Advanced Artificial Lifting with ESP

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

Most oil and gas wells require artificial lift at some point and for most of the life cycle to achieve production objectives. There are at least eight forms of artificial lift technologies available in the market. Each lift system’s applicability often overlaps with another lift system (s), and it is crucial to understand the positioning and strength of a particular lift form. 

ESP (Electrical Submersible Pumping) is the most essential and often considered artificial lift around the globe for producing liquid quantities above 500 bbls/days from deep and shallow reservoirs. When properly selected and operated, it can deliver significant hydrocarbon volumes that can improve the initial rate of returns (IROR) of challenging to produce assets. That’s why it also commands the most significant capital expenditure allocations in global artificial lift markets on an annualized basis. On the other hand, poor selection and management can lead to suboptimal production rates with poor operational efficiencies and higher failures leading to differed production with higher CAPEX/OPEX.

It is vital to understand the interdependency between reservoir, wellbore, and surface installations with ESP equipment. This course focuses on ESP applications and related system analysis (often called NODAL analysis) concepts. While providing intermediate-level instructions, the training will arm attendees with sufficient details to participate in the informative decision-making process. Followings are the main objectives:

• Provide a thorough introduction about the theory and application of ESP,
• Demonstrate the advantages and limitations of ESP systems,
• Acquaint the student with ESP system evaluation, design, installation, operation concepts.

The course covers the main components, application envelope, relative strengths, and weaknesses of ESP in its different forms. A unique feature of this course is a discussion on the digital oil field and machine learning as applied to ESP optimization.

Who should attend?

• Production, reservoir, completion, drilling, and facilities engineers
• Anyone interested in learning about the implications of ESP systems for their fields and reservoirs.

Prerequisites:

• Understanding of petroleum production concepts.

Course level:

Intermediate to Advanced level

Course Duration:

The virtual course is taught using MS-Teams (arranged by the instructor) over 4 sessions – each of 6 hours over four consecutive days. Alternatively, it could be taught over 6 sessions of 4 hours or 8 sessions of 3 hours each.

Course Content:

• Introduction
  • Artificial Lift: When / Why / What of Lift Mechanisms; Types
  • How ESP is similar to but different from other lift forms. Relative market position.
• ESP Basics
  • Advantages, Limitations and Operating Principle
  • System Components: Downhole & Surface
• ESP Installation Design
  • Basics of Nodal Analysis for ESP
    • Systems/NODAL Analysis
    • Reservoir Performance
    • Vertical lift performance
    • Total Dynamic Head (TDH)
  • Design & Optimization
    • Pump Curve
    • Affinity Laws
    • Equipment selection and sizing
    • VSD application concepts
  • ESP Operations
    • Role of real-time measurements & SCADA applications
    • Challenging applications & mitigation approaches
    • Lessons from Unconventional fields
    • Importance of ESP reliability and DIFA (Dismantle Inspection Failure Analysis)
    • ESP lift lifecycle
  • Advances in ESP and emerging applications
    • Permanent Magnet Motors
    • Wireline and coiled tubing deployed systems
    • High-temperature and high-viscosity applications
    • Ultra-high-speed applications
  • Digital oilfield and ML applications for ESP