One Company's Experience using Metal to Metal PCPs as the Primary Artificial Lift Method in a SAGD Operation

Abstract

Abstract PetroChina Canada's Mackay River project is currently the largest SAGD operation where Metal to Metal PCPs (MMPCPs) are being used as the primary artificial lift method. Their simplicity and potential robustness in very high temperature applications were considered advantages in their selection for producing a reservoir that no other operator had developed before. Furthermore, their potential to reduce costs when converting wells from steam circulation to production was considered a key advantage over other potential forms of artificial lift. Subsurface monitoring was implemented to accelerate the learning curve and maintain optimum operating conditions for both the wells and the artificial lift systems. Real time data acquisition was used to track pump production performance and estimate wear within the MMPCPs over time. At the time of this paper, 42 well pairs had been successfully converted from steam circulation to production, where 37 well pairs are actively being produced using MMPCPs. To date, 14 MMPCP system failures have occurred and an estimate of the downhole production system reliability is calculated. As well, Root Cause Failure Analysis investigations into three of the most common failure mechanisms are summarized. As the field is still in early stages of production, confidence in the reliability of the MMPCPs and understanding of the common failure mechanisms is expected to grow as more data becomes available.