OPTIMUM SELECTION OF ARTIFICIAL LIFT SYSTEM FOR IRANIAN HEAVY OIL FIELDS

Kuh E Mond as the first priority of heavy oil prospect in Iran is located in southwest of Iran and 80 km southeastern of Boushehr, one of the important Iranian ports in Persian Gulf coasts. Well MD 6 was spudded on September 19, 1984 for confirmation of the heavy oil occurrence in Asmari Jahrum formation and Bangestan group in Kuh E Mond structure. Black tarry oil with gravity of 13 API degree occurred in the samples through most of the Sarvak limestone. Because there were no development programs in this field, the well was secured and the rig was released on May 5, 1985. The field was put on the development program on early 1999. The MD 6 well was opened and the static oil level in the well was 400 m below surface. Clearly, some sort of artificial lift was needed in order to flow the well and restore the production rate to the normal levels and to maximize the ultimate recovery.

The decision of which artificial lift method to use is very important to the long term profitability of the field. An improper selection of artificial lift can reduce production and increase the operating cost substantially. Once a decision has been made on the type to install on a well, it can be rarely altered whether or not the method selected was and still is the optimal for the existing conditions. This paper presents the screening criteria on the different artificial lift techniques and discusses why the choice were confined to PCP as the most suitable techniques to be applied in this well. The paper studies the technical consideration behind each method of artificial lift for this well (Beam Pump, ESP, PCP, Gas Lift and Hydraulic Lift) and the technical discussions for selecting PCP.