This document discusses various artificial lift methods used to increase production from oil and gas wells as reservoir pressure declines. It describes the basic principles and components of common artificial lift techniques, including sucker rod pumps, gas lift, electrical submersible pumps, hydraulic jet pumping, plunger lift, and progressive cavity pumping. For each method, it provides information on advantages, limitations, and typical application ranges for operating parameters such as depth, production rate, temperature, and wellbore geometry. The document aims to provide an overview of different artificial lift options and considerations for selecting the appropriate production method.
Artificial Lift Methods for Oil & Gas Wells Explained
1. SARWAR ALAM ANSARI
MS-Petroleum Engineering ( Student)
SARWAR ALAM ANSARI
MS-Petroleum Engineering
Khazar University, Baku, Azerbaijan
ARTIFICIAL LIFT METHODS
2. INTRODUCTION
Artificial lift
Increase Reservoir Pressure
To recover more production
Natural flow decrease over time
50% of wells need artificial lift world wide
96% of US wells need artificial lift in starting
2
7. SUCKER ROD PUMP
Advantages of Sucker Rod Pump:
High System Efficiency
Optimization Controls Available
Economical to Repair and Service
Positive Displacement/Strong Drawdown
Upgraded Materials Reduce Corrosion Concerns
Flexibility - Adjust Production Through Stroke Length and Speed
High Salvage Value for Surface & Downhole Equipment
7
8. SUCKER ROD PUMP
8
Limitations of Sucker Rod Pump:
Potential for Tubing and Rod Wear
Gas-Oil Ratios
Most Systems Limited to Ability of Rods to Handle Loads (Volume
Decreases As Depth Increases)
Environmental and Aesthetic Concerns
9. SUCKER ROD PUMP
SRPApplication Considerations:
9
Typical Range Maximum
Operating Depth 100 - 11,000’ TVD 16,000’ TVD
Operating Volume 5 - 1500 BPD 5000 BPD
Operating Temperature 100° - 350° F 550° F
Wellbore Deviation 0 - 20° Landed
Pump
0-90° Landed Pump-
<15°/100’Build Angle
Corrosion Handling Good to Excellent
Gas Handling Fair to Good
Solids Handling Fair to Good
Fluid Gravity >8° API
Servicing Work over or Pulling Rig
Prime Mover Type Gas or Electric
Offshore Application Limited
System Efficiency 45%-60%
10. GAS LIFT
Introduction:
• Initial injections of pressurized gas need to be injected in steps or
stages starting near the top of the string and then going deeper.
• Compressed gas affects liquid in two ways
i) the energy of expansion propels the oil to the surface
ii) the gas aerates the oil so that the effective density of the
fluid is less and, thus easier to get to the surface .
• Four categories of wells
High PI, High BHP wells (>0.5 low PI)
High PI, Low BHP wells (<0.5 High PI)
Low PI, High BHP wells
Low PI, Low BHP wells
10
11. GAS LIFT
11
Fig: Configuration of a typical gas lift well
Basic Equipment
Main operation valves
Wire-line adaptations
Check valves
Mandrels
Surface control equipment
Compressors
Mandrels:
To help maintain the
pressure on the injected
gas in the annulus.
To hold the one way
valves.
Conventional (runs in
tubing) and Side Pocket
Mandrel (hung in tubing).
13. GAS LIFT
13
Advantages of Gas Lift:
High Degree of Flexibility and Design Rates
Wireline Retrievable
Handles Sandy Conditions Well
Allows For Full Bore Tubing Drift
Surface Wellhead Equipment Requires Minimal Space
Multi-Well Production From Single Compressor
Multiple or Slim hole Completion
14. GAS LIFT
14
Limitation of Gas Lift:
Needs High-Pressure Gas Well or Compressor
Fluid Viscosity
Bottom hole Pressure
High Back-Pressure
Well integrity concerns
Maybe Uneconomical for wells
Limited gas injection rate (depends on orifice)
Expensive Operation and maintenance of compressors
15. GAS LIFT
Gas Lift Application Considerations:
15
Typical Range Maximum
Operating Depth 5000 - 10000’ TVD 15,000’ TVD
Operating Volume 100 – 10,000 BPD 30,000 BPD
Operating Temperature 100° - 250° F 400° F
Wellbore Deviation 0 - 50° 70° short medium
radius
Corrosion Handling Good to Excellent (with up materials)
Gas Handling Excellent
Solids Handling Good
Fluid Gravity Best in >15° API
Servicing Wireline or Work over Rig
Prime Mover Type Compressor
Offshore Application Excellent
16. ELECTRICAL SUBMERSIBLE PUMP
16
Introduction:
Principle:
ESPs are pumps made of dynamic pump stages or centrifugal pump
stages. The electric motor connects directly to the centrifugal pump
module in an ESP. This means that the electric motor shaft connects
directly to the pump shaft. Thus, the pump rotates at the same speed
as the electric motor.
i) Subsurface components ii) Surface components
-Pump -Motor controller
-Motor (or variable speed controller)
-Seal electric cable -Transformer
-Gas separator -Surface electric cable
18. ELECTRICAL SUBMERSIBLE PUMP
18
Advantages of ESP:
High Volume and Depth Capability
High Efficiency Over 1,000 BPD
Low Maintenance
Minor Surface Equipment Needs
Good in Deviated Wells
Adaptable in Casings > 4-1/2”
Use for Well Testing
19. ELECTRICAL SUBMERSIBLE PUMP
19
Limitations of ESP:
Available Electric Power
Limited Adaptability to Major Changes in Reservoir
Difficult to Repair In the Field
Free Gas and/or Abrasives
High Viscosity
Higher Pulling Costs
20. ELECTRICAL SUBMERSIBLE PUMP
20
ESPApplication Considerations:
Corrosion Handling Good
Gas Handling Poor to Fair
Solids Handling Poor to Fair
Fluid Gravity >10° API
Servicing Work over or Pulling Rig
Prime Mover Type Electric Motor
Offshore Application Excellent
System Efficiency 35%-60%
Typical Range Maximum
Operating Depth 1,000- 10,000’ TVD 15,000’ TVD
Operating Volume 200- 20,000 BPD 30,000 BPD
Operating Temperature 100° - 275° F 400° F
Wellbore Deviation 10° 0-90° Pump Placement
<10°Build Angle
21. HYDRAULIC JET PUMPING
21
Fig: Sketch of a hydraulic jet pump installation
Introduction:
Hydraulic pumping systems
transmit power downhole by means
of pressurized power fluid that
flows in wellbore tubulars.
Jet Pump converts the pressurized
power fluid to a high-velocity jet
that mixes directly with the well
fluids.
22. HYDRAULIC JET PUMPING
22
Advantages of Hydraulic Jet Pumping :
No Moving Parts
High Volume Capability
“Free” Pump
Deviated Wells
Multi-Well Production from Single Surface Package
Low Pump Maintenance
23. HYDRAULIC JET PUMPING
23
Limitation of Hydraulic Jet Pumping :
Producing Rate Relative to Bottomhole Pressure
Some Require Specific Bottomhole Assemblies
Lower Horsepower Efficiency
High-Pressure Surface Line Requirements
24. HYDRAULIC JET PUMPING
24
Hydraulic Jet Pumping Application Considerations:
Corrosion Handling Excellent
Gas Handling Good
Solids Handling Good
Fluid Gravity >8° API
Servicing Hydraulic or Wireline
Prime Mover Type Multi-Cylinder or Electric
Offshore Application Excellent
System Efficiency 10%-30%
Typical Range Maximum
Operating Depth 5,000- 10,000’ TVD 15,000’ TVD
Operating Volume 300- 1,000 BPD 15,000 BPD
Operating Temperature 100° - 250° F 500° F
Wellbore Deviation 0-10° Hole Angle 0-90° Pump Placement
<24°/100’Build Angle
25. PLUNGER LIFT
25
Principle:
It uses a free piston that travels up and down in the well’s tubing
string.
It minimize liquid fall back and uses the well’s energy more
efficiently than in slug or bubble flow.
It remove liquids from the wellbore so that the well can be produced
at the lowest bottom-hole pressures.
Mechanics of a plunger lift system is same in oil/gas well, or gas lift.
A length of steel, is dropped down the tubing to the bottom of the
well and allowed to travel back to the surface. It provides a piston-
like interface between liquids and gas in the wellbore and prevents
liquid fall back.
27. PLUNGER LIFT
27
Advantages of Plunger Lift :
Requires No Outside Energy Source - Uses Well’s Energy to Lift
Dewatering Gas Wells
Rig Not Required for Installation
Easy Maintenance
Keeps Well Cleaned of Paraffin Deposits
Low Cost Artificial Lift Method
Handles Gassy Wells
Good in Deviated Wells
28. PLUNGER LIFT
28
Limitations of Plunger Lift :
Specific GLR’s to Drive System
Low Volume Potential (200 BPD)
Requires Surveillance to Optimize
29. PLUNGER LIFT
29
Plunger Lift Application Considerations:
Corrosion Handling Excellent
Gas Handling Excellent
Solids Handling Poor to Fair
GLR Required 300 SCF/BBL/1000’ Depth
Servicing Wellhead Catcher or Wireline
Prime Mover Type Well’s Natural Energy
Offshore Application N/A at this time
Typical Range Maximum
Operating Depth 8,000’ TVD 19,000’ TVD
Operating Volume 1- 5 BPD 200 BPD
Operating Temperature 120° F 500° F
Wellbore Deviation N/A 80°
30. PROGRESSIVE CAVITY PUMPING
30
Introduction:
It is a positive displacement pump.
It uses an eccentrically rotating single helical rotor, turning inside a
stator.
It can be used for lifting heavy oils at a variable flow rate.
32. PROGRESSIVE CAVITY PUMPING
32
Advantages of Progressive Cavity Pumping:
Low Capital Cost
Low Surface Profile for Visual & Height Sensitive Areas
High System Efficiency
Simple Installation, Quiet Operation
Pumps Oils and Waters with Solids
Low Power Consumption
Portable Surface Equipment
Low Maintenance Costs
Use In Horizontal/Directional Wells
33. PROGRESSIVE CAVITY PUMPING
33
Limitations of Progressive Cavity Pumping:
Limited Depth Capability
Temperature
Sensitivity to Produced Fluids
Low Volumetric Efficiencies in High-Gas Environments
Requires Constant Fluid Level above Pump
34. PROGRESSIVE CAVITY PUMPING
34
Progressive Cavity Pumping Application Considerations:
Corrosion Handling Fair
Gas Handling Good
Solids Handling Excellent
Fluid Gravity <35° API
Servicing Workover or Pulling Rig
Prime Mover Type Gas or Electric
Offshore Application Good(ES/PCP)
System Efficiency 40% - 70%
Typical Range Maximum
Operating Depth 2,000-4,500’ TVD 6,000’ TVD
Operating Volume 5- 2,200 BPD 4,500 BPD
Operating Temperature 75-150° F 250° F
Wellbore Deviation 0-90° 0-90° Landed Pump
<15°/100’ Build Angle