Artificial Lift technologies selection

Historically ALS is driven by ESP’s for high flow rate and SRP’s for low flow rate. Over the last thirty years new pump technologies arrived on the market to improve efficiency and performance such as PCP’s, jet pumps,…

Operators are well educated on ESP/SRP’s and tend to keep PCP’s only where ESP’s & SRP’s don’t work.

Here below is a comparison between the three main Artificial lift technologies: Electrical submersible pump (ESP), Sucker rod pump (SRP), Progressing Cavity pump (PCP).

ESP - ELECTRICAL SUBMERSIBLE PUMP
Centrifugal

PCP - PROGRESSING CAVITY PUMP
Volumetric

SRP - SUCKER ROD PUMP
Volumetric

9 550 m3/d
[60 000 bbl/d]

1 112 m3/d
[7 000 bbl/d]

795 m3/d
[5 000 bbl/d]

450 bar
[6 500 PSI]

330 bar
[4 800 PSI]

400 bar
[5 800 PSI]

250 °C
[482 °F]

Elasto PCP: 150 °C [300°F]
All metal PCP: 350°C [660 °F]

288 °C
[550 °F]

High CAPEX
High OPEX

Low CAPEX
Medium OPEX

Medium CAPEX
Low OPEX

35-60%

50-75%

45-60%

More energy intensive

Least energy intensive

More energy intensive

Poor

Excellent

Fair

Poor

Good

Poor

Yes

No

Yes

Good

Special care on elastomer selection

Good

Good

Good

Good

Limitation due to high viscosity

Excellent

Risk of rod fall

Minimal

Low

Heavy surface equipment

Medium to light oil
SAGD

Medium to extra heavy oil
Gas well dewatering (CBM/CSG)
SAGD/CSS

Light to heavy oil
CSS