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Analysis Study Research Paper | Petroleum Engineering | Nigeria | Volume 12 Issue 6, June 2023

Overcoming the Urge for Infill Drilling in Marginal Field Redevelopment through Artificial Lift Deployment

Kalu - Ulu Torty C. | Okon Anietie N. | Appah ^[2] | Dulu ^[7]

Abstract: This study presents the use of electric submersible pumping (ESP) system, an artificial lift technique, to overcome the urge to drill infill wells in marginal oilfield redevelopment. A marginal field with three wells was modelled using PIPESIM and PETREL packages to simulate the natural flow and artificial lift contributions to the production life of a marginal oilfield in the Niger Delta. Sensitivity analysis of the marginal oilfield operating conditions was determined using the ESPs completion in sample wells to determine the optimal operating conditions and the field's productive life. From the sensitivity analysis, the ESP system increase the production rate from a would - be abandoned oilfield (i. e., 740 bbl/day) by 360%. Thus, the system produced the wells that the natural flow could no longer sustain. Also, the ESP completions maintained a positive output irrespective of the wellbore conditions, the flow network properties, the increased water cut, and reservoir pressure depletion. Again, the ESP system extends the marginal field production life by ten years, before declining to about 30% of its initial production capacity. From the results obtained, ESP applications on marginal field redevelopment and wells restart are viable and productive alternatives for any marginal oilfield operator caught in the middle.

Keywords: Electric submersible pump, Marginal oilfield, oil production rate, Niger Delta region

Edition: Volume 12 Issue 6, June 2023,

Pages: 2784 - 2798