Best Practices in the Preston Spraberry Unit

摘要

During the last several years the Petroleum Industry has adoptedthe term “Best Practices” to describe an efficient method ofproducing oil and gas. The definition of this “method” is verysubjective and is continually changing with acceptance of newimproved and proven rod pumping knowledge. The best way todescribe the term Best Practices is by using the phrase “Work inProgress” or “Continuous Improvement.”This paper describes and presents the implementation of aBest Practices program in the Preston Spraberry Unit located inWest Texas. This accepted Best Practices program is presentedas follows:1. Complete initial pumping well analysis.2. Matching lift operations to current producing rates byoptimizing the following: plunger diameter, strokesper minute, stroke length, tubing anchor catcher, anddownhole gas separation.3. Managing downhole rodstring buckling byre-evaluation of rodstring designs and installation ofsinkerbars.4. Installing pump-off controllers to manage productionrates, optimize run times and monitor equipmentperformance.5. Follow-up well-site diagnostic analyses after severalmonths of operation to evaluate initial well analysisand original well work, and implement furthermodifications.Due to the successful implementation of this Best Practicesprogram, tubing leaks were reduced by 61%, rod part replacementswere reduced by 35%, and pump repairs were reduced by6% during the two-year test period.Recognition and continued development of these successfulBest Practices will provide the oil and gas industry withimproved artificial lift guidelines. Implementation of theseguidelines will allow for more effective use of all valuableresources to more efficiently produce oil and gas.