A Permian Basin operator needed to achieve a 1,500-barrel fluid per day (BFPD) production target in a small-diameter well completed with 5 1/2-in, 23-lb casing. A single Affirmed PowerFit™ ESP small-diameter motor delivered more than the required 183 hp while reducing downhole motor complexity compared with the previous triple-tandem 3.75-in electric submersible pump (ESP) motor configuration.
The operator completed the well with 5 1/2-in, 23-lb casing to help mitigate damage from fracture forces in adjacent wells and lateral forces from the formation. The initial ESP system used a triple-tandem 3.75-in motor set at more than 10,500 ft, but it was unable to deliver the horsepower required to reach the target production rate.
The operator needed a replacement ESP configuration that could fit the small-diameter wellbore, deliver the required power, improve reliability, and reduce the need for additional installations as the production rate declined.
SLB deployed a single 208-hp Affirmed PowerFit motor that delivered more than 183 hp, enabling the operator to meet the 1,500-BFPD production target.
The single-motor configuration reduced the number of downhole components compared with the triple-tandem 3.75-in motor system. This helped improve reliability and reduce exposure to damaged equipment while also reducing installation time compared with the previous motor configuration.
At 1,500 BFPD, the system optimized fluid velocity at 4 ft/s with 0.47-in drift clearance. The motor horsepower rating supported pumps with a wider operating range, eliminating the need for an intermediate ESP installation as production declined.
