Effects of Subsurface Pump Size and Setting Depth on Performance of Sucker-Rod Artificial Lift—A Simulation Approach

Abstract

Abstract The need for better understanding of sucker rod pumping process is heavily required. Many problems are still under investigation such as determination of the fluid level from surface, selection of the optimum pump size and the required pump setting depth to maximize the pumping rate in a particular well. The main purposes of this study are to investigate effects of fluid level over pump, pump size, and pump setting depth on the sucker rod performance. These goals are achieved using the Artificial Sucker Rod Pump (ASRP) design simulator with actual field data. The results show that applying good fluid level from the surface and increasing the plunger stroke consequently increase the resultant pumping flow rate. Furthermore, good fluid level yields high pump intake pressure and results in a good pump fillage, which increases the pump efficiency. In addition, the analysis of the effect of pump size on rod stress shows that the increase of pump size increases the rod stress and increases the pump flow rate. Therefore, the plunger size must be selected according to both the required flow rate and the allowable sucker rod stress. With respect to the effect of the pump setting depth on the performance of the sucker rod pump, the increase of the pump setting depth reduces the pump flow rate and increases the rod stress. Actual Egyptian field data is used for the purpose of achieving this simulation investigation of the above-mention effects.