Artificial lift management: Recommendations and suggestions of best practices

Abstract

Artificial lift systems (ALS) play an important role during the oil field production process. The selection, acquisition, installation, evaluation, monitoring and subsequent inspection of these systems involves different stakeholders, including the companies and different sectors therein. When you add factors such as field location, local culture and the experience of the companies in the area, understanding and analyzing each of the factors is critical not only to maximize the life of a specific ALS, but also to maximize and optimize field production in an efficient, effective manner. Another important factor to consider is the dynamic of developing new oil fields or those affected by different EOR technologies, such as secondary recovery by water injection, where field requirements and conditions change on a continuous basis.

This paper presents concepts and recommendations regarding the management of ALS during the productive life of an oil field, contemplating the criteria of selection, acquisition, installation, evaluation and monitoring, as well as the subsequent inspection thereof. The issues analyzed herein also involve concepts related to operating as well as service companies and sectors involved in acquisition, evaluation and monitoring, among others. It also mentions definitions of the roles, functions and competencies required to live up to the challenges posed by these systems.