Module 7: Selection Criteria & Analysis
A practical framework to choose the right artificial-lift method using performance, cost, and flexibility lenses.
🎯 Learning Objectives
- Apply a repeatable selection workflow for artificial-lift screening.
- Compare methods using performance, cost, and flexibility matrices.
- Balance solids/gas handling, viscosity, and power constraints.
- Run a quick screening example to shortlist candidate systems.
📘 Key Terms
📎 Prerequisite
ℹ️ Why a structured selection process?
No single lift method wins in every well. Selection must balance subsurface realities (pressure, GOR, water cut, viscosity, depletion trend) with surface constraints (power, facilities, HSE) and economics. This module gives you a practical, comparable view across methods and a simple decision workflow that shortlists 1–2 candidates for detailed design.
🖼️ Artificial Lift Systems
📊 Performance Matrix
| Factor | Beam pump | Electric Submersible pump | Gas Lift | Progressive Cavity pump | Hydraulic pumping system | Plunger Lift |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depth | Shallow to moderate | Moderate to deep | Shallow to moderate | Shallow to moderate | Shallow to deep | Shallow to moderate |
| Flow rate | Low to moderate | High | Low to moderate | Moderate to high | Low to moderate | Low to moderate |
| Solids handling | Suitable for low solid content | Sensitive to solids | Moderate | Excellent | Moderate | Can handle light solids |
| Energy consumption | High | High | Low | Moderate | Moderate | Low |
💵 Cost Analysis
| System | Initial investment | Long-term operational costs |
|---|---|---|
| Beam pump | Moderate to high | High |
| Electric Submersible pump | High | High |
| Gas Lift | Moderate to high | Low |
| Progressive Cavity pump | Moderate | Moderate |
| Hydraulic pumping system | High | Moderate |
| Plunger Lift | Low | Very Low |
🔁 Flexibility
| Beam pump | Moderate Flexibility: Effective in steady conditions; adjustable with stroke/SPM, but frequent retuning can be slow and costly. |
| Electric Submersible pump | High Flexibility: VSD and stage changes allow wide rate range; performance drops with significant free gas/solids. |
| Gas Lift | Very High Flexibility: Gas rate/pressure tuned to reservoir changes—excellent for intermittent or variable production. |
| Progressive Cavity pump | Moderate Flexibility: Excels in steady heavy-oil service; less responsive to rapid rate/gas variability. |
| Hydraulic pumping system | High Flexibility: Especially jet pumps; external power fluid gives controllable rate across changing conditions. |
| Plunger Lift | Very High Flexibility: Ideal for intermittent production and fluctuating gas/fluids in marginal wells. |
🧭 Practical Decision Workflow
- Screen by rate/depth window: If high-rate & deep → shortlist ESP; low-rate intermittent → Plunger; heavy-oil with solids → PCP; variable with infrastructure gas → Gas Lift; deep/challenging or frequent workovers → consider Jet/Hydraulic.
- Check show-stoppers: Power availability, H₂S/CO₂ materials, sand loading, temperature, and deviation.
- Economics: Compare CAPEX vs OPEX vs uptime risk; consider rig/wireline access and workover frequency.
- Operate & scale: Reliability history, spares, vendor support, and surveillance capability.
🧪 Worked Example — Shortlisting
Well snapshot
Depth: 9,800 ft MD • Target rate: 1,600 bpd fluid • GOR: 250 scf/bbl • Viscosity: 10 cP • Solids: low • Power: available • Deviation: moderate.
Screen
High rate & depth points to ESP. Gas is manageable, solids low, power available → ESP passes show-stoppers. Gas Lift is flexible but initial rate target favors ESP. PCP not ideal at this rate/depth. Hydraulic Jet viable backup if ESP workovers become excessive.
Outcome
Shortlist: ESP (primary) + Gas-Lift (contingency) with facilities provisioned for conversion if needed.