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CHAPTER 7
Chapter 7
Electrical Submersible Lift
Section A
The previous chapter explained the use of A-1. Advantages and Disadvantages of
mechanical lift as a means of bringing fluids the Electrical Submersible Lift System.
to the surface when bottom hole pressure is
not adequate in a new or previously naturally Advantages. One of the most important
flowing well. With time, production may advantages to this system is its ability to
decline to the point that mechanical lift is no pump very large volumes of fluid at shallow
longer effective. The lease operator may try to medium depths. Casing size is also not
changing the mechanical lift system to important to being able to pump these high
compensate for the declining production by volumes. As waterflood volumes increase, it
adjusting the length of stroke on the is common to pump several thousand barrels
pumping unit and changing the sheaves to of fluid a day while trying to improve
increase the number of strokes per minute. A formation sweep efficiency.
long-stroke pumping unit with lighter This system is easy to adapt to automation
counterweights may be installed. and can pump intermittently or continuously.
As the production of natural gas and crude For shallow wells, the investment is
oil continues to diminish and water relatively low.
production increases, particularly in water-
driven reservoirs, the lease operator may Disadvantages. The buildup of scale
begin waterflood, an enhanced recovery deposits or gyp can interfere with the
method in which water is injected into the operation of submersible pumps. Also, the
reservoir at one well to drive hydrocarbons cost of electricity can also be very high,
to other wells (see Chapter 15). However, especially in remote areas. The system has
with time oil production will continue to fall limited flexibility under some producing
and water production will increase. As this conditions, and the entire system in the well
occurs, the pumping time is increased until must be pulled when a problem is
the lease pumper is producing the well encountered.
twenty-four hours a day.
At this time, the most practical way to A-2. Electrical Submersible Pumps.
improve production is to install a system
with greater production capability. One of An electric submersible pumping unit
the choices, especially in high-volume consists of an electric motor and a pump
waterflood operations, is the electrically (Figure 1). The motor is on the bottom of
driven submersible pump. A submersible the assembly, and the pump is on top. An
pump is one that is lowered into the fluid to electrical line is strapped to the outside of
be pumped. the tubing, and the whole assembly is
7A-2
lowered into the hole with the pump and A-3. Downhole Components.
motor set below the liquid level. As the
motor turns, it rotates a stack of liquid-lifting Motor. The first component that is lowered
cups or disks in the pump. The more cups into the well is the electric motor. The
that are added, the higher it will lift the motor size is designed to lift the estimated
liquid. volume of production.
Figure 1. A motor and pump assembly. Chart meter. An optional component, the
(courtesy of Reda Pump Company) chart meter records the daily performance of
7A-3
the well that is easily read and can provide or intermittently or to be shut off. It also
information that helps to identify a host of provides protection from surges or changes
operational problems that may occur. in the electricity that may occur.