Operational Excellence:

How to Increase Profits at Any Oil Price

A higher level, deep dive into

sucker rod pumping fundamentals

Mike Poythress

ConocoPhillips

Production and Operations

Abstract:

When many horizontal wells are converted from ESP or Gas Lift to Sucker Rod Pump (SRP), there is an expected and unfavorable step change in production, along with a predictable season of repeat downhole failures.

Most SRP wells struggle to produce the rates calculated with the current design programs. As pump intake pressure decreases, gas interference becomes a greater issue in the pump. This situation decreases daily run times as the controller identifies these low fillage events and puts the well into a temporary Idle Time, completing a run/stop cycle. Many Operators increase Idle Times to reduce the number of cycles each day, expecting a higher number of cycles will lead to more failures. This results in wells with high fluid levels on the backside, running less than 24 hours per day.

This situation also happens with vertical wells when the fear of failure, and perceived lack of time to optimize a well, becomes the standard. When horizontal wells slug, gas interference becomes an even larger issue. Wells can experience hours of what appears to be no fluid at the pump, which limits run times and production.

The author believes it is imperative that Operators and Suppliers partner together to develop technology that will accurately identify failure risks when operating under the volatile slugging conditions that horizontal wells present in a rod pump application. All while identifying optimum operating practices during the ever-changing conditions to maximize production in both horizontal and vertical wells.

Biography:

Mike Poythress is a Principal Production Engineer at ConocoPhillips, where he provides technical support to the Global Engineering and Operations teams in the sucker rod pumping arena. Design, optimization, troubleshooting, failure analysis and training – with a focus on the sucker rods, pump and SCADA system. In 11 years at ConocoPhillips, Mike has received 6 awards in the annual Top Instructor program. Mike is the recipient of the SWPSC’s 2025 J.C. Slonneger award, and he was the 2024 Permian Basin AL Conference Chairman. Prior to joining ConocoPhillips, Mike worked 35 years for four companies that make pumps and sucker rods.