$5 million in lost production identified

ESP training and mentoring in Ecuador finds 67 improvements in software, improving runlife of equipment and increasing skill levels of personnel.

Problem

Our client had an ESP population of around 100 and was in the process of implementing a new software tool to help with real-time monitoring and diagnosis of their performance. It had already been introduced in other locations with rod pumped wells but had not previously been used for ESPs. The operations manager knew his staff needed help and hired us to deliver training (in Spanish) and review how the software performed ESP analysis.

What we did

We ran two one-week courses for their staff, supplemented by a mentoring program focusing on use of the software to diagnose ESP problems that were resulting in lost production. Each person was given wells to analyze and required to review their work with the trainer.

We analyzed how the software was performing ESP diagnosis and found 67 suggested improvements, which were implemented for the global software deployment.

We then worked with the operator staff and ESP supplier to review and improve all aspects of the ESP cycle, resulting in improved runlife of the equipment and improved competency of operator personnel in management of ESP operations.

Results

Approximately $5 million of lost production, as a consequence of ESP issues, was diagnosed as a result of the mentoring process.

Cost benefit analysis

  • Spend – $183,000
  • Value – $5 million

Read More

Email us for additional information: Beyond Automation – ESP Optimisation and Runlife Improvement Process in Occidental Ecuador, a paper on this project that we presented at the ESP workshop in Houston 2005.

“The training and consultancy that ALP offers is highly specialized. Very few people in our industry have the ability and experience to provide the technical support that we needed. We believe that ALP helped us develop a higher level of competency in ESP operations.”
– Operations Manager, Ecuador