Artificial Lift Technology
Selection, Design & Optimization

Duration: 5 Days
Target Audience: Production Engineers, Artificial Lift Specialists, Reservoir Engineers, Well Intervention Engineers, Operations Supervisors
Delivery Mode: Classroom / Virtual with Design Exercises, Selection Workshops, and Field Case Studies
Level: Intermediate

Course Overview

This course covers the principles, selection, design, and optimization of artificial lift systems used to enhance oil production. It includes gas lift, ESPs, rod pumps, PCPs, and hydraulic pumps, with emphasis on matching lift methods to reservoir and production conditions, equipment design, and troubleshooting.

Day-by-Day Outline

Day 1 – Overview of Artificial Lift Methods

- Introduction to artificial lift and natural flow limitations
- Overview of artificial lift types: gas lift, ESP, sucker rod, PCP, hydraulic
- Criteria for selecting lift methods: reservoir properties, fluid characteristics, well geometry
- Production systems analysis: inflow and outflow performance
- Exercise: Compare lift methods for shallow vs. deep wells

Day 2 – Gas Lift & Rod Pump Systems

- Gas lift principles: continuous and intermittent gas lift
- Gas lift system design and troubleshooting
- Rod pump design: rod string, pump sizing, surface units
- Applications and limitations of gas lift and rod pumps
- Workshop: Design a gas lift system for a low-pressure well

Day 3 – Electrical Submersible Pumps (ESP) & Progressive Cavity Pumps (PCP)

- ESP components, design, and applications
- ESP performance curves and system matching
- PCP design, elastomer selection, and sand production considerations
- Comparing ESP and PCP for different fluid and well conditions
- Exercise: Select ESP or PCP for a high-viscosity reservoir

Day 4 – Hydraulic Pumps & Advanced Lift Techniques

- Hydraulic jet and piston pumps: design and operation
- Applications in deviated and high-gas wells
- Specialty lift systems and dual completions
- Monitoring and automation of artificial lift systems
- Workshop: Evaluate artificial lift options for a mature field redevelopment

Day 5 – Optimization & Field Applications

- Integrated nodal analysis for artificial lift optimization
- Diagnosing and solving lift performance problems
- Economic analysis of lift selection and operation
- Case studies: successes and failures in artificial lift applications
- Capstone Project: Develop a comprehensive artificial lift strategy for a multi-well field

Expected Learning Outcomes

Understand the range of artificial lift technologies and their applications
Select appropriate artificial lift systems based on reservoir and well conditions
Design and optimize gas lift, ESP, rod pump, and other systems
Diagnose and troubleshoot artificial lift performance issues
Integrate artificial lift strategies into production optimization plans

Customizable Add-ons
Tailored content for local geology (e.g. Nile Delta, Western Desert)
Lab visit or simulation hands-on demo
Integration with economics or production courses

Special Customization for Regional NOCs

- Includes legal and fiscal case examples from MENA (Egypt, Libya, Iraq, Algeria)
- Arabic-English bilingual delivery available
- Tailored licensing round simulation exercises
- Optional site visits to local oilfields or regulatory agencies