Optimum Selection of Artificial-Lift System for Iranian Heavy-Oil Fields

摘要

Kuh-E-Mond as the first priority of heavy oil prospect in Iranrnis located in southwest of Iran and 80 km southeastern ofrnBoushehr, one of the important Iranian ports in Persian Gulfrncoasts.rnWell MD-6 was spudded on September 19, 1984 forrnconfirmation of the heavy oil occurrence in Asmari-Jahrumrnformation and Bangestan group in Kuh-E-Mond structure.rnBlack tarry oil with gravity of 13 API degree occurred in thernsamples through most of the Sarvak limestone. Because therernwere no development programs in this field, the well wasrnsecured and the rig was released on May 5, 1985. The fieldrnwas put on the development program on early 1999. The wellrnMD-6 was opened and the static oil level in the well was 400rnm below surface.rnClearly, some sort of artificial lift was needed in order to flowrnthe well and restore the production rate to the normal levelsrnand to maximize the ultimate recovery.rnThe decision of which artificial lift method to use is veryrnimportant to the long-term profitability of the field. Anrnimproper selection of artificial lift can reduce production andrnincrease the operating cost substantially. Once a decision hasrnbeen made on the type to install on a well, it can be rarelyrnaltered whether or not the method selected was and still is thernoptimal for the existing conditions.rnThis paper presents the screening criteria on the differentrnartificial lift techniques and discusses why the choice werernconfined to PCP as the most suitable techniques to be appliedrnin this well. The paper studies the technical considerationrnbehind each method of artificial lift for this well (Beam Pump,rnESP, PCP, Gas Lift and Hydraulic Lift) and the technicalrndiscussions for selecting PCP.