Selection Criteria for Artificial Lift Methods-

A comparative Study
Abstract:

Fluids will flow from reservoir to the surface when the well is completed and reservoir pressure is
sufficient to receive fluid from matrix, transport it to the wellbore and lift to the surface. During the
reservoir production life reservoir pressure will decline and this could cause increase in water cut and
decrease in gas fraction. These reasons decrease or even may cause to stop flowing of fluids from the
well. Some techniques must be applied to prevent the production decline. Before artificial lift application
the wells were being produced only naturally. Therefore, most of the brown fields were abandoned as
reservoir pressure depleted. Because wells were produced under the natural flow regime and there
wasn’t any additional energy to the well as bottom-hole pressure decreased. Additional energy source
must be added to the well in order to lift up the fluid to the surface. In these cases, artificial lift techniques
are applied to add energy to the produced fluids. It increases production rate by reduction down-hole
pressure referring to increase in drawdown. Major artificial lift techniques are: gas lift (GL), electrical
submersible pump (ESP), sucker rod pump (SRP), hydraulic pump (HP) and progressive cavity pump (PCP)

Generally, the selection of the lift method considers, geographic location, Capital Expenditure ( capex),
Operating expenditures (Opex), Equipment flexibility & reliability and Special well conditions such as
include corrosion/scale-handling ability, crooked or deviated holes, dual-completion applications, gas-
and paraffin-handling ability, slim-hole completions, solids/sand-handling ability, temperature limitations,
high-viscosity fluid handling, and high- and low-volume lift capabilities. Thus, the original selection of the
"optimum" artificial-lift method is a process of balancing the artificial-lift capabilities and constraints
against the production rate with the ultimate goal of maximizing ultimate profits.

The objective of this thesis is to demonstrate the selection criteria for an artificial lift method based upon
review of crude oil properties, well depth, target production rate, availability of source (gas, power,
storage etc.). Selection of various Artificial Lift methods will be chosen based upon the technical feasibility
together with economic analysis, since poorly selected artificial lift method will result in decreased
efficiency causing high operating expenses.

The work will be based on integrated model utilizing IPM suite ( Mbal, Prosper & GAP) to analyze KPIs
such as incremental rates, recovery, NPV etc. and make comparative analysis to decide most economical
& viable artificial lift method.