Successful Submersible Lift Operations in Gassy Horizontal Wells, Pearsall Field, Texas

Abstract

Abstract Oryx Energy Company has drilled, completed, and produced over 150 horizontal Austin Chalk wells in the Pearsall Field of South Texas. Although rod pumping is the predominant means of artificial lift for these wells1, selected wells are equipped with, submersible pumps to maximize production in a competitive reservoir. In 1989, the first submersible pump was installed in a horizontal well in the Field, and it was quickly discovered that high volume lift operations in gassy, naturally fractured horizontal wells offer unique challenges. These challenges included unpredictable changes in rates, heavy slugging and frequent pump cycling. This paper reviews experiences with ten submersible installations in horizontal Chalk wells of varied operating conditions. Actual field performance of the installations will be discussed with special emphasis on the iterative design process that led to a dip tube design2 which successfully tackled the aforementioned challenges.