Analysis and ways of increasing the efficiency of artificial oil lift from marginal wells in a down economy

The article deals with the current state of the petroleum industry. The typical schedule of oilfield development stages in Western Siberia is presented. The paper finds that the main reason for reduced effectiveness of the oilfield development is a rapid growth of water cuttings of well production. Low oil recovery factor (ORF) for the fields in Western Siberia (35 %) and the impact of hydraulic fracturing on the drowning rate are indicated. A comparative analysis of the mechanized facility reserves of the United States and the Russian Federation is given. The marginal well reserve of the USA with oil production rate up to 0.39 t/day is found to be operated with oil well pumps (OWP), while electrical submersible pump units (ESPU) are mainly applied for marginal wells in Western Siberia of the Russian Federation. The efficiency factor (EF) of electrical submersible pump units with rated capacity of 20 to 40 m3/day is lower than that of oil well pumps; it results in additional operational costs for oil production and increasing its prime cost. There is a breakthrough technology enabling a multiple increase of oil recovery factor by means of well drilling with horizontal tailing-in and branch holes at inactive well stock at the final oil field development stages. The use of oil well pumps in these wells (without large-scale hydraulic fracturing) will improve long-term profitability of oil production. The necessity of further application of OWPs and improving the control station to enable energy efficiency and optimal well performance is substantiated.