Artificial Lift Methods

Advantages of artificial lift methods

Rod Pumps	Electric Submersible Pump	Venturi Hydraulic Pump	Gas Lift	Progressing Cavity Pump
Simple, basic design	Extermely high volume lift using up to1,000 kw motors	High volumes	Solids tolerant	Solids and viscous crude tolerant
Unit easily changed	Unobtrusive surface location	Can use water as power fluid	Large volumes in high PI wells	Energy efficient
Simple to operate	Downhole telemetry available	Remote power source	Simple maintenance	Unobtrusive surface location with downhole motor
Can achieve low BHFP	Tolerant high well elevation / doglegs	Tolerant high well deviation / doglegs	Unobtrusive surface location / remote power source
Can lift high temperature, viscous oils	Corrosion / scale treatments possible		Tolerant high well deviation / doglegs
Pump off control			Tolerant high GOR reservoir fluids
			Wirleine maintenance

Rod Pumps	Electric Submersible Pump	Venturi Hydraulic Pump	Gas Lift	Progressing Cavity Pump
Friction in crooked / holes	Not suitable for shallow, low volume wells	High surface pressures	Lift gas may not be available	Elastomers swell in some crude oils
Pump wear with solids production (sand, wax etc.)	Full workover required to change pump	Sensitive to change in surface flowline pressure	Not suitable for viscous crude oil or emulsions	Pump off control difficult
Free gas reduces pump efficiency	Cable susceptible to damage during installation with tubing	Free gas reduces pump efficency	Susceptible to gas freezing / hydrates at low temperatures	Problems with rotating rods (windup and after spin) increase with depth
Obtrusivein urban areas	Cable deteriorates at high temperatures	Power oil systems hazardous	High minimum FBHP. Abandonment pressure may not be reached
Downhole corrosion inhibition difficult	Gas and solids intolerant	High minimum FBHP. Abandonment pressure may not be reached	Casing must withstand lift gas pressure
Heavy equipment for offshore use	Increased production casing sizeoften required