Decision Making Criteria and Challenges in Reciprocating Rod Pump Ramp-Up

Reciprocating rod pumps (RRP) have globally shown that with longer strokes increased productivity and reduced operational costs can be achieved over that of a progressive cavity pump (PCP) in clean to moderate solids producing wells. This has also been extended to suggest that with the right equipment mean time to failure can be increased. This information has been pivotal in a large-scale change for Origin Energy Limited’s fields under the Australia Pacific LNG Pty Limited (APLNG) joint venture with ConocoPhillips Company and Sinopec Australia Pty Limited to address the hypothesis that increased RRP completions will 1) increase mean time failure past current run lives and 2) reduce the flowing bottom hole pressure for optimal gas production. To do this an economic analysis was undertaken to understand based on cost, what units are applicable to what wellsites. This included a detailed analysis of the inputs and outputs with our Global subject matter experts (SME) partners from ConocoPhillips Company and an economic build-up based on their and local experience. The analysis led us to using tower units and beam units in conjunction with Linear Rod Pumps (LRPs) and thus lead to the first successful installation of a tower unit in Australia with a significant ramp of RRP over the near term across three main surface drives. Technology trails, both surface and subsurface, have also been undertaken to lean on our current understanding and reach towards goal production and failure statistics. Vendor support and engagement in research and development (R&D) projects and continual improvement has also greatly benefited our overall result. Challenges were faced in supply chain and logistics, availability of parts and servicing and the ability to quickly pivot on new information for optimal performance. A large-scale ramp-up has many challenges but through these opportunities have arisen to learn, innovate and implement changes that are overall seen to increase performance of the technology and the wells. 
**Subject to APLNG approval and may required to be retracted if not approved, abstract not be be published until approval is received from APLNG.