Introduction To Artificial Lift

What is Artificial Lift and when do we need Artificial Lift?

Oil and Gas Exploration & Production (E&P) companies face the continuous challenge of maintaining their production and replenish their reserves to meet the oil demand. Between 2015 to 2021, exploration and production companies had to adapt to deliver new projects in a low oil price environment. Even if the oil price is picking up, the growing scarcity of resources leads to a higher capital cost per barrel of reserve developed.

Artificial lift is a method used to obtain a higher production rate from the well. It aims at lowering the bottom hole flowing pressure in a well, to increase the draw down applied to the reservoir.

The use of artificial lift is a cost-effective solution to develop reserves. While the amount of reserves developed is not as high as drilling wells in proved accumulations, the risks of failure are much easier to manage, and the associated reward contains much fewer uncertainties. For instance, installing an Electric Submersible Pump (ESP) in a well, to increase the drawdown applied on the reservoir and produce a higher rate, contains much fewer risks of failure than drilling a new one. The risk-reward is very interesting, and E&P companies should focus on projects requiring lower capital expenses, especially during uncertain times like we are currently going through.

Moreover, with reservoir pressure depletion and water-cut increase, the need for artificial lift is almost inevitable. This statement is proved by the fact that, according to World Oil Magazine, 94% of all oil-producing wells in the world use some form of artificial lift. So that is more than 900 000 oil-producing wells that use artificial lift.

As per figures from Lufkin Industry, established in 2012, most wells use rod pumping (80%). ESP comes in 2nd position with 11%, followed by Progressive Cavity Pump (PCP) with 4%, then Gas Lift (3%), and other methods (2%).

Our Introduction to Artificial Lift course is designed to introduce the learner to the primary artificial lift systems used in today’s oil and gas industry. This online self-study course will cover types of downhole pumps such as jet and reciprocating hydraulic pumps, rod lifts systems like sucker rod and progressive cavity pumps, and electrical submersible pump systems. The gas lift system is also covered.

This course provides a general understanding of how artificial lift is used for oil production. Additionally, critical components of each system will be discussed. After completing this introductory course, students will better understand how different lift system technologies work, and which one is the best suited for their well.

Objectives:

Participants will acquire a general knowledge of the most common artificial lift types and will acquire the ability to choose the most suited artificial lift method for their well.

Curriculum:

• Artificial lift repartition
• Introduction to ESP (Schematic, basic principles, advantages and limitations, application range)
• Introduction to PCP (Schematic, basic principles, advantages and limitations, application range)
• Introduction to SRP (Schematic, basic principles, advantages and limitations, application range)
• Introduction to Jet & Hydraulic Pumping (Schematic, basic principles, advantages and limitations, application range)
• Introduction to GL (Schematic, basic principles, advantages and limitations, application range)
• Recap

Designed for:

• Production, Petroleum or Well Performance Engineers to maximize their well production
• Field Production Personnel to understand the criticity of data
• Completion or Surface Facilities Engineers to understand what they can do to help maximizing well production

Pre-requisites:

• Basic knowledge on well architecture
• Awareness on the oilfield terms