Comparative study between
Gas lift and Electric
submersible pump (ESP)
systems used in the Neem
field, in southern Soudan
by Ameni Ben Hmidene,
M. L. Aissaoui, M. B.Balghouthi & M. Hedi Negra
Page 1
Purpose of the project
Comparative study between Gas lift and Electric
Submersible Pump (ESP) systems.
Selecting the best one of these two systems to be
used in the well Ne-03 of Neem field in southern
Soudan.
Page 2
This focuses on:
1. Modelling an ESP and Gas lifted equipped well
by using “PROSPER program”.
2. Carrying out an economic study of Gas lift and
ESP projects.
Page 3
Content
I. Introduction
II. Overview of Gas Lift & ESP systems
III. Modelling of ESP & Gas lifted equipped well
Ne-03 of Neem field
IV. Economic study of Gas lift & ESP projects
for well Ne-03 of Neem Field
V. Artificial lift selection
VI. Conclusions and Recommendations
Page 4
I. Introduction
During the well production life, the reservoir
energy is gradually lost.
The decrease of reservoir pressure creates the
reduction of the flow rate until well stops its
natural production.
Page 5
There are four basic methods of producing an oil
well by artificial lift, which are:
Artificial lift
• Gas Lifting
Lifetime of well with artificial
• Electric Submersible
Lifetime of naturally
Pumping lift
(ESP)
flowing well
• Sucker Rod Pumping (SRP)
• Hydraulic Subsurface Pumping (HSP)
Pressure versus flow rate profile
Page 6
1. Gas lift system
Outlet Injected
Gas
Surface
Introduction of gas in
the tubing
Tubing
Casin
Casing
Reduction of oil g
Gas
Static
density oil
lift
Annulus valves
Generation of
drawdown
Drawdown
Packer
Oil back flow Reservoir
Gas Lift system
Page 7
2. Electric submersible pump (ESP)
Diffuser
Oil back
flow Impeller
Cable
Pump
Multistage centrifugal
pump
Motor Impeller
rotation
Electric submersible pump system Additional energy in
the wellbore
Page 8
3. Characteristics and limitations of Gas lift and ESP
Gas lift VS ESP system
Issue Gas lift ESP
Equipment installation Simple Complex
Lifetime Long Short
Sand tolerance High Limited
Downhole temperature tolerance High Limited
Depth operating capacity Low High
Gas freezing problems in pipelines frequent Rare
Production of Water Cut Not used Used
Page 9
III. Modelling of ESP & Gas lifted equipped
well of Neem field
1. Well Ne-03 performance modeling
Input data Output data
PROSPER
• IPR data program • Well performance
• PVT data model
IPR data screen PVT data screen
Page 10
2. Gas lift system performance analysis
Well’s outflow
performance Tubing
response
No No
intersection production
Well’s inflow performance
Reservoir response
ESP and gas
lifted equipped
well model
IPR vs VLP of Well Ne-03
Page 11
3. ESP well Ne-03 design
3.1. Calculations of the pump duty
Pump Pump
design
Production
Well fluid operation
data
data
condition parameters
ESP design conditions screen ESP pump duty calculation screen
Page 12
3. ESP well Ne-03 design
3.2. Selection suitable combination of pump, motor and cable
Pump operation
parameters
The ESP design screen
Page 13
4. ESP system performance analysis
Pump
solution rate
VLP
Pump
discharge
pressure
2445
Operating point of ESP lifting
Page 14
5. Gas lift well Ne-03 design
Gas
Valve
lifttype
datadata
Production
Gas lift well
performance model
Gas lift valves
spacing design
Gas lift design data screen
Page 15
5. Gas lift well Ne-03 design
Interval of economic optimum gas
Maximum
injection rate
production rate
33
Gas lift well Ne-03 performance curve
Page 16
5. Gas lift well Ne-03 design
626
First unloading valve level
1217 Second unloading valve level
Operating valve level
Result of gas valves spacing design for Ne-03
Page 17
6. Gas lift system performance analysis
Gas lift
solution rate VLP
Gas lift discharge
pressure
476
Operating point of Gas lift
Page 18
VLP
Gas lift
discharge VLP
pressure Pump
discharge
pressure
476
2445
Operating point of Gas Operating point of ESP
lift
In term of production potential ESP is better than
Gas lift system
Page 19
IV. Economic study of Gas lift & ESP projects
for well Ne-03 of Neem Field
The best artificial
lift
Long term Low operating
profitability and capital costs
Economic
analysis
Net Present Profitability
Gain
Value (NPV) Index (PI)
Page 20
1. Gain calculation of ESP and gas lift projects
Gas lift ESP
6
REVENUE (MMU$)
5
4
3
2
1
0
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Duration (years)
Revenue evolution of Gas lifted & ESP well during ten years
ESP Gas lift
OPEX (MMUS$)
4
3
2
1
0
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Duration (Year)
Gain variation of Gas lifted & ESP projects
OPEX evolution of Gas lifted & ESP well during ten years Page 21
2. NPV and PI calculation of ESP and gas lift projects
Investment costs estimation of Gas lift & ESP
projects
Item ESP Gas lift
Total capital cost of project, MMUS 7.5 1.5
($)
NPV & PI calculation of Gas lift & ESP project
Item Gas lift project ESP project
NPV, MMUS($) 1,22 0,88
PI 1,81 1,13
Based on NPV and PI, Gas lift project in well Ne-03 is considered the
most profitable methods over the project life.
Page 22
The result of economic study
ESP Gas lift
Complex equipment Simple equipment
installation installation
High production volume Limited production volume
Short lifetime Long lifetime
High maintenance costs Low maintenance costs
High operating costs Low operating costs
High capital costs Low capital costs
High and sharply Low and approximatively
decreasing gain constant gain
Short term profitability Long term profitability
Gas lift system was recommended as a suitable artificial lift
method for well Ne-03 of Neem field.
Page 23
Conclusions
Gas lift and ESP are the best known artificial lift
methods.
To compare between this two systems for selecting the
best one of them for a given well, this requires a
performance analysis carried out by a production
analysis software and economic analysis.
Page 24
Recommandations
Based on production point of view and gross profit,
ESP system was recommended as a best artificial
lift system.
Based on the economic and operations point of
view, gas lift was recommended as a best artificial
lift method.
However, during the production progress, when the
water cut rises, it would be recommended to
replace gas lift by the ESP technique.
Page 25
Thank you for your
attention
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