SPE 67270

Best Practices in the Preston Spraberry Unit
Scott W. Long, P.E., Flexbar, Inc., and Elton J. Smith, Charlie R. Hoff, SPE and Albert Garza, Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc.

Copyright 2001, Society of Petroleum Engineers Inc.

This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE Production and Operations Symposium held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 24-27 March 2001.

Abstract
During the last several years the Petroleum Industry had adopted the term "Best Practices" to describe an efficient method of producing oil and gas. The definition of this "method" is very subjective and is continually changing with acceptance of new improved and proven rod pumping knowledge. The best way to describe the term Best Practices is by using the phrase "Work in Progress" or "Continuous Improvement."

This paper describes and presents the implementation of a Best Practices program in the Preston Spraberry Unit located in West Texas. This accepted Best Practices program is presented as follows:

1. Complete initial pumping well analysis.
2. Matching lift operations to current producing rates by optimizing the following: plunger diameter, stokes per minute, stoke length, tubing anchor catcher, and downhole gas separation.
3. Managing downhole rodstring buckling by re-evaluation of rodstring designs and installation of sinkerbars.
4. Installing pump-off controllers to manage production rates, optimize run times and monitor equipment performance.
5. Follow-up well-site diagnostic analyses after several months of operation to evaluate initial well analysis and original well work, and implement further modifications.
   

Due to the successful implementation of this Best Practices program, tubing leaks were reduced by 61%, rod part replacements were reduced by 35%, and pump repairs were reduced by 6% during the two-year test period.

Recognition and continued development of these successful Best Practices will provide the oil and gas industry with improved artificial lift guidelines for more effective use of all valuable resources to more efficiently produce oil and gas.

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Updated Field Test Results

Performance of IPC Tubing in 147 Wells
from the PSU “Best Practices” Project

Scott W. Long, PE, SPE, Flexbar, Inc.,
and Elton J. Smith, SPE, Albert Garza, and Paul Treadwell,
Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc.

Presented at the 6th Annual Artificial Lift Forum
held in Midland, Texas, 22-23 October 2001.

5 YEARS OF PROJECT PERFORMANCE
PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES - PRESTON SPRABERRY UNIT WELLS
147 WELLS IN "BEST PRACTICES" PROJECT