Wireline Retrievable ESP Deployment: Observation, Challenges and Intervention

Abstract The Offshore Field X Project comprises of greenfield scope to expand the Waterflood scheme towards delivering the peak production levels similar to those achieved in the 1990s. Although various artificial lift systems have been successfully deployed in Brunei Shell Petroleum, offshore ESP installation, especially on this scale, is a first and a new journey for the company and its Offshore Assets in which gas lift was predominantly the artificial lift method. The first offshore ESP well was only installed and kicked off in 2017 as part of the Field X Project. As wells are located offshore, cost, resources and logistics remain a challenge for well interventions. With a high workover cost associated with conventional ESP change out, a technology trial was embarked upon to install wireline retrievable ESP systems. A total of 4 out of the 22 ESP wells were approved to be installed and completed with wireline retrievable ESP system on a pilot basis. The business goal was to prove the production deferment reduction and cost advantage for a failed ESP replacement. A critical selection process was followed as well as FAT/industry benchmarking in order to land on WRESP decision for the pilot. System installation and commissioning of the wells was completed by June 2019, however a series of start-up problems were encountered, leading to an intervention requirement to rectify 1 well. Job planning for this intervention was not straight forward and was classified as a high-risk job requiring regulator's approval. Rigorous logistics planning, integration of various vendors, detailed workflow analysis, intervention equipment stack up and modifications were among the planning scope conducted. This paper captures details of the deployment value proposition, case success definition and challenges faced in ensuring all the installed WRESPs are up and running to enable the pilot performance proper evaluation. As no full workover has been executed yet due to the limited operating period, a lifecycle comparison between WL retrievable and conventional ESPs has not been done yet. Once sufficient performance data is available, a detailed study will be conducted to assess the performance of the WRESP system. This analysis will then conclude the technology trial and may change the future of ESP wells in BSP and Shell global.