Electric Submersible Pumps

Most producing oil fields depend upon rod-type pumping units to bring oil to the surface, and many of these wells are also aided by electric submersible pumps (ESPs) working below the surface. More than 60 percent of producing oil wells require some type of assisted lift technology to produce the recoverable oil originally in place. Occidental is an industry leader in the deployment of electrical submersible pumps, with more than 2,600 ESPs operating worldwide lifting more than six million barrels of fluid per day.

ESPs are typically used in older reservoirs on wells with high water cuts (percentage of water to oil). Electric submersible pumps provide cost effective production by boosting fluid production from these less efficient, older reservoirs.

ESPs use variable speed drives to efficiently produce between 100 and 30,000 barrels of fluid per day. By custom-configuring pumps, production from multiple isolated zones is also possible.

Successful ESP production depends upon the combined expertise and coordination of design engineers and field technicians, including Occidental employees, contractors and suppliers. Reservoir characteristics and optimal ESP configuration for specific production environments are complex and require coordination, cooperation and teamwork - a successful combination for Occidental.

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