Optimising ESP runlife is essential to avoid additional workover costs and maintain production levels.
Although some failures may require specialist equipment or solutions, the vast majority of short runlives are preventable.
These problems usually result from a lack of consideration of the entire ESP system during the design phase or shortcomings during the installation and operations phases.
This paper will examine the most common causes of premature ESP system failure and identify the reasons and possible solutions for the problem. A checklist has been devised to assist new or existing users of ESPs to design, install and operate an ESP system to achieve and optimum runlife for particular well conditions.