Artificial Lift

Review of Field Data To Evaluate Impact on Overall Maintenance Costs when Rod String Spacing Tool/Rod Rotator is implemented with a Wireless POC Load Cell As companies seek to optimize performance of rod pumped wells, they examine common problems which may include improper rod string spacing resulting in rod pump damage, rod failures and cable failures of pump off control (POC) wired load cells. Traditional methods of adjusting rod strings requires removal of rod clamps and exposes field personnel to pinch, fall and struck-by hazards.

In the reciprocating rod lift system, the sucker rods are subjected to cyclic stresses during service which accumulate leading to fatigue failures. It is well known that the shot peen process increases the fatigue life on metal parts; with respect to sucker rods several manufacturers claim to have implemented shot peening in their manufacturing process for years. To achieve optimal parameters which yield a dramatic increase in fatigue life requires extensive studies on both input parameters and comparative fatigue testing.

In sucker rod pumps, accurate downhole data is necessary for control and optimization of wells and assets. Downhole data is calculated from data measured at the surface. 

Unconventional wells are drilled in shale formations to produce oil and gas utilizing horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. Many think fracturing creates a ‘rubble zone’ around the wellbore allowing the free oil and gas to be produced. 

Deviated wellbores, whether intentional or unintentionally drilled, are becoming ever more common. Rod-on-tubing friction occurs as a result of these wellbore deviations. This friction has a detrimental effect on the longevity of the equipment through accelerated mechanical wear. Downhole friction can also obscure analysis and optimization as the friction distorts the calculated downhole conditions. The only methodology currently available to account for this wellbore friction is through by way of a wellbore deviation survey.

During the hydraulic fracturing age, hydraulic jet pumps have seen an increase of installation numbers across the most prolific unconventional well fields in the United States of America, as well as in overseas oil and gas fields. Its simplicity, reliability, robustness, and adaptability have made the jet pump one of the known artificial lift systems on the production of unconventional wells, specially on the early stage of production. During this stage production rates are high, and solids (proppant) are produced; this can be a challenging combination to deal with.

Gas and sand interference remain one of the most common challenges in the vast majority of wells in the Permian Basin. Gas interference can lead to poor pump efficiency and severe sand issues can lead to sticking and excessive wear and tear to the pump – both of which lead to unnecessary operational expenses and even well failure. Recognizing the ineffectiveness and shortcomings of current models of gas and sand separator systems and other mitigation technologies, WellWorx set out to design a more effective system to combat the dual issues in rod pump wells.

Sucker rod pump or “rod pump” is a common method of artificial lift for oil and gas wells in the United States. For decades well analysts and production engineers have looked at surface and downhole dynamometer cards to diagnose various downhole and surface equipment issues alike. In more recent years, helpful rod pump diagnostic tools have aided well analysts and production engineers in training and the analysis of downhole dynamometers utilizing generalized libraries with known behavior for downhole dynamometer cards.

The most common well profiles for reciprocating rod lift applications are deviated and highly corrosive wells. Many newly drilled horizontal wells exhibit moderate to severe deviations which require the pump to be set in the curve to produce intended target zones; resulting in a challenging environment for rod lift systems to successfully operate. These wells tend to be accompanied by corrosion, furthering the possibility of premature failures on all downhole equipment: rods, tubing, and pumps. 

Longer laterals, better perforations and larger frac jobs have all enabled increased production capabilities, yet production optimization practices have remained stagnant and, in doing so, limit the ability to draw wells down more aggressively. The data provided in the most common fluid level processes does not meet the challenges generated by fluctuating well dynamics and conditions. The irregularity and inconsistency of current fluid level measurement systems provide an incomplete snapshot of the well conditions when a more complete solution is needed for optimization.