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Artificial Lift
Mauricio G. Prado – The University of Tulsa
Artificial Lift • In the beginning of the oil industry it was recognized that the pressure of fluids inside the porous media provided the necessary energy to “lift” the fluids to the surface. • Techniques that use an external source of horsepower to help the reservoir in overcoming the pressures losses in the production system after the perforations receive the generic name of Artificial Lift.
Mauricio G. Prado – The University of Tulsa
Artificial Lift Artificial lift is the area of petroleum engineering that studies methods used to promote an increase in the production rate of flowing wells or to put wells back into production by using an external horsepower source to help the reservoir pressure to overcome the pressure drops in the system downstream of the perforations.
Mauricio G. Prado – The University of Tulsa
Artificial Lift Methods
Mauricio G. Prado – The University of Tulsa
Artificial Lift Methods • There are several artificial lift methods. The most important ones are: – – – – – – – – – – – –
Beam Pumping Continuous Gas Lift Electrical Submersible Pump Progressive Cavity Pump Hydraulic Jet Pump Intermittent Gas Lift Hydraulic Pump Plunger Lift Auto Gas Lift Other Traditional Methods Boosting Methods Etc… Mauricio G. Prado – The University of Tulsa
Artificial Lift Methods • The definition of Artificial Lift Methods requires the existence of a “external horsepower source”. Two comments must be made regarding plunger lift and auto gas lift. • Plunger Lift can be operated in 2 modes – Injecting supplemental gas. In this case it fits exactly the definition of Artificial Lift Method – Without gas injection. In this case, there is no “external horsepower source” and plunger lift is considered an enhanced natural flow
• Auto Gas Lift – In auto gas lift the injected lift gas comes from a different production zone. There is no surface horspeower source. The “external horsepower source” is the lift gas zone. This can be considered as a natural flow of two zones being produced simultaneously. Mauricio G. Prado – The University of Tulsa
Artificial Lift - Uses • In Oil Wells – Boost production – Put wells back into production – Stabilize production
• In gas wells or CBM wells – To remove condensate or water from wells
Mauricio G. Prado – The University of Tulsa
Pumping Unit
Beam Pump
Prime Mover Polished Rod Suffing Box
Tubing Sucker Rods
Pump
Mauricio G. Prado – The University of Tulsa
Beam Pump Pumping Unit Prime Mover
Polished Rod Suffing Box
Tubing Sucker Rods
Pump
• Familiar to engineers and operators • Simple design • Low capital investment for low production at shallow to medium depths. • High investment for high flowrates in deep wells. • Allow very low fluid levels (low bottom hole flowing pressure). • Adaptable to scale and corrosion problems • Limitation with casing size. • Adaptable to automation. • Not suitable for crooked holes
Mauricio G. Prado – The University of Tulsa
Continuous Gas Lift Injection Choke Christmas Tree
Unloading Valve Gas Lift Mandrel Tubing
Operating Valve Packer
Mauricio G. Prado – The University of Tulsa
Continuous Gas Lift
Christmas Tree
Injection Choke
Unloading Valve Gas Lift Mandrel Tubing
• Low investment for deep wells. • Most efficient for high GLR. • Low operating costs for sand production. • Flexible. • Adaptable to crooked holes. • Capable of producing very high flowrates • Requires a source of high pressure gas. • Can not achieve very low botton hole flowing pressures. • Casing and lines must withstand gas pressure
Operating Valve Packer
Mauricio G. Prado – The University of Tulsa
Primary Transformer
Switchboard
Wellhead and electric mandrel
Electrical Submersible Pump
Tubing Round Cable Packer Pump Separator Protector Flat Cable Motor Mauricio G. Prado – The University of Tulsa
ESP Primary Transformer Switchboard Wellhead and electric mandrel
Tubing Round Cable Packer Pump Separator Protector
• Can produce very high flowrates from shallow to medium depths. • Low investment costs for shallow depths. • Adaptable to automation. • Casing size is not critical for high flowrates. • Electrical cable design is the weakest link. • Needs a VSD to be flexible. • Requires a stable source of electricity. • Big problems with scale. • Requires workover to remove unit.
Flat Cable Motor Mauricio G. Prado – The University of Tulsa
Progressing Cavity Pump Transformer Polished Rod Control Panel
Electric Motor Christmas Tree
Tubing Rods
Downhole PCP Gas Anchor Anchor
Mauricio G. Prado – The University of Tulsa
Transformer Control Panel Motor
Hydraulic Jet Pump Power Fluid Treatment Valve Christmas Tree
Tubing
Downhole Pump Standing Valve
Mauricio G. Prado – The University of Tulsa
Intermittent Gas Lift Intermitor Christimas Tree Pressure Gas
Open Closed
Tubing Unloading Valve Valve Mandrel
Operating Valve Packer Check Valve
Mauricio G. Prado – The University of Tulsa