Bassel Eissa
Texas Tech University, Texas Tech University, Texas Tech University, Bob L. Herd Department of Petroleum Engineering
Unconventional play drilling and completion are pushing for longer laterals and more aggressive fracturing to maximize reservoir contact. On the other hand, there is no one-size-fits-all solution for artificial lift. This study characterizes artificial lift trends in the Midland and Delaware Basins using a dataset of well completions, production performance, and lift methods. Results show distinct variations in lift selection driven by geological differences, gas-oil ratio, well depth, and lateral length. The Midland Basin is skewed toward ESPs and rod pumps, with lower GOR and shallower depths, while the Delaware Basin presents a higher preponderance of gas lift due to deeper wells and higher GOR. Second, the concept of lift has been in a stage of evolution: from changing reservoir conditions to changes in completion design. Though the dataset does not provide in-depth operational details the observed trends shed light on artificial lift practices, highlighting industry preferences and areas where optimization may be possible.