Jon Hale, Apache Corporation & Alan Martinez, Wood Group ESP Inc.
High volume artificial lift through the use of submersible pumps has become common place in the Permian Basin. Many operators have made a significant investment with the use of submersible pumps and, therefore, it is imperative that their submersible pump program attain long runtimes, encounter limited failures, and maintain efficient oil production. To successfully operate submersible pumps, it is critical to have the capability to monitor and evaluate the overall performance on a routine basis utilizing timely, accurate data. One option is the use of Wood Group Electric Submersible Pumps, Inc.'s (WGESP) "Sub Maintenance Program", in which pertinent data is captured and presented in a format where well information can be interpreted so that proactive decisions can be made. Among the opportunities identified by the Sub Maintenance Program are production enhancements, reduction of power costs, reduction of submersible pump failures, and the proper utilization of submersible pump inventory.