| Optimization in the oil and gas world means the practice of obtaining the maximum amount of production from oil and gas wells for the least operating and transportation costs. In other words the lifting, transportation and facility operation costs should be kept at a minimum to maximize the economics of production. If we are successful at increasing the production from a well, but at the same time create a drastic increase in operating costs, we have failed at optimizing.;The basic configuration of a pump jack consists of a beam jack driven by an electric or gas engine which moves a rod string in a reciprocating motion to operate a downhole positive displacement pump consisting of a barrel and plunger assembly.;The process of rod pump optimization is not very complicated but requires regular monitoring of things like daily production, Gas/Oil ratio (GOR), the amount of fluid in the well, tubing and casing pressures etc. In order to optimize production, it is very important to know what the well is currently producing compared to what it is capable of producing and hence the project will focus on the questions and the data required to successfully optimize a pump jack.;In many cases, we may be very successful at optimization without any increase in production by optimizing our pipelines and facilities. The focus of this report is restricted to the optimization process of a pump jack which will help us in reducing our lifting costs per barrel of oil equivalent (BOE). In that case, if we can eliminate one failed pump jack gear box or increase the run life of a downhole pump etc., we have been just as successful at optimizing as if we had achieved a significant increase in production. |
