Comparative study between

Gas lift and Electric

submersible pump (ESP)
systems used in the Neem
field, in southern Soudan

by Ameni Ben Hmidene,

M. L. Aissaoui, M. B.Balghouthi & M. Hedi Negra
Page 1
 Purpose of the project

Comparative study between Gas lift and Electric

Submersible Pump (ESP) systems.

Selecting the best one of these two systems to be

used in the well Ne-03 of Neem field in southern

Soudan.
Page 2
 This focuses on:

1. Modelling an ESP and Gas lifted equipped well

by using “PROSPER program”.

2. Carrying out an economic study of Gas lift and

ESP projects.

Page 3
 Content

I. Introduction
II. Overview of Gas Lift & ESP systems
III. Modelling of ESP & Gas lifted equipped well
Ne-03 of Neem field
IV. Economic study of Gas lift & ESP projects
for well Ne-03 of Neem Field
V. Artificial lift selection
VI. Conclusions and Recommendations
Page 4
 I. Introduction

During the well production life, the reservoir

energy is gradually lost.

The decrease of reservoir pressure creates the

reduction of the flow rate until well stops its
natural production.

Page 5
There are four basic methods of producing an oil
well by artificial lift, which are:
Artificial lift

• Gas Lifting

Lifetime of well with artificial

• Electric Submersible
Lifetime of naturally
Pumping lift
(ESP)
flowing well

• Sucker Rod Pumping (SRP)

• Hydraulic Subsurface Pumping (HSP)

Pressure versus flow rate profile

Page 6
1. Gas lift system

Outlet Injected
Gas
Surface
Introduction of gas in
the tubing
Tubing
Casin
Casing
Reduction of oil g
Gas
Static
density oil
lift
Annulus valves

Generation of
drawdown
Drawdown
Packer

Oil back flow Reservoir

Gas Lift system

Page 7
2. Electric submersible pump (ESP)

Diffuser
Oil back
flow Impeller
Cable
Pump
Multistage centrifugal
pump

Motor Impeller
rotation

Electric submersible pump system Additional energy in

the wellbore

Page 8
3. Characteristics and limitations of Gas lift and ESP
Gas lift VS ESP system

Issue Gas lift ESP

Equipment installation Simple Complex

Lifetime Long Short

Sand tolerance High Limited

Downhole temperature tolerance High Limited

Depth operating capacity Low High

Gas freezing problems in pipelines frequent Rare

Production of Water Cut Not used Used

Page 9
III. Modelling of ESP & Gas lifted equipped
well of Neem field
1. Well Ne-03 performance modeling

Input data Output data

PROSPER
• IPR data program • Well performance
• PVT data model

IPR data screen PVT data screen

Page 10
2. Gas lift system performance analysis

Well’s outflow
performance Tubing
response

No No
intersection production
Well’s inflow performance
Reservoir response

ESP and gas

lifted equipped
well model
IPR vs VLP of Well Ne-03

Page 11
 3. ESP well Ne-03 design

3.1. Calculations of the pump duty

Pump Pump
design
Production
Well fluid operation
data
data
condition parameters

ESP design conditions screen ESP pump duty calculation screen

Page 12
3. ESP well Ne-03 design

3.2. Selection suitable combination of pump, motor and cable

Pump operation
parameters

The ESP design screen

Page 13
4. ESP system performance analysis

Pump
solution rate

VLP
Pump
discharge
pressure

2445

Operating point of ESP lifting

Page 14
5. Gas lift well Ne-03 design

Gas
Valve
lifttype
datadata
Production

Gas lift well

performance model

Gas lift valves

spacing design

Gas lift design data screen

Page 15
5. Gas lift well Ne-03 design
Interval of economic optimum gas
Maximum
injection rate
production rate

33

Gas lift well Ne-03 performance curve

Page 16
5. Gas lift well Ne-03 design

626
First unloading valve level

1217 Second unloading valve level

Operating valve level

Result of gas valves spacing design for Ne-03

Page 17
6. Gas lift system performance analysis

Gas lift
solution rate VLP

Gas lift discharge

pressure

476

Operating point of Gas lift

Page 18
 VLP

Gas lift
discharge VLP
pressure Pump
discharge
pressure

476
2445

Operating point of Gas Operating point of ESP

lift

In term of production potential ESP is better than

Gas lift system

Page 19
IV. Economic study of Gas lift & ESP projects
for well Ne-03 of Neem Field

The best artificial

lift

Long term Low operating

profitability and capital costs

Economic
analysis

Net Present Profitability

Gain
Value (NPV) Index (PI)

Page 20
1. Gain calculation of ESP and gas lift projects
Gas lift ESP
6

REVENUE (MMU$)
5
4
3
2
1
0
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Duration (years)

Revenue evolution of Gas lifted & ESP well during ten years

ESP Gas lift

OPEX (MMUS$)

4
3
2
1
0
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Duration (Year)
Gain variation of Gas lifted & ESP projects
OPEX evolution of Gas lifted & ESP well during ten years Page 21
 2. NPV and PI calculation of ESP and gas lift projects

Investment costs estimation of Gas lift & ESP

projects

Item ESP Gas lift

Total capital cost of project, MMUS 7.5 1.5

($)

NPV & PI calculation of Gas lift & ESP project

Item Gas lift project ESP project

NPV, MMUS($) 1,22 0,88

PI 1,81 1,13

Based on NPV and PI, Gas lift project in well Ne-03 is considered the

most profitable methods over the project life.

Page 22
 The result of economic study

ESP Gas lift

Complex equipment
installation
High production volume
Short lifetime
High maintenance costs
High operating costs
High capital costs
High and sharply
decreasing gain
Short term profitability
Simple equipment
installation
Limited production volume
Long lifetime
Low maintenance costs
Low operating costs
Low capital costs
Low and approximatively
constant gain
Long term profitability

Gas lift system was recommended as a suitable artificial lift

method for well Ne-03 of Neem field.
Page 23
 Conclusions
Gas lift and ESP are the best known artificial lift

methods.

To compare between this two systems for selecting the

best one of them for a given well, this requires a

performance analysis carried out by a production

analysis software and economic analysis.

Page 24
 Recommandations
Based on production point of view and gross profit,
ESP system was recommended as a best artificial
lift system.
Based on the economic and operations point of
view, gas lift was recommended as a best artificial
lift method.
However, during the production progress, when the
water cut rises, it would be recommended to
replace gas lift by the ESP technique.
Page 25
Thank you for your
attention
Page 26