4rtificio/Lift5e/ection

Au1nOk lkAN5n lA1l

ln many flelds arLlflclal llfL lsplanned ln a reacLlve mode elLher when Lhe reservolr ls no longer able
Loperform or when unwelcome formaLlon waLer lncreases flowlng boLLom holepressures ln oLher
cases new hydrocarbons are found ln very complexoperaLlonal envlronmenLs for arLlflclal llfL
equlpmenL such as remoLe areasor deep waLers
1he maln ob[ecLlve ls Lo selecL an adequaLe arLlflclal llfL meLhod Lolncrease Lhe expecLed well
proflLablllLy durlng a cerLaln perlod of Llme
1he arLlflclal llfL Lechnlques need also Lo be flexlble enough Lo copewlLh LheexpecLedchanges
ofproducLlon condlLlons and reservolrperformance
1he proper selecLlon of arLlflclal llfL sysLem depends onseveraloLher dlsclpllnes such as
drllllngcompleLlonreservolrmanagemenLproducLlonlayouLflowassurance auLomaLlon eLc

Reservoir Characteristics:

IPR A well`s inIlow perIormance relationship deIines its

production potential
Liquid production rate The anticipated production rate is a controlling Iactor
in selecting a liIt method; positive displacement pumps
are generally limited to rates oI 4000-6000 B/D.
Water cut High water cuts require a liIt method that can move
large volumes oI Iluid
Gas-liquid ratio A high GLR generally lowers the eIIiciency oI pump-
assisted liIt
Viscosity Viscosities less than 10 cp are generally not a Iactor in
selecting a liIt method; high-viscosity Iluids can cause
diIIiculty, particularly in sucker rod pumping
Formation volume Iactor Ratio oI reservoir volume to surIace volume
determines how much total Iluid must be liIted to
achieve the desired surIace production rate
Reservoir drive mechanism Depletion drive reservoirs. Late-stage production may
require pumping to produce low Iluid volumes or
injected water.
Water drive reservoirs : High water cuts may cause
problems Ior liIting systems
Gas cap drive reservoirs.Increasing gas-liquid ratios
may aIIect liIt eIIiciency.
Other reservoir problems Sand, paraIIin, or scale can cause plugging and/or
abrasion. Presence oI H2S, CO2 or salt water can cause
corrosion. Downhole emulsions can increase
backpressure and reduce liIting eIIiciency. High
bottomhole temperatures can aIIect downhole
equipment.
ole Characteristics:

Well depth The well depth dictates how much surIace energy is
needed to move Iluids to surIace, and may place limits
on sucker rods and other equipment.
Completion type Completion and perIoration skin Iactors aIIect inIlow
perIormance.
Casing and tubing sizes Small-diameter casing limits the production tubing size
and constrains multiple options. Small-diameter tubing
will limit production rates, but larger tubing may allow
excessive Iluid Iallback.
Wellbore deviation Highly deviated wells may limit applications oI beam
pumping or
PCP systems because oI drag, compressive Iorces and
potential Ior rod and tubing wear.

$:rface Characteristics:

Flow rates Flow rates are governed by wellhead pressures and
backpressures in surIace production equipment (i.e.,
separators, chokes and Ilowlines).
Flowline size and length Flowline length and diameter determines wellhead
pressure requirements and aIIects the overall
perIormance oI the production system.
Fluid contaminants Scale, paraIIin or salt can increase the backpressure on
a well.
Power sources The availability oI electricity or natural gas governs the
type oI artiIicial liIt selected. Diesel, propane or other
sources may also be considered.
Field location In oIIshore Iields, the availability oI platIorm space and
placement oI directional wells are primary
considerations. In onshore Iields, such Iactors as noise
limits, saIety, environmental, pollution concerns,
surIace access and well spacing must be considered.
Climate and Physical environment



AIIect the perIormance oI surIace equipment.

Field Operating Characteristics:

Long-range recovery plans Field conditions may change over time.
Pressure maintenance operations Water or gas injection may change the artiIicial liIt
requirements Ior a Iield.
Enhanced oil recovery projects EOR processes may change Iluid properties and require
changes in the artiIicial liIt system.
Field automation II the surIace control equipment will be electrically
powered, an electrically powered artiIicial liIt system
should be considered.
Availability oI operating and service personnel and
support services
Some artiIicial liIt systems are relatively low-
maintenance; others require regular monitoring and
adjustment. Servicing requirements (e.g., workover rig
versus wireline unit) should be considered. Familiarity
oI Iield personnel with equipment should also be taken
into account.

Continuousand intermittent gas liIt, beam pumping, progressing cavity pumping, hydraulic pumping,
electric submersible pumping, jet pumping and plunger liIt, and provide practical guidelines Ior assessing
each method`s capabilities. These are summarized as Iollows:
Design considerations and overall
comparisons:
Capital cost
Downhole equipment
EIIiciency
Flexibility
Miscellaneous |operating| problems


Operating costs
Reliability
Salvage value
System (total)
Usage/outlook

Normal operating considerations:
Casing size limits
Depth limits
Intake capabilities
Noise level
Obtrusiveness


Prime mover Ilexibility
Surveillance
Testing
Time cycle and pump-oII controllers application

Artificial lift considerations:
Corrosive/scale handling ability
Crooked/deviated holes
Multiple completions
Gas-handling ability
OIIshore application
ParaIIin-handling capability


Slim-hole completions
Solids/sand-handling ability
Temperature limitations
High-viscosity Iluid handling
High-volume liIt capabilities
Low-volume liIt capabilities

There are many 'comparison tables available in the industry. There are even 'expert systems developed
Ior the purpose oI method selection
Parameter RodPump

ESP

GasLift

Sand Fair Fair Excellent
Wax
Poor Good Poor
HighGOR
Poor Poor Excellent
HighFlowrates
Poor Excellent Good
LowFlowrates
Excellent Fair Fair
Depth
Fair Fair Excellent
Flexibility
Fair Fair Excellent

QUESTION:
O Which Iactor you would consider Iirst in your priority Ior selection oI artiIicial liIt?
O On the basis oI oIIshore which artiIicial liIt you would select and reason behind it?

Prepared by
Pranesh.Patel