Installation of a Sucker Rod Pumping System Over a Failed Progressive Cavity Pump to Recover Production Using Rigless Intervention - Burgan Field - South East Kuwait

Abstract

Abstract The current competitive market conditions in the oil industry and company’s shoestring budgets call for methods to recover crude from wells with minimum costs. This paper focuses on the design, rigless installation, and successful results of a sucker rod pump (SRP) system after the failure of the existing progressive cavity pump (PCP). The subject well had a PCP at 4,248.05 ft. setting depth failed after 60 days due to a broken rotor. Attempts to fish the parted rotor were unsuccessful. To avoid a workover rig and to reduce non-productive time (NPT), a SRP system with an insert pump anchor was set over the failed PCP system at 4,028 ft. via a flush by unit. A tubing punch job from 4,085 to 4,145 ft. was done for allowing the fluid entering the tubing and passing through the SRP system. Running a SRP with an insert pump anchor enabled the pump to be set at any depth inside the tubing, above the failed PCP system. Successful installation of the SRP system reduced NPT and standby costs, and eliminated the need for a workover rig. While running the SRP system, the production enhanced by 50% more than the PCP’s maximum recorded rate. On the other hand, the pump can be retrieved and/or the artificial lift method can be converted later on without the requirement of a workover rig. In Burgan field, Kuwait, the first rigless installation of a sucker rod pump over a failed progressive cavity pump has turned into the reference for methods of how to recover oil when other artificial-lift systems fail.