Case study

Intermittent ESP operation optimisation

On a field in Western Siberia, the operation of 50 intermittent ESP wells was optimised: run and build-up cycles were selected for each well within the constraints, and the well models were built automatically in IDT Well.

Optimisation target

Location
Western Siberia
Lift method
Intermittent ESP wells
Well stock
50 wells

The problem

Starting point

The wells operated intermittently. Their inflow from the reservoir is lower than the pump capacity, so the pump runs in cycles: it starts, pumps out the accumulated liquid and stops until the level in the well rises again. The length of the run and build-up periods determines both the well's production and the load on the equipment.

Selecting these cycles for each well by hand is labour-intensive: if the run is too long, the pump draws the well down to pump-off; if the build-up is too long, the well loses production. The operating conditions must also respect equipment and field infrastructure constraints. For 50 wells, a consistent approach based on calculation models was needed rather than selection by experience.

Solution

Selecting run and build-up cycles

For each well, a model linking the reservoir, wellbore, pump and motor was built automatically in IDT Well. Automated building made it possible to prepare models for all 50 wells without setting up each one by hand.

The intermittent operation was calculated on these models: how liquid level, pressure and rate change over a cycle. For each well, run and build-up durations were selected at which the well produced more oil while the operating conditions stayed within the specified constraints.

The selected cycles were handed over as operating recommendations for each well.

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