Paper: ELECTRIC SUBMERSIBLE PUMPS AS RELIABLE ALTERNATIVE TO ROD PUMPS, IN DEEP, LOW VOLUME, CHALLENGING APPLICATIONS

Oil and gas producers are frequently faced with deep, low volume applications that challenge today's rod pump technology. There is a growing demand for a reliable form of artificial lift in deep, low volume, hot and aggressive applications. Operators with low volume applications that suffer from deviated well bores or applications that are just too deep and challenging to achieve long run times with a conventional rod pump can now utilize electric submersible pumps (ESPs) as an economical alternative. Historically, low volume submersible pump designs consisted of production ranges greater than 300 bpd. Those submersible pumps had narrow vane clearances, which plugged up easily, had limited gas handling capabilities, limited thrust washer areas and lower-pressure housings. This created unsafe operating conditions and limited
application ranges. New technology such as wider vane stage designs, ultra high pressure housings, higher efficiency gas separators, high temp motors and reliable down hole sensors have greatly contributed to the success of ESP's in this type of application. This paper will present technological innovations and improvements that created the opportunity to utilize ESPs in low volume, deep applications.