Petroleum 101 - Artificial Lift - Mike

During artificial lift, the parameter that is increased is pressure. By increasing the pressure, it becomes possible to push more oil to the surface. This can be achieved through various methods such as using pumps or gas injection to increase the pressure in the wellbore. The increased pressure helps overcome the natural reservoir pressure, allowing more oil to flow to the surface and increasing production rates.

Rod pumping is the oldest and most common type of artificial lift. It involves the use of a sucker rod string and a surface pumping unit to lift fluid from a well. The pumping unit reciprocates the rod string, creating an up and down motion that lifts the fluid to the surface. This method is widely used in oil and gas production due to its simplicity, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.

Centrifugal pumping is not a type of artificial lift. Artificial lift refers to the methods used to increase the flow of fluids from a wellbore. Rod pumping, plunger lift, and hydraulic pumping are all common types of artificial lift used in the oil and gas industry. However, centrifugal pumping is not typically used for artificial lift purposes. Centrifugal pumps are more commonly used for fluid transfer and circulation applications, rather than lifting fluids from a wellbore.

North America is the correct answer because it is stated that around 45% of the Artificial Lift market is located there. This suggests that North America has a significant presence in the artificial lift industry, indicating a high demand for artificial lift systems in this region.

A Plunger Lift system is considered cheap because it is a cost-effective method used in the oil and gas industry to optimize production in low-pressure wells. It involves the use of a plunger to remove liquids from the wellbore, allowing gas to flow more efficiently. This system is preferred for low-producing wells as it is relatively inexpensive compared to other artificial lift methods such as electric submersible pumps or gas lift systems. It helps to increase production and reduce operating costs, making it a cost-effective solution for maximizing output in low-pressure wells.

Rod pumping is a method used to extract oil or gas from wells. It involves the use of a surface unit to power a pump jack, which in turn operates a system of rods and a downhole pump to lift the fluid to the surface. The advantages of rod pumping include the ability to change the surface unit to other wells with minimum cost, the capability to pump a well down to very low pressure, and the flexibility to use either gas or electricity as a power source. However, rod pumping is not capable of pumping depths to 17,000 ft and deeper, which means that it may not be suitable for extracting resources from wells at such depths.

Reciprocating positive-displacement pumps and jet pumps are the two types of hydraulic pumps. Reciprocating positive-displacement pumps use a piston or plunger to create pressure and move fluid, while jet pumps use the Venturi effect to create suction and move fluid. These two types of pumps have different mechanisms for generating pressure and moving fluid, making them distinct from other types of hydraulic pumps such as progressive cavity pumps and electric submersible pumps.