Brian Ellithorp, James N. McCoy and Lynn Rowlan
Echometer Company
There is a growing awareness in the oilfield of the problems generated due to horizontal wells’ long lateral lengths, undulation fluid and gas trapping capabilities, inconsistent and aggressive unloading behaviors, and limitations on historically and widely applied separation methods. Due to these impacting factors, horizontal rod pumped wells must address the resultant production behaviors as well as operational issues that can be worsened by poor application of old and non-optimal downhole separation and poor pump placement practices. It has now been proven in a multitude of applications and formations across the US that the use of a safely and correctly placed isolated tailpipe used in series with a diverter style of separator can help alleviate challenging production issues in horizontal rod pumped wells, resulting in substantially increased production output as well as reduced failures and lower operational costs.