Gabor Takacs, University of Miskolc, Hungary

The profitability of rod pumping operations is a direct function of the energy requirements of pumping. For maximum profits the efficiency of the pumping system must be maximized, this can only be achieved by finding the optimum pumping mode for the required liquid production rate. These principles are used in the paper by presenting a case study on improving rod pumping operations. The project reported was conducted in a mature onshore field with 70-plus rod pumped wells. An extensive measurement program involving more than 50% of the wells was set up and pumping parameters were measured with a portable computerized system. The detailed evaluation of measurement data facilitated the detection of general and specific problems in the design and operation of the pumping installations. With the aim of improving the field-wide profitability of pumping operations, an optimization of each well's pumping parameters was made. Calculation results showed that a field-wide power saving of about 17% can be anticipated if all wells operate at their most economic pumping modes.