News & Information

Case Study: Increasing Production in the West Edmond Hunton Lime Unit

Increased Production and MTBF with TPL below KOP with the Hi-Rise System.

Increase production and decrease failure rates by lowering the pump below kick off point. Due to low bottomhole pressures, setting the pump below the kick off point can increase production. However, lowering the pump below kick off point can increase failure rates due to the extreme deviation.

By utilizing TPLs which lowered the drag force by two-thirds compared to guided conventional rods, minimizing frictional losses and reducing the loads at the surface, one operator was able to achieve both goals, increasing production by 13% on average in comparison to guided rods and decreasing failures after conversion from ESP.

• Higher Production Rates: Reduction in friction results in higher production rates below kick off point, 13% increase.
• Cost Efficiency: Using thermoplastic liners instead of rod guides resulted in cost savings due to lower failure rates, reduced gearbox loading of 16%, and reduced peak rod loading.
• Longevity and Reliability: Converting from ESP to rod pump with thermoplastic liners below kick off point has increased the mean time between failures, saving approximately $348,000 in ESP failures since installation.

As part of the High-Rise System, thermoplastic liners were installed with an operator in the West Edmond Hunton Lime Unit Field near Deer Creek, Oklahoma. The field history can be seen below.

Field Name: West Edmond Hunton Lime Unit

• Initially drilled in the 1940’s before being drilled horizontally in 2005.
• Field has low bottomhole pressure ~500psi.
• Initially produced on ESP then converted to rod pumping after 1.5yrs.
• Unable to pump at KOP efficiently.

Due to the low bottomhole pressure, it is necessary to produce these wells below kick off point from the onset. As production decreased below 200 bfpd or if a significant number of ESP failures occurred, the wells were converted from ESP to rod pump. However, when converting to rod pump, the friction created between the rods and the tubing through the curve, make it difficult to pump these wells efficiently. This operator installed LightningFlo™ 115 throughout the curve to pump the wells below kick off point without a significant increase in failure rates.

Case Study Well No. 1

This well has the pump set at 7,135 feet with a rod string taper consisting of 2,735 feet of 1-1/4 inch fiberglass rods, 1,550 feet of 1 inch steel sucker rods, 1,050’ 7/8 inch steel sucker rods, 750 feet of 1.5 inch sinker bars, and 7/8 inch steel sucker rods beneath the kick off point and throughout the curve. This well was installed with a 1.75 inch insert pump. Thermoplastic liners measuring 1,174 feet in total length were installed below the kick off point between 5,925 feet and 7,100 feet.

To read the full case study with figures, download the pdf below.

Download Study