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Optimum Selection of Artificial Lift System for Iranian Heavy Oil Fields
A. Taheri and A. Hooshmand, SPE, HPOGC
existing data are very weak. For example there are no bbl/d is not economical for this system of artificial lift.
reservoir rock properties, and the reservoir fluids properties
are not accurate. So there are some uncertainties in using these Gas Lift Design
data. Also some required data like oil formation volume factor Gas lift is one of the main methods of artificial lift in the entire
was estimated. But it was tried that the using data were close world. This method is a usual one in Iran because of the
to real values. The used data in this study is presented in Table existence of gas but this method can not be useful for heavy
2. These data are prepared from previous studies and some of oil recovery with comparing by other artificial lift methods
them were calculated or estimated. like PCP. This is because of the low mixing of gas in heavy
oil. Also it must be noticed that shortage of gas sources around
Natural Flow Well Condition this well caused not using of this method in this wells. But a
The main reason of using artificial lift methods is better fundamental Gas Lift design will be presented here. This
production of oil. In heavy oil fields like Kuh-E-Mond, there design was done for 250 bbl/d oil production and 100 psia
is no production in the well (MD-6). This is because of low well head pressure. Figure 7 is the representative of IPR and
reservoir pressure and high oil specific gravity. Figure 2 is the OPR curves in a diagram. It is clear that with these conditions;
representative of IPR and OPR curves for well MD-6 in about 250 bbl/d can be gained. But because of high slope of
natural flow conditions. It is clear that with these conditions, OPR curve and also various changes in its direction, the
there is no stable intersection between two curves, so there is intersection point of IPR and OPR curve is not stable and can
no oil production. As a result, some sort of artificial lift is create some failure. Figure 8 shows the result of sensitivity
needed. analysis with reservoir pressures of 1435 psig, 1485 psig and
1535 psig. Figure 9 shows the result of sensitivity analysis
Beam (Rod) Pump Design with GOR of 50, 75 and 100. Also Figure 10 shows the result
The suggested Pump Plunger Size will be 1 3/4 in. or 1 1/2 in. of sensitivity analysis with gas injection rates of 68 Mscf/d, 80
based on fluid production of 200 bbl/d and 700 m net lift of Mscf/d and 100 Mscf/d.
fluid. The various effective plunger stroke and pumping speed Finally it can be resulted that this method of artificial lift can
is calculated. The relative design that can be applied for this not be used for this well, and the main reason except than the
well is tabulated in Table 3. technical reasons is the shortage of gas sources around this
With the above designs, the 200 bbl/d production rate and well.
minimum of 900 m oil lifting can be gained. Also various
sucker rods exists for this purpose that based on the torsion Progressive Cavity Pump (PCP) Design
and tension parameters and also economic criteria, the best Based on previous studies and some case studies that were
design can be presented. However it must be noted that this reviewed previously, the possibility of using this method of
method of artificial lift has high risk for these well conditions. artificial lift for this field and this well is very high.
Because the previous studies show that this method of Based on the existing data the suitable pump model is
artificial lift has some failures against present conditions Weatherford BMW 350-4100. Because this method of
(especially in their valves) and some modification is necessary artificial lift is the most practical one, the design consists of
for using it. pump design following by well completion design.
The Progressive Cavity Pump Will latches to the end of 3.5 in
Electrical Submersible Pump (ESP) Design tubing were seat in 7, 29 lb/ft liner at the depth of 1050 m.
Figure 3 shows the performance curve of the best pump that The zone from 1130 m to 1450 m below the 7" Liner is open
can be selected for artificial lift of well MD-6. It is appeared hole and in going to be cleaned and re-drilled before
that the selected pump can be useful for these well conditions, completion job. Currently there is a 2 in Tubing, 6.5 lb/ft,
but based on previous experiences, using them has a high risk. XN seats at 747.36 m in the well.
Figure 4 is the representative of IPR and OPR curves in a For the new completion design the Tubing has to be replaced
diagram. It is clear that with these conditions; about 250 bbl/d by an API 3 in 9.30 lbs/ft tubing from surface to the 1041
can be gained. But because of no safe intersection point of IPR mKB. The tubing size is calculated for the best well
and OPR curve, these conditions are not stable and some performance. Current well head is safe. The drive head and
failures can be created. BOP (for PCP Running) will seat instead of well cap in the
Because there are some uncertainty in given data, we do some current Well Head diagram and no Penetrator is required. The
sensitivity analysis with two important parameters like tubing hanger and tubing head spool have to be changed for
reservoir pressure and GOR. Figure 5 shows the result of 3 in tubing. The wellbore completion diagram is illustrated
sensitivity analysis with reservoir pressures of 1435 psig, 1485 in Figure 11. Figures 12 to 14 will show different pump
psig and 1535 psig. Also, Figure 6 shows the result of analysis for the selected pump. Also various information about
sensitivity analysis with GOR of 50, 75 and 100. Both of them PCP design is tabulated in Tables 4 and 5.
show that the intersection point of IPR and OPR curves is in
unstable zone. Jet Pump Design
Finally, this method of artificial lift can not be used for the In the literature it is noted that jet pumps are one of the
proposed conditions, because of no safe intersection point of artificial lift methods that can be used for foil recovery of high
IPR and OPR curves and also high risk and failure in using specific gravity fluids. So the pump recommended for this
ESP in heavy crude recovery in other fields. Also it must be purpose is Weatherford Nitrile Element and Down Hole Jet
noted that ESP usually is used for high flow rate, and 200-250 Pump Nozzle/Throat combination 12E and 3 1/2in. 9.3 PPF
SPE 99912 3
EU "EXD" (BXP) circulating sleeve (SSD), Profile: WX2.75 Dhabi Interntional Petroelum Exhibition and Conference,
in compatible w/ OTIS. Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 13-15 October.
But because of the low reservoir pressure, the using of this 7. Chia, Y.C. and Hussain, S.: "Gas Lift Optimization Efforts
method of artificial lift has no benefit for more oil recovery. and Challenges," paper SPE 57313 presented at the 1999
SPE Asia Pacific Improved Oil Recovery Conference,
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 25-26 October.
Conclusions 8. Buitrago, S., Rodriguez, E. and Espin, D.: "Global
The simulation model was used to predict the performance of Optimization Techniques in Gas Allocation for Continuous
the field on various artificial lift systems. Flow Gas Lift Systems," paper SPE 35616 presented at the
1. Beam (Rod) Pump has high risk for these well 1996 SPE Gas Technology Symposium, Calgary, Alberta,
conditions and some failures can be seem in these Canada, 28 April-1 May.
conditions. 9. Zhiqi. Zhou, Chen. Hu, Kaili. Song, Xinhua. Li, Guangqi.
2. ESP can not be used for the proposed conditions, Gao, Juanhua. Yang, chunyu. Fan and Hui. Feng,
because of no safe intersection point of IPR and OPR "Hydraulic Pumping Units for Offshore Platform," paper
SPE 64507 presented at the 2000 SPE Asia Pacific Oil and
curves and also high risk and failure in using ESP in Gas Conference and Exhibition, Brisbane, Australia, 16-18
heavy crude recovery in other fields. October.
3. Gas lift can not be used for this well, and the main 10. De Ghetto, Giambattista and Giunta, Paolo: "Jet Pump
reason except than the technical reasons is the Testing in Italian Heavy Oils," paper SPE 27595 presented
shortage of gas sources around this well. at the 1994 European Production Operations Conference
4. Because of high oil specific gravity and low reservoir and Exhibition, Aberdeen, United Kingdom, 15-17 March.
pressure, PCP is the most suitable technique to be 11. Saveth, K.J., Klein, S.T. and Fisher, K.B.: "A Comparative
applied in this field. This selection is based on Analysis of Efficiency and Horsepower between
production science laws, economic laws and Progressing Cavity Pumps and Plunger Pumps," paper SPE
16194 presented at the 1987 SPE Production Operations
environmental laws. Symposium, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 8-10 March.
5. Jet pump method is none of the artificial lift methods 12. Klein, S. T.: "Development of Composite Progressing
that can be used for heavy oil recovery. But because Cavity Pumps," paper SPE 78705 presented at the 2002
of low reservoir pressure, it is not a suitable candid SPE Eastern Regional Meeting, Lexington, Kentucky, 23-
for well MD-6. 26 October.
13. Klein, S.T., Thrasher, W.B., Mena, L., Quijada, E. and
Achnowledgement Brunings, C.: "Well Optimization Package for Progressive
The authors wish to acknowledge HPOGC (Iran) and its Cavity Pumping Systems," paper SPE 52162 presented at
manager K. Samimi for granting permission to present and the 1999 SPE Mid-Continent Operations Symposium,
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 28-31 March.
publish this paper. Also the technical support of D. Koohkahni 14. Samuel, G. R. and Saveth, K.: "Progressing Cavity Pump
is appreciating. (PCP): New Performance Equations for Optimal Design,"
paper SPE 39786 presented at the 1998 SPE Permian Basin
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4 SPE 99912