SPE 93621
Production Optimization in ESP Completions with Intelligent Well Technology by Using
Downhole Chokes to Optimize ESP Performance
G. Vachon and K. Furui, Baker Oil Tools
Copyright 2005, Society of Petroleum Engineers Inc.
th
This paper was prepared for presentation at the 14 SPE Middle East Oil & Gas Show and
Conference held in Bahrain International Exhibition Centre, Bahrain, 12–15 March 2005.
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Abstract
Accelerated production, increased ultimate recovery, and
reduced interventions are goals of any operating company. It
is now possible to attain all of these goals simultaneously by
retrofitting intelligent well technology to an existing,
conventional completion. This task is much more complex
when the new technology must be installed in conjunction
with artificial lift, such as an electric submersible pump (ESP).
However, new technology and procedures have overcome this
complexity and offer a viable option for optimizing production
in existing completions that use artificial lift.
Commingled or selective production from two or more
zones is an ideal method of accelerating production from a
single well. Traditional designs require interventions into the
well to select the intervals to be produced. In most ESP wells,
commingling is achieved by using “Y” blocks which allow
production tubing to be run from the tubing hanger to the
zones of interest. The ESP must then be downsized to
accommodate this side-string, which significantly reduces
available pump horsepower. This paper focuses on single-ESP
wells producing from multiple pay zones. Various application
patterns for use of intelligent well technology beneath ESPs
are presented, especially focusing on immediate and future
benefits. Theoretical examples are presented to illustrate how
intelligent completions can enhance the ESP performance, add
flexibility, and extend the range of application for a given
pump.
Introduction
Intelligent well technology has become an important part of
oil and gas recovery. At the time intelligent wells were
conceived in the industry, it was considered that intelligent
completions would be mostly used in high-end wells, like
subsea and deepwater installations, where the high cost of
intervention made conventional completions uneconomical.
Application of this technology has continued to expand since
recent installation results have demonstrated the value of these
completions with a high success rate.
ESP systems are often used in older reservoirs on wells
with relatively high water cuts. ESP provides cost-effective
production by lifting fluid production from these less efficient,
mature reservoirs. Successful ESP production depends on
operating within an optimum operating range of the selected
pump. Due to changes in the formation over time, the ESP
may not be able to stay within the desired operating range of
the pump and its efficiency may drop to an unacceptable level.
Remote controlled open/close devices are mature, reliable
and relatively inexpensive. They afford many cost-effective
applications when used in combination with artificial lift
technology. Moreover, a user of ESPs has already committed
to running electric lines and protectors along the completion.
Adding a few more lines to accommodate intelligent
completions is a small incremental cost. This creates the
combination of challenge and potential for value creation that
results in economical advantage through leverage of intelligent
well technology. There are several template application
patterns that support usage of intelligent wells under ESPs. A
more specific field application has been reported in a previous
publication1.
The objective of this paper is to provide theoretical
strategies for optimizing ESP performance by using downhole
chokes in a well producing from multiple zones. We first
present a mathematical model for a single zone case that is
extended to multi-zone applications. Using the model, we also
present a comparative example for different completion
patterns and discuss the benefit of each application. The
infinite variable or multi-position chokes can add more
flexibility, improve ESP operating efficiency, and thus extend
the life of a given pump, which reduces the operating costs
and improves the productivity and recovery factors of a well.
Background
Intelligent Well Technology
Intelligent well technologies allow operators to reduce or
eliminate intervention costs, accelerate production and
reserves, improve reservoir management, and allow for
additional recoverable reserves. There are various definitions
of intelligent well systems. Our definition for this study
assumes the ability to monitor relevant formation parameters
and then remotely control production. Monitoring downhole
parameters such as pressure, temperature, and flow is of vital
2 SPE 93621
importance in intelligent well systems. Downhole
instrumentation provides real-time data which is analyzed and
used to make decisions on dynamic control actions for
production or injection. The most conventional monitoring
mechanisms are downhole pressure and temperature gauges.
These include high precision quartz gauges and lower cost but
less accurate strain gauges. Flow and density can be
interpreted from pressure and temperature data. Flow can be
measured by monitoring the pressure differential across a flow
restriction. Density can be monitored by measuring the
pressure difference due to changes in hydrostatic pressure at
different depths on a well. Other technologies such as fiber
optics add to the monitoring capabilities at hand.
There are two types of remote control mechanisms
employed in industry today. The simplest is the open/close or
on/off remotely controlled valve that enables or prevents flow
from annulus to tubing or from one segment of tubing to
another. A more capable and flexible version of these devices
is the remote controlled choke that not only opens or closes a
given zone, but also restricts flow from one zone relative to
another. Chokes can be infinitely variable or discrete in that
the user selects a predetermined number of choking levels.
These chokes are more suitable to optimize oil, gas, and water
rates from multiple-production zones. Remote actuation of
chokes or on/off valves can be achieved by means of hydraulic
control, electric control or electro-hydraulic mechanisms.
ESP technology
An ESP is a multistage centrifugal pump that offers a great
deal of flexibility. It consists of a motor powered by an
alternating electric current from the surface that spins a pump
in the well, thus lifting fluids to the surface. The power source
at the surface may operate at a fixed frequency or it can be
adjusted over a range of frequencies by utilizing a Variable
Speed Drive (VSD). The latter allows adjusting the
performance of the ESP by altering the frequency of the
current and thus the rotational speed of the pump. The design
of an ESP needs to be tuned to the amount and weight of the
fluid to be lifted as well as the height to which it will be lifted.
ESPs can be thought of as mechanisms for boosting the
pressure of the reservoir. A variable speed drive on an ESP
allows the adjustment of this boost by altering the frequency
of the drive. When properly designed, the ESP boosts the
pressure in the production tubing at the ESP discharge point to
that which will yield the desired flow rate. Simultaneously, the
pressure at the inlet of the ESP is decreased from the natural
well pressure to that corresponding with the desired flow rate
based on the productivity index of the completed formations.
ESP Performance Curves for ESP Wells and IWS
Choke Functionality
To design an ESP that will be optimal over a finite life span of
the well involves a trade-off between pumping requirements
early in the life of the well and later in the life of the reservoir,
and is eventually an economic question. With any ESP
completion, operators are interested in the ways we can extend
the life of the pump. By extending the run life, operators
benefit in two ways. Reducing down time of the pump
increases the production of the well over a period of time and
reduces the cost of replacing worn or damaged pumps. The
pump is characterized by performance curves that describe the
relationship between the head developed by the pump and
capacity through the pump under a certain rotational speed and
standard fluid properties (Fig. 1). In most cases, these curves
are determined by experiments using fresh water. The
efficiency of an ESP depends on the ratio of the hydraulic
power transferred to the fluid to the power supplied to the
pump, which has a maximum at some flow rate for a given
pump. Success in ESP applications relies on operating within
the optimum operating range (i.e., optimum flow rates).
ESP pumps do not lift a fixed amount of fluid but rather
provide a relatively constant amount of force to lift available
fluid in a given well. The flow rate through the pump is
dependent on the discharge pressure capacity less the pressure
available at the intake and therefore can vary for a specific
system. The design of an ESP well is optimized by looking at
how much fluid the formation will yield to be boosted to
surface (i.e., inflow performance relationship), how heavy the
fluid is and how high it needs to be boosted (i.e., wellbore
flow performance). These parameters determine how much
energy the pump needs to transfer to the fluids. A pump is
selected for its ability to furnish that much energy, but these
parameters also describe how efficient the pump will be. The
design of an ESP under most conditions is not overly complex
process if reliable data is available. However, the design will
be questionable if the information about the formation
capacity (i.e., PIs of the formation) is poor. Bad data often
results in a misapplied pump and costly operation. A
misapplied pump may operate outside the recommended
range, overload or underload the motor, or drawdown the well
at a rapid rate, which may result in formation damage. Even if
the information is accurate at the time of installation,
formation parameters change over time and take the pump
outside its optimal operating point.
For example, suppose that an ESP well is initially designed
to produce 6,000 bbl/day of oil based on an incorrect PI = 10
bbl/day/psi. If the actual productivity index is 15 bbl/day/psi,
production will be 9,000 bbl/day. This situation may be
unacceptable since producing above the peak efficiency can
result in upthrust wear of the pump and possible excessive
motor overload.
While bad input design data is not uncommon, this
example demonstrates the negative impact on pump
performance and run life. To compensate for such
shortcomings, the ESP manufacturers have developed variable
speed drives (VSDs) to broaden the operating range of an
otherwise fixed performance system. The effects of varying
frequency can be seen by preparing new head-capacity curves
for the desired frequencies, based on the pump’s known 60 Hz
performance characteristic curve provided by pump
manufacturers. According to the centrifugal pump affinity
laws, pump characteristic curves for frequencies other than 60
Hz can be described by
New Rate New Frequency
= (1)
Rate @ 60 Hz 60 Hz
2
New Head ⎛ New Frequency ⎞
=⎜ ⎟ (2)
Head @ 60 Hz ⎝ 60 Hz ⎠
SPE 93621
New BHP ⎛ New Frequency ⎞
3 the inflow curve. Increasing ∆pc moves the IPR upward and
=⎜ ⎟ (3)
BHP @ 60 Hz ⎝ 60 Hz ⎠ decreasing ∆pc lowers the IPR and increases the production.
New Efficiency = Efficiency @ 60 Hz (4)
A set of curves can be developed for an arbitrary series of
frequencies with the above equations as shown in Fig. 2. A
family of curves provides a much broader range of operating
conditions. The vortex shaped region is the recommended
operating range for the pump. As long as the hydraulic
requirement falls within this range, it is within the
recommended operating range of the pump.
If an intelligent well system is equipped to the ESP well, a
remote controlled choke lets the operator apply a pressure
drop from there to the sand face and reduces its drawdown. In
this particular example, adding 200 psi pressure differential
across the choke reduces the drawdown to 400 psi and
provides the desired flow rate of 6,000 bbl/day. The choke can
bring the pump back into the optimum operating range. Once
the pump is operating in the correct range the frequency of the
VSD can be increased along with corresponding adjustments
of the choke to increase the over all production of the well
taking full advantage of the higher than expected PI. In the
following section, theoretical examples are presented to
optimize the ESP performance over time by using downhole
chokes considering pressure decline of a reservoir.
Mathematical model – single zone production
Nodal analysis2 is a powerful analytical approach to evaluate
the well performance of systems composed of interacting
components at a particular time in the life of the well. Input
parameters for the nodal analysis include completion
configuration, fluid properties, wellhead pressures, formation
pressures, and ESP size and type. To perform a nodal analysis
on an ESP well, the node is selected at the ESP. The flow to
the pump is regulated by downhole chokes that are controlled
from the surface. The remotely adjustable chokes make it
possible to optimize the flow rate from the reservoir by
adjusting the IPR curve suitable for the ESP operating
condition. Fig. 3 describes the mathematical illustration of the
system. According to the nodal system, the outflow curve is
given by
Wellhead
Outflow = p wh + ∆p h + ∆p f − ∆p pump (5)
ESP
where pwh, ∆ph, ∆pf, and, ∆ppump are the wellhead pressure, the
hydrostatic pressure drop, the frictional pressure drop, and the
pressure gain that the pump must generate for a particular
producing rate. The pump shifts the outflow curve down and
increases the flow rate at the operating conditions.
On the other hand, the inflow curve (or IPR) is given by
ESP
Inflow = p wf − ∆p h + ∆p f − ∆p c
reservoir
for single zone production (6)
where pwf and ∆pc denote the wellbore flowing pressure and
the pressure drop across the downhole choke. The ∆pc depends
greatly on the flow rate and the choke open area relative to the
full-open area. It can increase or decrease by adjusting the
choke position from the surface, which gives us “control” of
3
decreases the production rate at the operating conditions while
Introducing the productivity index PI,
q
PI = (7)
pres − p wf
or
q
pwf = pres − (8)
PI
where pres is the average reservoir pressure. Substituting Eq. 8
into Eq. 6 gives
⎛ q ⎞ ESP
Inflow = ⎜ pres − ⎟ − ∆ph + ∆p f − ∆pc (9)
⎝ PI ⎠ reservoir
Reservoir pressures generally decline throughout the life of
a well, especially where the pressure is supported by water
influx from the outer/lower boundaries of the reservoir and/or
injection wells are not available. Hence, the inflow curve
described by Eq. 9 will be shifted downward over time. This
may take the ESP outside its optimal operating range. Fig. 4
illustrates how a downhole choke can bring the ESP back to
the optimum range. The square region represents the ESP
optimum operating range that is determined by the initial
reservoir conditions (i.e., initial average reservoir pressure).
As the reservoir pressure declines, the operating point (i.e., the
intersection of the outflow and inflow curves) goes out of the
optimum operating range. However, loosening the choke
moves the operating point back to the ESP optimum range.
The initial amount of ∆pc is directly related to the range of the
control that we could adjust the ESP performance from the
surface. In order to have sufficient rate control during the life
of an ESP, it is necessary to determine how much ∆pc the well
will require based on pressure decline analysis in advance.
Fig. 5 illustrates the dynamic choke settings to optimize
ESP performance. The pressure drop across the choke is
adjusted from the surface to obtain the desired constant
production. Assuming the productivity index doesn’t change
significantly over time, it is necessary to lower the wellbore
flowing pressure to maintain the sufficient drawdown as the
(average) reservoir pressure declines. In this example, we
presume that the initial ∆pc is equal to the pressure drop
predicted by the decline analysis, ∆pdecline.
Suppose that we predict the average reservoir pressure
would decrease by 500 psi at the end of the ESP run life with
the constant production of 8,000 bbl/day. The corresponding
initial choke position can also be determined from a choke
performance curve (which is usually different for the size,
type, orifice shape of chokes but is available from choke
manufacturers). Fig. 6 shows choke performance curves for
different flow rates. It is assumed that the pressure drop
through the choke is proportional to the square of a flow rate.
The curves are generated by a standard orifice model with the
inlet diameter = 2.812 in., the orifice coefficient = 0.7, and the
fluid density = 62.4 lb/ft3. The corresponding choke position
in % open can be read as 6.3 % at the beginning of the
production.
4 SPE 93621

Fig. 7 shows the flow rate and the pump efficiency of an pintake = − ∆p c ,1 + 1,550 = − ∆p c , 2 + 1,450
t =t t =t 0
ESP well with and without downhole chokes over time. The 0
(13)
production rate remains constant by adjusting the choke = − ∆p c ,1 + 1,350 = − ∆p c , 2 + 1,150
t =t1 t =t1
positions while the production rate of an ESP well without
control will decrease as the reservoir pressure declines. An The optimum inflow curve is obtained by setting ∆pc,2 = 0 psi
ESP well with downhole chokes stays within the desired at t = t1. This provides ∆pc,1 = 200 psi at t = t1 and ∆pc,1 = 400
operating range of the ESP, which will improve the ESP psi and ∆pc,2 = 300 psi at t = t0 as well as pintake = 1,150 psi.
operating cost and extend the life of the pump. In addition, The corresponding choke positions can be found from Fig. 6.
incremental production generated by the enhanced ESP The choke positions of choke 1 and choke 2 are 3.5 % and 6.1
performance will easily pay for additional cost of the % at t = t0 and 5.0% and 100 % at t = t1.
completion.
For the sake of demonstration, these graphs were generated Example Problem
considering a constant frequency. The use of a Variable Speed A case is generated using water properties for the production
drive further enhances the capacity to pinpoint an exact fluid. The following is a set of well conditions used in the
operational performance curve over the life of a well even example problem.
though the late life reservoir conditions may not have been Well Conditions
accurately predicted. Depth: 5,000 ft
Tubing: 4 ½” OD
Multizone production Productivity Index: 5 bbl/day/psi
The basic idea of controlling ESP performance by using Wellhead Pressure: 150 psi
multiple downhole chokes for a well producing from multiple Reservoir Pressure: 2,000 psi
zones/blocks is similar to the single zone problem discussed in Desired Production Rate: 4,000 STB/day
the previous section. The choke balance equation for n-zone Pipe Relative Roughness: 0.001
production controlled by n-chokes can be derived as shown in Expected that the reservoir pressure will decrease to 1,200 psi
the Appendix (See Ref. 5 for further discussion). The solution during production
is simply expressed by a straight line in the n-dimensional
space. In the case of two production zones with two downhole Pump Conditions
chokes, the choke balance equation is given by Number of Stages: 90 stages (Base case)
p intake = − ∆p c ,1 + C1 = − ∆p c , 2 + C 2 (10) Pump performance curve is given in Fig. 9.

where C1 and C2 are constants that have dimension in pressure The well performance curve (denoted by WPC in Fig. 9) is
and account for the hydraulic pressure drops, the frictional derived as follows. Inflow and outflow performance curves are
pressure drops, the reservoir pressures, the well flowing given by Eqs. 5 and 6. Therefore, the following equation can
pressures calculated by the productivity indices and the flow be derived at the operating point of the system.
rates. The difference of C1 and C2 describes the relative Wellhead ESP
p wh + ∆p h + ∆p f − ∆p pump = p wf − ∆p h + ∆p f − ∆p c
pressure difference between the two zones (or the required ESP reservoir
pressure differential between the two chokes under the desired (14)
flow rates) Once Eq. 10 is established, the future choke or
settings have to be determined from future reservoir Wellhead
conditions (i.e., declined reservoir pressure). Although the ∆p pump = p wh − p wf + ∆p h + ∆p f + ∆p c (15)
reservoir
number of solutions of Eq. 10 is infinite, the best choke
settings is always found when one of ∆pc is set to be equal to The head per stage in the pump performance curve in field
zero. The corresponding solution will provide the optimum units, H is given by
inflow curve. ∆p pump
Fig. 8 shows well and reservoir conditions for a two-zone H= (16)
ESP well equipped with two downhole chokes. With these 0.433N s
configurations, the choke balance relationship of Eq. 10 where Ns is the number of stages. Substituting Eq. 15 into Eq.
becomes 14 gives
p intake = − ∆p c ,1 + 1,550 = − ∆p c , 2 + 1,450 for t = t0 (11)
H=
1 ⎛⎜ p − p + ∆p + ∆p Wellhead
+ ∆p c ⎞⎟
0.433 N s ⎝ ⎠
wh wf h f reservoir
Assuming that the average reservoir pressures for zone 1 and
zone 2 would decline by 200 and 300 psi over time, the choke (17)
balance equation will change to From Eq. 8, the wellbore flowing pressure at the sand face is
pintake = − ∆p c ,1 + 1,350 = − ∆p c , 2 + 1,150 for t = t1 (12) replaced in terms of the productivity index and the flow rate;

Assuming the pump intake pressure is constant over time, Eqs. 1 ⎛ q Wellhead ⎞
H= ⎜ p wh − p res + + ∆p h + ∆p f + ∆p c ⎟
11 and 12 give 0.433 N s ⎝ PI reservoir
⎠
(18)
SPE 93621
Eq. 18 represents the total well performance curve that can be
projected on the pump performance plot (H vs Q). It shows the
required hydraulic head (per stage) under the given well
conditions. The intersection between Eq. 18 and the head-
capacity curve of the pump gives the operating point of the
system. The curve is described by a straight line where the
friction and choke terms are negligible. Since the pressure
drop across chokes depends greatly on the flow rate, Eq. 18
will be somewhat curved.
Case 1 – ESP well without VSD and IWS (Base case)
Fig. 9 shows pump performance curve and the well
performance curves. As discussed in the previous section, the
intersection between the head-capacity curve and the well
performance curve represents the operating point of the
system. At the initial reservoir conditions (i.e., the average
reservoir pressure = 2,000 psi), the flow rate is 4,000 bbl/day
where the ESP is designed to run optimally. The pump
efficiency is 70%. The average reservoir pressure is assumed
to decline to 1,200 psi. At this period, the well performance
curve given by Eq. B-5 moves upward and the operating point
will move to left. Once the flow rate decreases to 2000
bbl/day, the ESP is operating in conditions well out of the
optimum operating range. Running the ESP under these
conditions exceeds the maximum acceptable down thrust and
can shorten the life of the pump.
Case 2 – ESP/VSD
Fig. 10 shows the ESP performance using a variable speed
drive. In this figure, the head-capacity curves are plotted for
different frequencies of the motor. The best pump efficiency
(70%) is described by a dashed line. At the time of reservoir
depletion, the flow rate can be maintained at 4,000 bbl/day by
increasing the frequency to 75 Hz. The operating point moves
away from the best efficiency line although it stays in the
optimum operating range. Although the loss of efficiency is
very small, to maintain the best efficiency line, the flow rate
needs to increase with the frequency. It should be noted that
this is presented as an example to illustrate the effects of
increasing frequency to maintain production in an
environment where the intake pressure is decreasing. In
normal operation of an ESP speeds of over 70Hz are
recommended only with proper design and on a case by case
basis.
Case 3 – ESP/IWS
Fig. 11 and 12 show the ESP performance optimization using
a downhole choke. The number of stages is increased from 90
to 150 to give additional flexibility to the choke. Due to the
change, the well performance curve moves downward (Fig.
11). As the choke open area decreases, the well performance
curve increases. To maintain the desired flow rate and the
pump head, the choke position is set to 3.5 % open. At the
time of the reservoir depletion (Fig. 12), the well performance
curve moves upward. But we can set the choke at the full-open
position and maintain the optimum ESP operating condition.
In general, the ESP is designed to be operated under light
to moderate down thrust. The magnitude of the down thrust
should be minimal if maximum life is to be achieved. So, it is
necessary to consider not only the pump efficiency, but also
5
the pump thrust characteristics, particularly, how the
acceptable thrust range will change for different frequencies.
At 60 Hz (shown by a black line in Fig. 13), the optimum
thrust range, which is denoted by the region between the
dashed lines, is given by the pump optimum range.
The ultimate degree of control and adjustability of ESP
pumps using a VSD depends on the range of the frequency
available in VSD (e.g., 30-90 Hz). Assuming that 60 Hz is the
initial setting of the VSD, the head-capacity (per stage) at
4,000 bbl/day increases from 30 ft to 72 ft (60 Hz to 90 Hz).
This will be equivalent to about extra 20 psi/stage. For 90
stages, the adjustability in psi of ESP/VSD is 1800 psi
provided the motor horsepower is sufficient.
On the other hand, the degree of control of ESP pumps
using downhole chokes depends on the maximum number of
stages we could add. This depends mainly on the pump
series/model and the capacity of the pump housing. To
achieve the adjustability = 1,800 psi, we need to increase the
number of stages from 90 stages to 220 stages.
As far as this particular example problem is concerned, the
1800 psi is more than enough to control the well capacity
since adding 1800 psi to the well flow system results in
bottomhole pressure = - 600 psi (negative). Probably we will
need about 1,000 psi control at maximum.
Granted the above case uses some extremes for the
purposes of demonstration the results tell us that both
ESP/VSD and ESP/IWS provide sufficient ranges of
adjustability for controlling the reservoir depletion
Case 4 – ESP/VSD/IWS
Fig. 14 shows the ESP performance optimization with a VSD
and a downhole choke. With this configuration, one can adjust
both the pump performance curve and the well IPR, which
provides more control of ESP performance. By adding an
additional 30 stages to the base case 90 stage pump for a total
of 120 stages the system can be designed a hybrid control of
the pump and the inflow in order to maintain the pump with in
the proper range and maximum efficiency.
The required choke setting at the initial conditions is thus 5
% open. Through out the depletion cycle adjustments to either
the IWS valve and or the VSD can be made to keep the
operating at the peak efficiency. At the time of the reservoir
depletion, one can set the choke at 100 % open and the
frequency of the pump at 65 Hz. Compared with ESP/VSD,
the less frequency range is required and the pump efficiency
becomes better. The number of added stages is also less than
ESP/IWS, which will reduce the cost of adding
stages/housing.
The Business Case for Intelligent Completions for
Optimizing ESP lifted wells
Remotely controlled downhole chokes provide functionality
that is greatly enhanced when used in conjunction with a VSD.
The chokes can be used to maintain the constant production
rate by adjusting the pressures at the sand face while a VSD
system shift the pump optimum operating range by adjusting
the frequency of the drive. Using downhole chokes not only
improves the pump running efficiency, but also provides
incremental production by maintaining the desired production
rate throughout the life of the pump.
6 SPE 93621
In the case of wells producing from multiple zones,
ESP/IWS and ESP/VSD/IWS will be significantly more
economical and effective than ESP/VSD wells (without
downhole chokes) since the producing zones can be selected
or eliminated based on water cut, pressure depletion, solids,
etc. The additional cost of an intelligent completion can
increase a project’s NPV in many ways. Using well-known
IWS technology, one can accelerate production, decrease
formation damage and increase the recovery factor as well as
reduce intervention costs. One can reduce the cost of the ESP
system, and finally, it can facilitate maintaining the ESP at its
operating optimum. Gas kills pump efficiency. Using a choke
to manage production may delay gas breakthrough. This
combined action should result in much wider operating range.
These benefits result in more oil production, recovery of more
reserves, and the reduction of lifting costs for the asset, which
easily pay off the initial investments.
Conclusion
Success in ESP applications depends on operating within the
performance envelope of the selected pump. Changes in the
formation over time make it difficult to stay within the desired
operating range of the ESP. Intelligent completion systems
with remotely controlled chokes allow for optimal production
rates, maintain the optimum ESP operating range, and reduce
the risk of pump failure. Using downhole chokes can reduce
the risk of severe down thrust and the loss of the pump
efficiency. Using VSD can save the cost of stages/housings.
Although this problem ultimately becomes an economic
question, using downhole chokes to optimize ESP
performance can be highly beneficial, especially in multizone
applications. ESP/VSD/IWS combinations also offer benefits.
With both functionalities, one can find the best ESP
configuration based on the economic justification. Extended
ESP life reduces the cost of replacing damaged pumps and
pump down time, thus eliminating the expense of intervention
and the associated loss in production. Ability to monitor well
conditions in real time makes it possible to quickly react to
these changes and optimize the ESP performance. The
improvements in efficiency of pump and production pay for
the added cost of the completion.
Nomenclature
C = constant
pintake = pump intake pressure, psi
pres = reservoir pressure, psi
pwf = well flowing pressure, psi
pwh = wellhead pressure, psi
∆p c = pressure drop across choke, psi
∆p h = hydrostatic pressure drop, psi
∆p f = frictional pressure drop, psi
PI = productivity index, bbl/day/psi
q = flow rate, bbl/day
t = time, days
References
1. Puckett, R., Solano, M, and Krejci, M.,: “Intelligent Well
System Hydraulic Adjustable Chokes and Permanent
Monitoring Improves Conventional ESP Completion for an
Operator in Ecuador,” SPE 88506 presented at the SPE
Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition held in
Perth, Australia, 18-20 October 2004.
2. Beggs. H.D.: Production Optimization using Nodal
Analysis, OGCI and Petroskills Publications, 2003.
3. Powers, M.L.,: “Effects of Speed Variation on the
Performance and Longevity of Electric Submersible
Pumps,” SPEPE, February 1987, 15-24.
4. Vachon, G., and Bussear, T.: “Production Optimization in
ESP Completions with Intelligent Well Technology,” SPE
93617 presented at the SPE Asia Pacific Oil and gas
Conference and Exhibition held in Jakarta, Indonesia, 5-7,
April 2005.
5. Vachon, G., and Bussear, T.: “Production Optimization in
ESP Completions with Intelligent Well Technology by
Managing Drawdown in Multi-Zone ESP Lifted Wells,”
OMC 040 presented at the Offshore Mediterranean
Conference and Exhibition held in Ravenna, Italy, March
16-18, 2005.
Appendix – Development of a Choke Balance
Equation for a Well Producing from Multiple Zones.
We have an n-zone production well. Production from each
zone is independently controlled by a downhole choke. Thus
the total number of chokes is also n. The desired production
profiles of the system are determined by q1, q2, …, and qn. For
a flow path from n-th production zone to the reference point
(i.e., ESP intake),
⎛ q ⎞ ESP
p ref = ⎜⎜ p res , n − n ⎟⎟ − ∆p h + ∆p f − ∆p c , n (A-1)
⎝ PI n ⎠ n - th Zone
or simply given by
p ref = − ∆p c , n + C n (A-2)
where Cn is the constant accounting for the hydrostatic
pressure drop, the friction pressure loss, and the wellbore
flowing pressure calculated by the average reservoir pressure,
the flow rate from the zone, and the productivity index. We
have n equations and n+1 unknowns (pref, ∆pc,1, ∆pc,2 …, ∆pc,n
) so the solution of the system is given by the following
equation.
− ∆p c , n + C1 = − ∆p c , 2 + C 2 = … = − ∆p c , n + C n (= p ref )
(A-3)
Eq. A-3 represents the relative choke balance equation that
represents a straight line in the n dimensional system. When
one of the variables is specified, the others are determined by
Eq. A-3.
The solution at the minimum pref, which represents the
lowest resistance of the system, can be found by setting ∆pc,m
= 0 since all ∆pc >0. The subscript m represents the flow path
that has the highest resistance of the system (i.e., Cm = min
(Cn)). Then the other variables are determined by
⎧ p ref = C m
⎪∆p = (C − C )
⎪ c ,1 1 m
⎨ (A-4)
⎪
⎪∆p c , n = (C 2 − C m )
⎩
SPE 93621 7

Fig. 1 Typical pump performance curve. Fig. 5 Choke position over time to optimize the ESP performance.

Fig. 2 Variable frequency performance curves. Fig. 6 Determination of the choke position.

Fig. 3 Nodal system of an ESP well. Fig. 7 Effect of choking on ESP well performance and its
incremental production.

Fig. 4 ESP performance optimization by using downhole choke. Fig. 8 A ESP well producing from two zones.
8 SPE 93621

Fig. 9 Pump performance curve used in the example calculation – Fig. 13 Equal-thrust and affinity-law curves (after Powers3).
Base case.

Fig. 10 Pump performance optimization with VSD. Fig. 14 Pump performance optimization with VSD/IWS.

Fig. 11 Initial choke setting for ESP/IWS.

Fig. 12 Pump performance optimization with ESP/IWS.