Paper: Oil Field Electrical Efficiency Improvement and Cost Savings Results From Field Implementations

There are approximately 600,000 producing crude oil wells in the United States, the majority of which use electricity to meet their production needs. Of these wells, approximately 75 % are classified as "Stripper Wells", producing an average of 2.34 barrels per day [I]. Many of these wells are only marginally economic, and an efficiency improvement project may make the difference between continuing to extract oil from a well and having to shut it in. In addition to the pump jacks, electric motors are used for water injection, pipeline pumping, steam production, and other operational necessities. In all, roughly 95% of all electricity used in an oil field operation goes into operating electric motors. The University of Wyoming Electric Motor Training and Testing Center (WEMTTC) has conducted an extensive study of electric motor efficiency at the DOE's Naval Petroleum Reserve #3 in Casper, Wyoming. Approximately 500 motors were tested for operating efficiency, many of which were determined to be oversized and operating inefficiently. This paper discusses the test method and instrumentation developed by WEMTTC, estimated results for energy-efficient motor retrofits. and actual results of several retrofits. The economic benefits of the retrofits are discussed, as well as a protocol for improving electrical energy efficiency in the oil field.