Abstract

The implementation of non-conventional progressive cavity pumps in low productivity shallow wells (less than 3 bopd), is presented as an alternative for the management and increase of production in mature fields. The results create opportunities for the implementation of this system in an oil field with more than 100 years of productive life, where there are currently 1,472 productive wells out of 2,884 drilled. Therefore, as a sample 36 wells have been taken with a production lower than 3 bopd to be able to determine the increase obtained after switching to the artificial lift systems.

The implemented wells were selected based on the following considerations: total depth not greater than 3000 feet, a Pareto diagram considering the production for the extraction systems by Swab and Local Tool, historical well workovers to determine the presence of solids (such as: sand, mud, scale, or paraffin), mechanical conditions of the wells (casing), verification of fluid levels, and by analyzing the information collected to determine candidates to implement the progressive cavity pump.

After analyzing the information collected, 36 wells were determined as candidates for the implementation of progressive cavity pumps in the year 2021. The results obtained from the production monitoring determined that 78% of the implemented wells were optimized. Likewise, it should be noted that the production of this set of wells after the change to artificial lift systems increased by 43% over its original curve. Production resulted in an additional 5,742 bopd during the first 6 months. The implementation of non-conventional PCP (progressive cavity pump) systems helped automating processes in a mature field, being friendly to the environment, reducing Operational Expenditures (OPEX) and being efficient in the recovery of remaining reserves.

The implementations of PCP stated shows that it can be considered for the analysis of low-productivity shallow wells with similar characteristics in mature fields. Optimizing production through the implementation of non-conventional progressive cavity pumps as an extraction system. Likewise, the system will allow the user to have real-time information on the operating parameters of the pump-motor set, allowing better decision-making for problem solving and avoid operational stops.

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