Training

Advanced Sucker Rod Pumping

• 3 days in person (unconventional-wells variant)
• 24 hours virtual (unconventional-wells variant)
• Level: Intermediate to Advanced

Synopsis

This course covers one of the most common artificial lift methods, Sucker Rod Pumping (SRP), also known as beam pumping or reciprocating rod lift (RRL). It introduces participants to important concepts of sucker rod pumping and teaches beam pumping system components from the downhole to the surface, including the real-time optimization infrastructure. It covers the challenges facing reciprocating rod lift applications and presents how these challenges are addressed. Special well conditions such as high-viscosity fluids, free gas production and abrasive materials require special equipment, which is covered during the course. Trainees solve examples and class problems throughout, illustrated with classroom examples and hands-on exercises. Animations and videos reinforce the concepts under discussion. The special feature of the course is a discussion of digital oilfield and a brief review of machine learning applications in the operations of RRL. Recent advances in real-time approaches to rod lift management are also discussed using field case studies.

The course is also offered with an emphasis on unconventional wells. Business impact: the main aim is to explain how operators are using sucker rod pumping profitably in unconventional reservoirs. Discussions on field practices expose trainees to current practices, and interactive quizzes and hands-on exercises give them the confidence to try out applicable techniques in their field assets to reduce NPT and increase profitability. That variant introduces important unconventional concepts of sucker rod pumping, illustrated with field case studies, covers the beam pumping system components briefly, and presents how the challenges facing RRL are addressed in unconventional production.

Learning outcomes

• Understand the fundamental theories and procedures related to SRP operations.
• Easily recognize the different components of the SRP system and their basic structural and operational features.
• Be able to design an SRP installation and select the optimum components.
• Have a basic understanding of the SRP system’s power efficiency and system losses.
• Be able to conduct basic troubleshooting of SRP installations.
• Understand how digital oilfield tools help address SRP challenges.
• Recent advances in real-time approaches to production monitoring and lift management.

Additional outcomes for the unconventional-wells emphasis:

• Understand differences in unconventional reservoirs that impact production and artificial lift choices.
• Understand how SRP is challenged in unconventional wells and how other companies are addressing some of these challenges.
• Recent advances in real-time approaches to production monitoring and lift management of rod pumping wells in unconventional plays.

Who should attend

• Production, reservoir, completion, drilling and facilities engineers, analysts, and operators
• Anyone interested in learning about the implications of sucker rod pumping systems for their fields and reservoirs.

Prerequisites

• Understanding of petroleum production concepts.
• Basic understanding of sucker rod pumping (stated for the unconventional-wells emphasis).

Course outline

Core course

• Pre-test
• Introduction
  • Artificial Lift: When / Why / What of Lift Mechanisms; Types
  • How SRP is the same as and different from other lift forms. Relative market position.
• Introduction to Sucker-Rod Pumping
  • Basic Features of Sucker-Rod Pumping
  • Advantages, Limitations
• The Components of the Sucker-Rod Pumping System
  • Subsurface Pumps
  • API and Special Pumps
  • Downhole Gas Separators
• The Sucker-Rod String
  • Sucker-Rod Specifications: Steel and Fiberglass Rods
  • Special Types of Sucker Rods: Corods, etc.
  • Rod String Design Theories (Class Problems)
  • Example Rod String Design Calculations (Class Problems)
  • SPECIAL PRESENTATION: Identification and Classification of Rod String Failures
• The Sucker-Rod Pumping Unit
  • API and Non-API Pumping Units: Geometries Comparison
  • Kinematic Calculations (Class Problems)
• Pumping System Design with API RP 11L Procedure
  • Introduction (Class Problem)
  • Design Procedure for Steel Rod Strings (Class Problem)
• Production Rate Calculations
  • Pump Displacement
  • Pump Leakage (Class Problem)
• Calculation of Gearbox Torques
  • Torques on the Gear Reducer
  • Analysis of Gearbox Torques
  • Optimum Counterbalancing
  • Practical Torque Calculations (Class Problems)
  • SPECIAL PRESENTATION: Gearbox Torques Calculations
• Power Conditions of Sucker-Rod Pumping
  • Hydraulic Power Calculations (Class Problem)
  • System Energy Losses
  • Power Efficiency of Rod Pumping
  • CASE STUDY: Comparison of Energy Efficiencies of Rod Pumping and ESP
• Design of the Sucker Rod Pumping System using QRod
• Analysis and Troubleshooting of Sucker Rod Pumped Installations
  • Well Testing
  • Acoustic Surveys
  • Bottomhole Pressure Calculations
  • Inflow Performance Calculations (Class Problem)
  • Principles of Dynamometry
  • Dynamometer Types
  • Dynamometer Surveys
  • Interpretation of Dynamometer Cards
• SRP Challenges in Unconventional Production
• Digital Oil Field for Production Optimization
  • What is Production Optimization and Digital Oil Field (DOF)?
  • DOF components for SRP systems
  • Rod Pump Controller & Variable Speed Drive Controllers
  • Real-Time Downhole & Surface Measurements and Role of Data Analytics
    • Available Technologies
    • Role of software in visualization, analysis and surveillance
  • Brief discussion on use cases for data analytics
• Post-test

Unconventional-wells emphasis (content additional to the core outline)

The content can be adjusted to suit client preferences. Topics shared with the core outline (pre-test, introduction to artificial lift, SRP basics and components, QRod design, dynamometer cards, acoustic surveys, rod failure identification and classification, DOF components, rod pump and VSD controllers, data analytics) are also part of this variant.

• Production Challenges specific to Shale Development
• Selection of artificial lift for Shale Wells
  • Important Play Characteristics to Understand ALS Strategy
  • Installation Timing / Practices
  • Case Study: Effect of Change of EOT (Lowering Tubing)
  • Case Study: Effect of Condensate Properties
• Lift Life Cycle and Elimination process
• Sucker Rod Pumping Design & Operations Considerations
  • Case Study: Rod Design & Guiding Strategy
  • High Temperature Impact on Rod Guides
  • Downhole Gas Interference Management
    • Case Study: Downhole Separator for ESP & Rod Pumping Wells
  • Corrosion Mitigation Considerations
    • Case Study: Data Driven Automated Batch Treatment Program
  • Production Monitoring best practices
• Unconventional Well Production Automation & Unmanned Technologies
  • VSD Application for Inflow Variability, Gas Interference and Solids Management in SRP Wells (Case Study)
  • Choke Control and scale control using Solar Powered Technology
  • Application of Edge Controller for Pump Stroke Optimization in Eagle Ford Wells
• Optional: Data Analytics Application
  • Demonstration: Dynacard classification using ML/AI approaches
• Optional: Frac-Hit Mitigation for Sucker Rod Pumping

Formats and customization

• General emphasis: design of the SRP system is demonstrated using QRod.
• Core course option: the client’s real-time system-based workflows and examples can be incorporated in the class discussions. This requires two days of consulting and access to the client system at least 4 weeks before the class.
• Unconventional-wells emphasis: 3 days in person, or 24 hours in virtual sessions spread over multiple days or weeks. Level: Intermediate to Advanced.
• Unconventional-wells emphasis customization: the content can be shortened to a 1-day or 2-day in-person event, with equivalent virtual sessions arranged per the client’s preference. The content can be adjusted to suit client preferences.

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