Natural well A well in which the formation pressure is sufficient to produce oil at a commercial rate without requiring a pump.

Most reservoirs are initially at pressures high enough to allow a well to flow naturally.
Artificial lift use of artificial means to increase the flow of liquids, such as crude oil or water, from a production well. Generally this is achieved by the use of a mechanical device inside the well (known as pump or velocity string) or by decreasing the weight of the hydrostatic column by injecting gas into the liquid some distance down the well.

Factors Affecting Selection

Producing characteristics Fluid properties Hole characteristics Reservoir characteristics Long range recovery plan Surface facilities Location Economies

Producing Characteristics

Selection depends on IPR which define the amount of rate Also water cut affect the selection process Gas liquid ratio will decrease the efficiency of the lifting system.

Fluid properties
Two important prop. Should be considered viscosity and oil volume factor If viscosity is less than 10cp any method will be proper but if the oil is high viscous only some types will be used like HP Formation volume factor which represents the barrels of liquid that must be lifted in order to provide a desired surface production rate should also be considered

Hole characteristics
The artificial lift system should be selected according to hole depth and deviation

Economics
Initial capital investment Monthly operating expense Equipment life Number of wells to be lifted Surplus equipment availability Well life

Systematic approach to artificial-lift solutions.

Selecting the right lifting configuration and system for a specific well or field requires an in-depth analysis of well conditions, field and client requirements, equipment capabilities and associated costs

Formoflift

RodLift

PCP

GasLift

PlungerLift

HydraulicHydraulic LiftJet

ESP

Capillary Technologies

Maximumoperating depth,TVD(ft/m)

16,000 4,878

12,000 3,658

18,000 4,572

19,000 5,791

17,00015,000 5,1824,572

15,000 4,572

22,000 6,705

Maximumoperating volume(BFPD)

6,000

4,500

50,000

200

8,00020,000

60,000

500

Maximumoperating temperature(F/C)

550 288

250 121

450 232

550 288

550550 288288

400 204

400 204

Corrosionhandling

Goodto excellent

Fair

Goodto excellent

Excellent

GoodExcellent

Good

Excellent

Gashandling

Fairtogood

Good

Excellent

Excellent

FairGood

Fair

Excellent

Solidshandling
Fluidgravity(API) Servicing

Fairtogood
>8

Excellent
<40

Good
>15 Wirelineor workoverrig

Fair
>15 Wellhead catcheror wireline

FairGood
>8>8 Hydraulicorwireline

Fair
>10 Workoveror pullingrig

Good
>8 Capillaryunit

Workoverorpullingrig

Primemover

Gasor electric

Gasor electric

Compressor

Wellsnatural energy

MulticylinderMulticylinder orelectricorelectric

Electric motor

Wellsnatural energy

Offshoreapplication Systemefficiency

Limited 45%to60%

Limited 50%to75%

Excellent 10%to30%

N/A N/A

GoodExcellent 45%to55%10%to30%

Excellent 35%to60%

Good N/A

Artificial Lift Methods Overall Comparison

RodPumping
Worldwide Market CapitalCost
Themostpopularartificialliftsystem,40%. 18%oftotalpopulation.

ESP

JetPump
1%oftotalpopulation.

GasLift
ThemostpopularartificialliftsystemafterRod pump,34%oftotalpopulation. Wellgasliftequipmentcostlow,butcompression costandgasdistributionsystemmaybehigh. Centralcompressionsystemreducesoverallcost perwell. Low,GasliftsystemshaveaverylowOPEXdue tothedownholereliability.Wellcostlow. Compressioncostvarydependingonfuelcost andcompressormaintenance.

Lowtomoderate.Costincreasewithdepthand largersurfaceunits.

Highforpowergenerationandcabling.Relatively lowcapitalcostifelectricpoweravailable.Costs increaseashorsepowerincrease.

Relativelylowtomoderate.Costincreaseswith higherhorsepower.Wellheadequipmenthaslow profile.Requiressurfacetreatingandhigh pressurepumpingequipment. Highpowercostduetohorsepowerrequirmentto pumppowerfluid.Lowpumpmaintenancecost withproperlysizedthroatandnozzleforlongrun life.Nomovingpartsinpump,simplerepair procedures.

OperatingCost

Lowforshallowtomodiumdepth(<7000ft)andlow production(<400bfpd).Unitseasilychangedto otherwells(re-use)withminimumcost.

Moderatetohigh.Costlyinterventionsarerequired tochangeoutconventionalESPcompletion.Varies ifhighhorsepower,highenergycosts.Highpulling costsresultsfromshortrunlife.Repaircostoften high,butproductivityandimprovedrunlifecan offsetthesecosts. Requirespropercableinadditiontomotor,pumps seals,etc.Gooddesignplusgoodoperating practicsessential.

DownHole Equipment

Reasonablygoodroddesignandoperating practicesneeded.Goodselectionoperatingand repairpracicesneededforrodsandpumping.

Requirescomputerdesignprogramsforsizing. Tolerantofmoderatesolidsinpowerfluid.No movingpartsinpump,longservicelift.Simple repairprocedurestorunandretrievepump downhole. Largeamountofsurfacespacingisrequire. Surfaceunitcanbemountedononeskidortwo skidsforadualvesselpowerfluidcleaningunit.

Goodvalvedesignandspacingessential. Moderatecostforwellequipment(valves& mandrels).Typicallylessthan"5"valvesneeded. Choiceofwirelineretrievableofconventional valves. Largeamountofspaceisrequiredtoinstalla compressionsystem.

Facilities footprint

Smallfootprintonsurface.Facilitiesoftenhave powergenerationalreadyinstalled;hencethe additionofpowerforarodpumpunitdoesnothave aslargeanimpactasforgascompression. Excellenttotalsystemefficiency.Typically50to 60%.

Facilitiesoftenhavepowergenerationalready installedhencetheadditionofpowerforESPdoes nothaveaslargeanimpactasforgas compression. Goodforhighratewells,butdecreasesignificantly for<1000BFPD.Typicallytotalsystemefficiencyis about50%forhighratewellsbutfor<1000BPD, efficiencytypically<40%.

Efficiency (Operating).

Fairtopoor,maximumefficiencyforidealcaseis 30%thuspowerfluidat2-3timestheproduced fluidrateisrequired.Heavityinfluencedbypower fluidplusproductiongradient.Typicallyoperating efficiencyof10to20%. Goodtoexcellent,powerfluidratesandpressure adjuststheproductionrateandliftcapacityfrom no-flowtofulldesigncapacityofinstalledpump selectionofthroatandnozzlesizesextendrange ofvoluneandcapacity. Goodwithproperthroatonnozzlesizingfor operatingconditions.Mustavoidoperatingin cavitationrangeofjetpumpthroat,relatedto pumpintakepressure.Moreproblemsifpressure >4000psi. Availablecomputerdesignprogramforapplication design.Basicoperatingprocedurefordownhole pumpandwellsiteunit.Freepumpeasily restrictedforon-siterepair.Downholejetoften requirestrialanderrortoarriveatbest/optimum jet.

Increasesforwellsthatrequiresmallinjection GLR's.LowforwellsrequiringhighGLR's. typically20to30%.

Flexibility

Excellent,cancontrollproductionrate.

Poor,forfixedspeed.RequirescarefuldesignVSD providesbetterflexibility.

Excellent,gasinjectionratevariedtochange rates.Tubingneedstobesizedcorrectly.

Reliability

Excellent:runtimeefficiency>95%ifgoodrod practicesfollowed.

Varies,excellentforidealliftcases,poorfor problemareas(verysenstivetooperating temperaturesandelectricalmalfunctions).

Excellentifcompressionsystemproperly designedandmaintained.

System(Total)

Straightforewordandbasicprocedurestodesign, install&operatefollowingAPIandRP's.Eachwell isanindividualsestem.

Fairlysimpletodesignbutrequiresgoodratedata systemnotforgiving,requiresexcellentoperating practicesfollowAPI,RP'sindesigntestingand operation.Eachwellisanindividualprocedure usingacommonelectricsystem.

Anadequantsvolume,highpressure,dry,noncorrosiveandcleangassupplysourceisneeded throughouttheentirelife.Gooddataneededfor valvedesignandspacing.APIspaceand design/operatingRP'sshouldbefollowed.

Artificial Lift Methods Overall Comparison

RodPumping
Usage/Outlook
Excellent,usedonabout85%ofUSAartificiallift wells.Thenormalstandardartificialliftmethod.

ESP
Anexcellenthighrateartificialliftsystem.Best suitedfor<200dgreeFand>1000BFPDrates. Mostoftenusedonhighwatercutwells

JetPump
Goodforhighervolumewellsrequiringflexible operationwidedepthrange,hightemperature, highcorrosion,highGOR,significantsand production. Excellent,upto15,000BPDwithadequate flowingbottomholepressure,tubularsizeand HP.

GasLift
Good,flexible,highrateartificialliftsystemfor wellswithhighbottomholepressures.Mostlikea flowingwell.

Volumehighlift capabilities

Fair,restrictedtoshallowdepthsusinglarge plungers.Maximumrateabout4000bfpdfrom 1000'&1000bfpdfrom5000'.

Excellent,limitedbyneededHPandcanbe restrictedbycasingsize.Tendommotorscanbe usedtoincreaseHPbutalsoincreaseoperating costs. Generallypoor,lowerefficienciesandhigh operatingcosts<400BFPD.

Excellent,restrictedbytubingsizeandinjection gasrateanddepth.

Volumelowlift capabilities

Excellent,mostcommonlyusedmethodforwells producing<100bfpd.

Fair,>200BFPDfrom4000feet.

Fair,limitedbyheadingandslippage.Avoid unstableflowrange.Typicallylowerlimitis200 BFPDfor2"tubingand700BPDfor3"tbg. Intermittentgasliftsystemisbetterforlow volume. Thefullrangeofproductionratecanbehandled. AnAOFproductionratecannotbeachievedwith gasliftbecauseasmushdrawdownasforan ESPcannotbeachieved.

Productionrate range

Rateisdependentonsettingdepth.Feasiblefor lowrates(<100b/d)andlowGOR(<250).In generalduetoefficiency,rodpumpisnot recommendedasaliftmechanismofchoiceon highproducingwells. Thepumpdepthandthedynamicheadrestrict achievingalowFBHP.Theexcellentresultcan obtainatintakepressurelessthan25psig providingadequatedisplacementandgasventing, typicallyabout50to100psigFBHP.

Thefullrangeofproductionratescanbehandled. WhenunconstrainedanESPcanbedesignedto producethefullwellpotentialtothesurface(AOF), thusachievinghigherflowratesthangaslift.

Thefullrangeofproductionratescanbehandled. Lessthan50BPDupto15,000.AOFproduction ratecannotbeachieved.

Flowingbottom holepressure

AchievinganyFBHPisnotaconstraintwithESP. AOFcanbeachievedifthewellandreservoir propertiesdonotconstraintheESPdesign.

Forrangeof100to1000psi,Typicaldesign targetisaminimumof100psiper1000feetoflift. Intakepressureshouldbe>350psito5000ftwith lowGLR.ForBHFPlessthan100psi,jetpump cannotdeliverfluidstosurface.

IftheFBHPisgreaterthan1000psi,the efficiencyofthegasliftdeterminesthe achievableFBHP.Agasliftedwellnormally workswithFBHPinthisrange.Forrange100to 1000psiFBHP,gasliftcanworkintheupperend ofthisrangeforlowreservoirpressureand productivitywells,howeverthereneedstobe enoughreservoirenergytodelivertheproduced fluidstothesurface.Lessthan100psiFBHP, gasliftcannotdeliverfluidstosurface. Achievabledrawdownislimitedbyabilityto lighternheadoffluidabovegasliftpoint.AOF canneverbeachieved. Gasliftabletohandlealltypesofflowregimesby theystableorunstable. Recommendedforprimaryandsecondary waterflood.Howeverhighwatercutreducesthe abilitytomovelargefluidvolumes. Wellsuited,howeverincreasingwatercutreduces theabilitytomovelargefluidvolumes.

Drawdown

Thepumpdepthandthedynamicheadlimit acievabledrawdown.

AnydrawdowncanbeachievedwithagivenESP design,howeverwellandreservoirconstraintslimit finaldrawdown. Notrecommendedforunstableflow.

Gooddrawdownbutcannotcompletelydepletea well.

Flowstability Recovery

Notrecommendedforunstableflow.

Continuousandsmoothflowofproducedfluids.

Recommendedforprimaryandsecondary waterflood.

Recommendedforprimaryandsecondary waterflood.

Recommendedforprimaryandsecondary waterflood.

Pressuresuppo rt (ConstantPs)

RecommendedforconstantPs.

RecommendedasanESPisabletomovethe samefluidvolumenomatterwhatwatercut.

Recommended,asjetpumpsystemis independentofwatercut%producingfromawell.

Artificial Lift Methods Overall Comparison

RodPumping
Reservoir pressuredeclin e
Ifthereisnopressuresupportfromthereservoir, productionratewilldeclineandthewellwillbe "pumped-off".

ESP
Notrecommendedwhenthereissignificant pressuredrop,therangeofproductionratesthata particularESPdesigncanhandleislimited.Hence thereservoirconditionrateofchangewoulddefine theESPchangeoutfrequencyratherthanESP mechanicalrunlife.Variablefrequencydrives (VFD)allowsomeoperationalflexibilityonmatching theproductionratetotheESPdesign. Recommendedforthefullrangeofwatercut.The ESPislargelyinsensitivttoincreasingwatercut.

JetPump
Notrecommendedwhenthereissignificant pressuredropinthereservoir,therangeof productionratesthataparticularjetpumpdesign canhandleislimited.Anewjetpumpdesign needstobeinplacedtogetoptimumliftforthe well.

GasLift
Recommendedastheflexibilityofgasliftallows oneinstallationtodealwithfallingpressureand productionrates.

WaterCut

Recommendedforthefullrangeofwatercut.

Recommendedforthefullrange.Highwater productionmayincreasetheoperatingcost.

Highwatercutmayreduceefficiencydueto heaviercolumnoffluidtolighten.Maynotbe abletoliftwellifreservoirpressureislow. Recommendedforfullranges.Gasliftwouldbe onlyexpectedtobeofbenefitathigherGOR.

Gasoilratio

FeasibleforlowrateandlowGOR(<500scf/stb). Forrange500to2000,Gassywellsusuallyhave lowervolumetricefficiency.Gashandlingabilityis ratherpoorifonehastopump>50%freegas.Ifthe gasanchorornaturalseparationisusedandfree gasisventing,thevolumetricefficiencycanbe significantlyimproved.NotrecommendedforGOR greaterthan2000scf/stb.

RecommendedforLessthan500scf/stb.Problems withgasbreakoutinthepumpwillbeminimised. Forrange500to2000scf/stb,theachievablepump ratewillbelimitedbytheamountofgasbreaking outofsolutionintheareaofthepump.AnESPcan bedesignedtoafreegasvolumehandlingcriteria. Downholegashandlingequipmentmaybe incorporatedintothecompletion.Greaterthan 2000scf/stb,FBHPwillneedtostayabovethe bubblepointpressuretoavoidgascavitationinthe pump. Notrecommendedforhighbubblepoint,asthiswill limitthemaximumdrawdowninthewellduetothe detrimentaleffectsoffreegasinthepump. Recommendedforlowbubblepoint,hencethe FBHPcanbelowallowingmoreproductionwithout theaffectsoffreegasinthepumpregion. Notrecommended

Targetdesignislessthan1000GLR.Not recommendedforGORgreaterthan2000.Gas above2000scf/stbsubstantiallyreduces efficiencybuthelpslift.Ventfreegasifpossible. Theproducingoffreegasthroughthepump causesreductioninabilitytohandleliquids.

Bubblepoint

Nothighlyrecommendedforhighbubblepoint. Recommendedforlowbubblepoint.

Notrecommendedforhighbubblepoint. Recommendedforlowbubblepoint.

Recommendedforallbubblepoints.Gasliftnot dependentonthebubblepointpressurehenceis suitableforanyrange.

Gasconing Waterconing

Forgassyreservoir,Rodpumphandlingisfairto good. Rodpumpcanbeeffectiveinproducingawellthat coneswater. >8^API. Recommendedforlessthan100cpgasfree viscosityatreservoirtemrature.Goodfor<200cp fluidsandlowrate.Rodfallproblemforhighrates. Higherratesmayrequirediluentstolowerviscosity. Notrecommendedforgreaterthan500cp,as pumpefficiencywillreduce.

Notrecommended.Cavitationinjetpumplikely.

Gasliftcanbeeffectiveinproducingawellthat conesgas. Gasliftcanbeeffectiveinawellthatcones water. Nolimitations.Preferable>15API. Hasbeenusedwithsuccessupto1000cpbut littlecasehistoryforveryhighviscosity.

ESPcanbeeffectiveinawellthatconeswater,but mayallowmorewatertoproduceratherthanoil. NolimitationsPreferable>12API. Recommendedforlessthan100cpgasfree viscosityatreservoirtemperature.100to500cpwill reducetheefficiencyofESP.Notrecommendedfor greaterthan500cp,asthemotorscoolpoorlyin thehighviscousfluid,morepowerisrequiredto pumphighviscusfluidandemulsionsform.

Jetpumpcanbeeffectiveinawellthatcones water. >8to45API. Thesystemiscapableofhandlinghigh-viscosity fluid.

Oilgravity Fluidviscosity

Artificial Lift Methods Overall Comparison

RodPumping
Safety
Workoverstochangeoutrodstringcouldbe requiredevery1-1/2year.Ifitishighlydeviated well,frequentworkoverscouldberequiredtofix brokenrodstring.Asfrequentasonceevery6-8 months. Excellent:<25psiprovidedadequetedisplacement &gasventing.Typicallyabout50to100psig.

ESP
Fullworkovercouldberequiredeverytwoyears (industryaverage),hencesafetyriskishigherthan gaslift.Electricalfireriskisincreased.

JetPump
Moreriskofinjectionandproductionlinesrupture.

GasLift
Safetyriskislow.Moreriskofblowoutandgas firewithhifh-pressuregaslinesrequired.

Intake capabilities

Fairiflittlefreegas(I,e<250psipumpintake pressure).Poorifpumpmusthandleabove5%free gas.

Poortofair,>350psito5000ftwithlowGLR.

Restrictedbythegradientofthegasliftedfluid. Typicallymoderaterateislimitedtoabout150psi per1000ftofinjecteddepth.Thus,theback pressureon10,000'wellmaybe>1500psi. Good/excellent,canbeanalyzedeasily.BHPand productionlogsurvyeseasilyobtained. Optimizationandcomputercontrolbeing attempted. Gasliftresultsinsimplecompletionsthatallow readyaccesstothereservoirforsurveillanceand remedialwork.

Surveillance

Excellent:canbeeasilyanalyzed.?Improved analysisbyuseofdynamometersandcomputers.

Fair,electricalchecksbutspecialequipment neededotherwise.

Good/fair,downholeperformancecanbe analyzedfromsurfacepowerfluidrateand pressure,SPMandproducingrate.Pressure recordcanberunandretrivedonfreepump. Good.Ifsetinaslidingsleeve,thejetpumpcan beretrievedbywirelineallowingaccessto reservoir.

Reservoiracces s

Noreservoiraccess.Cnnotrunanytypeof surveillancelog.

DownholeESPequipmentrestrictsaccess.A loggingbypasscanbeinstalledbutthiscomplicates theequipmentanddownsizestheESP.Remedial workrequiresafullworkover.Coiltubingdeployed ESPcansolvesomereservoiraccessproblems, butpullingtheESPwouldberequired. Recommendedforsingleormore.Costofpower equipmentwillbereducedandrationalisedasthe numberofwellscompletedincreases. ChangeoutoftotalcompletionrequiredforESP failure.Averagerunlifeapproximatelytwoyears. Remedialworkwillrequirecompletiontobe removed. WellsuitedtoverticalwellsGoodfordeviated, requireslongraduiswellborebendstogetthrough.

Numberofwelis

Recommendedforsingleormore.

Singlewellsarethemostcommon.Multiplewells operatingfromonesinglesurfacehydraulic packagegreatlyreducesliftcost. Afreejetpumpcanbecirculatedtothesurface withoutpullingthetubingoritcanberetrievedby wireline.

Asthenumberofwellsincreasesthecostofthe compressionfacilitiesbecomesmoreeconomic onawellbywellbasis. Forgasliftvalvechangeoutsslickline intervention>5years.Forremedialworkas requiredwiththeabilitytoperformthroughtubing workovers. Excellent,forverticalordeviated.Fewwireline problemsupto70degreedeviationforwireline retrievablevalves.

Wellinterventi on

Workoverorpullingrig.Runtimeefficiencyis greaterthan90%ifgoodoperatingpracticesare followedandifcorrosion,wax,asphatenes,solid, etc..Arecontrolled. Wellsuitedtoverticalwells.Nothighly recommendedfordeviated.Slantedandcrooked wellspresentafrictionproblem.Thereare increasedloadandwearproblemsinhighangle deviatedholes(>70^).Notrecommendedfor horizontalwell. Notrecommended.

Wellinclination

Excellent,forverticalordeviatedcompletion.

Duals completion

Acomplicatedsystemisrequired.Largercasing require.Possiblerun&pullproblems.

Notrecommended.

Historicallywellsaresuccessfullycompletedas multi-stringwithgaslift.Theoptimumisapply continuoussysteminonesideandintermittent systeminotherside. Gasshouldbeavailableafterashutdown.Gas canbesourcedfromproducedgasfromnaturally flowingwellorartificiallyliftedbynongaslift method,orfromaflowinggaswell,orimporting gasfromanexternalsourcee.g.pipeline.

Startup

Oncepowerisavailabletothefacility,rodpump systemwillbeabletoberun.

Oncepowerisavailabletothefacility,ESPsystems willbeabletoberun.

Requiressomefluid(wateroroil)tofillthevessels aspowerfluidpriortostartup.

Artificial Lift Methods Overall Comparison

RodPumping
Depthlimit
Forlessthan2500ft,pumpmustbelandedbelow dynamicfluidlevel.Optimaltohaveintakebelow perforations,whichallownaturalgasseparation andventtoannulus.Depthistiedtodynamicfluid level.Maximumdepthis14,000ftTVD.Dueto excessivepolishedrodload,depthislimited.Rods orstructuremaylimitrateatdepth. Problemsonlyifhighratewellsrequiringlarge plungerpumps.Smallcasingsizes(4.5"&5.5") maylimitfreegasseparation.Thereisalimitation ofdownholepumpdesigninofdownholepump designinsmalldiametercasing. Operatingtemperaturerangefrom0to550^f.Can lifthightemperatureandviscousoils. Goodifcanventandusegasanchorwithproper designedpump.Poorifmustpump(>50%)free gas.

ESP
Notrestrictedbywelldeptt.Usuallylimitedtomotor horsepowerortemperature.Practicaldepthabout 10,000ft.

JetPump
Notrestrictedbywelldepth.Howeverlimitedby powerfluidpressureorhorsepowerasdepth increases.Practicaldepth20,000ft.

GasLift
Notrestrictedbywelldepth.Controlledbysystem injectionpressureandbothgasandfluidrate.

Casingsizelimit (7")&Restricts tbgsize.

Casingsizewilllimituseoflargemotorsand pumps.ESPrestrictedtoamaximumdiameterof 5.4"withamaximumflowrateof12,000BPD.

Smallcasingsizelimitsproducingrateat acceptablepressuredroplevel.Jetpumpis recommendedfor7"casing.

Productiontubingrestrictedto4"tubingwhen installingsidepocketmandrels.

Temperature limitation Gashandling ability

Limitedto<250degreeforstandard.

Excellent,possibletooperateto500degreeF withspecialmaterials. Good/fair,mayrequiresuitabledownholegas separatorbelowpumpintake.Freegasreduces efficiencybuthelpslift.Ventfreegasifpossible. Useagasanchor. Good/excellent,usingspecialmetallurgyand/or chemicaltreatment.Chemicalinthepowerfluid cantreatthetubularforcorrosion.Inhibitorfluid mixeswithproducedfluidatentryofjetpump throat. Fairtopoor.Operatingwith3%sand.Freshwater treatmentforsaltbuilduppossible.

Recommendedforalltemperature.Needtoknow temperaturetodesignbellowschangedvalves. Excellent,producedgasreducesforinjection gas.

Poorforfreegas(I.e,>5%throughpump).Rotary gasseparatorshelpfulifsolidsnotproduced.

Corrosivefluid (Corrosion handlingability)

Goodtoexcellent.Usingcorrosion-resistant materialsintheconstructionofsubsurfacepumps.

Fair.Runlifewillbeshortenedinamoreaggressive environment.Specialmetallurgyandelastomerswill berequiredleadingtomorecostlyequipment.

Recommended.Compatibilityofmetallurgyand elastomerswiththetotalcompletionisonly required.Inhibitorintheinjectiongasand/or batchinhibitingdowntubingfeesible.Stepsmust betakentoavoidcorrosionininjectiongaslines. Excellent,recommendedforallwellsproducing sand.Sandhaslittleeffectonabilitytoagaslift well.

Sand&solids handlingability

Highsolidsandsandproductionistroublesomefor lowoilviscosity(<10cp)Improvedperformancecan obtainforhigh-viscosity(>200cp)cases.Maybe abletohandleupto0.1%sandwithspecialpumps. Goodforupto<200cpviscosityfluidsandlow rates(400bfpd).Rodflilproblemforhighrates. Higherratesmayrequirediluenttolowerviscosity. Forgreaterthan500cp,notrecommended,as pumpefficiencywillreduce. Goodtoexcellent.Batchtreatinginhibitordown annulusfeasible.

Poor,requires<100ppmsolids.Sandsatthis cocentrationisnormalwearandtearforanESP. Notrecommendedforgreaterthan100ppm,dueto frictionandwearonESPequipment. Fair,limitedtoabout200cp.

Highviscosity fluidhandling capability

Good/excellent,>6degreeAPIproductionwith <800cppossible,poweroilof>24degreeAPI and<50cporwaterpowerfluidreducesfriction loss.

Fair,fewproblemsfor~16degreeAPIorbelow 20cpviscosity.Excellentforhighwatercutlift evenwithhighviscosityoil.

Scalehandling capability

Ifthewellispronetoscale,paraffinorasphaltenes depositsthenitislikelytooccurinthepumparea (largpressuredrop).Thiswillleadtopump inefficiency,increasedwear&tearandeventually failure.Chemicaltreatmentisrequiredtoprevent formationofthesecontaminations.

Scalecouldbuildupatintakeandnozzleover timebutcanbetreated.

Scalecanformclosetotheoperatinggaslift valveduetothepressuredropatthatlocation. Thismayleadtoblockageofthegasliftvalves andaninabilitytobeabletoretrievethem

Artificial Lift Methods Overall Comparison

RodPumping
Paraffinhandli ng capability Asphaltene
Susceptibletoparaffinproblems.Hotwater/oil treatingand/orusesofscraperspossible,butthey increaseoperatingproblemsandcosts. Thesamelikescale.

ESP

JetPump
Good/excellent.Circulateheattodownholepump tomimimizebuildup(hotwater/oiltreatment), mechanicalcuttingandinhibitionpossible.

GasLift
Paraffinmaydepositnearanoperatinggaslift valveduetotemperatureandpressuredrop.This mayleadtoblockageofthegasliftvalvesandan inabilitytobeabletoretrievethem. Introductionofliftgasintotheproducedfluid streammayincreasetheriskofasphaltene deposits.Productionchemistryanalysisfor individualfieldswilldeterminewhetherthisis likelytooccur. Recommendedwhenanytreatmentisrequired. Thesetreatmentshavelittletonoeffectonagas liftedsystem.

Canbetreated.

Thesamelikescale.

Difficulttocontrol.

Treatment(Sca le &Corrosion inhibitor) Electricalpowe r Gassource

Corrosionandscaletreatmentseasytoperform. Goodbatchtreatinginhibitordownannulusused frequentlyforbothcorrosionandscalecontrol.

Materialsdesignwillneedtobemodifiedtoensure continuedserviceoftheESPaftertreatment.

Corrosion/scaleabilityisgood.Inhibitorwith powerfluidmixeswithproducedfluidatentryof jetpumpthroat.Batchtreatdownannulus feasible. Adieselorgasenginecanbeusedwhere electricityisnotavailable.

Canuseelectricityaspowersource.Primemover flexibilityisgood:eitherenginesormotorscanbe usedeasily(motorsmorereliableandflexible). Gasenginescouldbeusedinlocationswithno electricity.

Asourceofelectricpowerisneeded.Thiscanbea tieintoanexistingfacility,atieintoapowergridor independentpowergeneration. DoesnotimpactESPsolution.

Notrequired.

DoesnotimpactJPsolution.However,produced gasfromthewellcanbeusedtopoweragas engineprimemover.

Recommended,ifagassourceisreadily availableeitherfromproducedgas,importgasor agaswell.