Re-shifting Of a Single String Packer-less Electric Submersible Pump Gas Lift Hybrid to Fit the Up-todate Environment

Abstract

Electrical Submersible Pump (ESP) gas lift hybrid advantages as discussed in the previous SPE papers number 128974 and number 176291 MS are now entering the end phase. Unfortunately, the information of the ESP gas lift hybrid limitation was limited; meanwhile the data is critical. Moreover, after time goes on, well properties and operation condition was changing then the ESP hybrid is no longer relevant. Re-shifting was then conducted to fit the current condition.

The methods are developed based on the statistic of ESP gas lift hybrid failure and its causes. Some criteria are defined as a screening process to select which well needs to use ESP gas lift hybrid configuration. The criteria include water cut, gas injection rate when the gas lift mode is running, and oil cut off.

From 2019 to 2020, about 43 ESP well service jobs implemented the criteria to decide the usage between ESP gas lift hybrid and ESP. The number of ESP gas lift hybrid is decreasing; the cost of well services is also cut by the unnecessary side pocket mandrel and gas lift valve. The average run life of ESP in the field is about 3.1 years; meanwhile, the new method is still running and counting for the run life because it has less failure probabilities. Slickline job for gas lift valve maintenance is also not necessary for the ESP configuration.