Case study: Artificial lift

Location: South America

Production Life Cycle Management Service Eliminates

1,195 Wellsite Visits in South American Field, Saving
a Total of 26,141 Miles
A mature field in South America required frequent wellsite visits; Lift IQ service optimized
performance and reduced field visits by 23%, saving 497 work-hours
The Lift IQ* production life cycle management service enabled
remote surveillance and interventions, eliminating 23% of field
visits, reducing field crew mileage by 26,141 miles, and saving
497 work-hours during a 29-month period.
The operator’s goal
An operator in South America had a challenge to reduce the number
of wellsite visits required to monitor, maintain, and optimize lift system
efficiency and run life.
What was tried first
The mature oil field has seven active rigs and more than 230 artificially
lifted wells fitted with ESPs, sucker rod pumps, and hydraulic pumping
units. Challenging downhole conditions include pump-setting depths
<10,000 ft, operating temperatures >300 degF [>149 degC], and gas
and solids production (e.g., scale, paraffin, and asphaltene). The difficult
conditions combined with the large number of artificial lift systems
necessitated frequent wellsite visits.
With an average interwell spacing of 22 miles and the numerous
variable-speed drive (VSD) configuration and frequency changes
required for optimal operation, field staff were traveling more than
87 miles on average per 12-h shift. The physical impossibility of
resolving all critical events in a timely manner resulted in shutdowns,
delayed restarts, and production deferment. Hazardous driving
conditions—including night driving—increased HSE risk and
compounded the challenge.
3,000
Reduction in driving mileage
2,500
Reduction in driven distance, mi
What Schlumberger recommended
Lift IQ production life cycle management service enables remote
monitoring and intervention and provides operators with 24/7/365
remote monitoring and intervention services via reliable, secure
data-acquisition and transmission hardware and control systems and
the Schlumberger Artificial Lift Surveillance Center (ALSC) in Bogota,
Colombia. Experienced engineers detect abnormal trends, recommend
preventive and corrective measures, and remotely adjust ESP parameters
in real time to prevent shutdowns, extend equipment run life, and
maximize well productivity.
What was achieved
The operator and Schlumberger personnel established clear channels
of communication to streamline resolution of field requests. Multiple
VSD configuration changes, such as incremental adjustments to drive
frequency for optimal production, were accomplished remotely—much
faster than previously possible.
During a 29-month period, 1,195 VSD adjustments—23% of the total—
were remotely implemented with the Lift IQ service. As a result, field
staff drove 26,141 fewer miles, including 10,631 fewer miles at night,
saving a minimum of 497 work-hours. Efficient operational procedures
and close cooperation between the operator and Schlumberger have
significantly improved performance without the economic impact of
increasing field crews.
45
% of remote interactions Throughout a 29-month
40% period, Lift IQ service
38% 40
37%
reduced field crew
35%
34% 33% 35 mileage by 26,141 miles.

2,000 29% 30
Remote adjustments, %

27% 27%
26%
25
23%
1,500
2,538 2,734 20
17% 2,406 17% 2,384
15% 2,078
1,000 13% 14% 15
12% 1,794
11% 11% 11% 12%
10% 1,444 1,422 1,488 10
9%
8% 1,006
1,356
500 6%
6%
4% 591
809 5
350 459 394
197
328 284 284
219 306 153 306 350 328
0 0% 88 44 0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5
Months
*Mark of Schlumberger
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