Industry Article: New Hydraulic Lift System Overcomes Beam Pump Challenges in CBM Wells

Technology incorporating a downhole diaphragm pump was found to eliminate mechanical wear and reduce maintenance, all with less noise and a smaller surface footprint than conventional lift methods

El Paso E&P Company operates coalbed methane (CBM) wells in Alabama’s Black Warrior Basin. Characteristically low reservoir pressure and low liquid rates in these wells call for artificial lift to remove water from the wellbore in order to allow the coal seam to produce gas. In 2008, El Paso E&P embarked on a program to evaluate and implement a new artificial lift technology that would address the operational, environmental, and safety challenges associated with the current lift method. El Paso eventually selected a new form of artificial lift that uses downhole diaphragm pumps developed by Smith Lift, now a part of Schlumberger. Several benefits indentified during the conceptual review were realized during the initial three-well trial, leading the operator to purchase additional units to test the technology on a wider scale.

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