS
 Depth 300-1500 m
 Volume 5-2500 bpd
 Temperature 20-75 C
 Inclination 0-90 deg
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19. HYDRAULIC PUMPS
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20. HYDRAULIC PUMPS
 Uses power fluids (oil or water) to
add energy to the system
 A surface pump pumps the power
fluid
 Power fluids drive a down hole motor
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21. PROS AND CONS
Advantages
 Often “Free” or
wireline retrievable
 Good depth capability
 Use in deviated wells
Disadvantages
 Solids
 Requires high
pressure and surface
facilities
 Requires specific BHA
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22. APPLICATION CONSIDERATIONS
 Depth 1000-3000 m
 Volume 50-1000 bpd
 Temperature 35-120 C
 Inclination 0-90 deg
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23. PLUNGER LIFT
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24. PLUNGER LIFT
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25. PROS AND CONS
Advantages
 No outside energy
required
 Low cost method
 GOR handling
 Deviated wells
Disadvantages
 Solids
 Low volume
 Requires surveillance
to optimize
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26. APPLICATION CONSIDERATIONS
 Depth 300-2500 m
 Volume 1-10 bpd
 Temperature 20-130 C
 Inclination 0-60 deg
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27. GAS LIFT
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28. GAS LIFT
2 types:
•Continuous
•Intermittent
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29. GAS LIFT VALVE
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30. PROS AND CONS
Advantages
 Flexibility
 Wireline retrievable
 Solids
 Fullbore drift
 Multi-well production
Disadvantages
 Requires high
pressure compressor
 Backpressure
 Fluid viscosity
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31. APPLICATION CONSIDERATIONS
 Depth 1000-4000 m
 Volume 50-10000 bpd
 Temperature 30-130 C
 Inclination 0-70+ deg
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32. ESP
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33. CENTRIFUGAL PUMP
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34. PROS AND CONS
Advantages
 High volume/depth
capability
 Deviated wells
Disadvantages
 Requires electric
power
 Difficult to repair
 Gas and solids
 Viscosity
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35. APPLICATION CONSIDERATIONS
 Depth 300-3500 m
 Volume 100-25000 bpd
 Temperature 30-150+ C (depending on seal)
 Inclination 0-90 deg
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36. EXERCISE 5
 A well has 3,000 feet (914 meters) depth
 Some sand production
 Some viscosity
 Capable to produce 800 bpd
 Which artificial lift type would you use?
Answer: Hydraulic Pump, Rod pump , Gas lift
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37. EXERCISE 6
 A well has 7,000 feet (2,134 meters) depth
 No sand production
 Capable to produce 500 bpd
 Which artificial lift type would you use?
Answer: ESP, Hydraulic Pump
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38. EXERCISE 7
 A well has 12,000 feet (3,658 meters) depth
 Some sand production
 Capable to produce 50 bpd
 Which artificial lift type would you use?
Answer: Intermittent gas lift
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39. EXERCISE 8
 A well has 13,000 feet (3,963 meters) depth
 No sand production
 Capable to produce 3,000 bpd
 Which artificial lift type would you use?
Answer: ESP, Gas lift
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40. EXERCISE 9
 Capable to produce 30,000 bpd
 Which artificial lift type would you use?
Answer: ESP, Gas lift
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