Electrical submersible pump (ESP) is the main artificial lift system in Shushufindi field. These systems besides facing high gas production, high scale and corrosion tendencies, also have to deal with surface fluid handling and electrical power limitations which combined impose challenges to optimize the ESP system. In perspective, the digitalization initiative has been key to integrate data in order to have a big picture of the actual field condition and ultimately to enhance oil production. Various dashboards have been created using the business intelligence tool to provide real time information. ESP dashboard shows opportunities to optimize the ESP unit by integrating real time and manual entry data to optimize frequency, surface equipment, opportunities for pump upsizing, and re-designing the ESP downhole equipment. The result of this analysis is derived from ESP simulation, nodal analysis, chemical treatment monitoring and real time surveillance of the ESP parameters. Dashboards of water handling, electrical power, and chemical treatment are utilized to support process analysis providing current field status, with also the feedback from operational and engineering recommendations. Comprehensive real time monitoring resulted in average of 500 bopd less production deferment in the last 12 months as the result of early detection and a proper operational optimization (chemical treatment, gas flaring, and choke optimization) of the unstable wells. Strategic decisions have been executed to ensure the availability of water handling capacity and electrical power for each production station such as stimulating disposal wells, cleaning injection flowlines, and repairing power generations. Up to 3,000 bopd total incremental has been generated in the last 12 months as the result of 17 upsizing operations, optimizing frequency in 68 wells, and optimizing surface equipment in 35 wells. The associated mean time between failures (MTBF) of ESP system has increased over the time from 224 days in 2013 to 674 days in 2020. Digitalization is a game changer for optimizing the oilfield production and to reduce associated operation risks from features as of real time surveillance, EDGE computing, remote actuation, and big data intelligence. This paper will elaborate in detail on how digitalization can be valuable in optimizing ESP system with a successful case study in Shushufindi field.

In this case study, EP Petroecuador and Consorcio Shushufindi evaluate a chemical treatment and completion strategies to reduce the extensive impact of bottomhole scale deposits on oil production, electrical submersible pumps (ESP) run life, and operating costs of wells completed in the high-scaling tendencies reservoir. The positive impact on oil production optimization resulting from these strategies will also be discussed and the advantages, lessons learned, and constraints of this work. Conventionally, corrosion and scale chemical inhibitors are deployed through capillary lines; this method is effective up to the pump depth but does not prevent deposits at the perforations or at the lower completion and near wellbore. Rapid production decline or complete loss of production is observed, requiring costly well interventions. Laboratory analysis and evidence from the interventions show that lower T-sand fluids present a high-scale tendency at the bottomhole; therefore, a process to identify candidates and deploy chemical treatment in the rathole to prevent scale deposits was defined and proved. The technology selected was encapsulated scale inhibitors (microcaps). Based on the process, two wells were selected from a portfolio of 12 wells that match the criteria to apply the method to deploy the technology. The following observations were drawn: -Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is the most common scale-ESP parameters and production surveillance are essential for early detection of problems associated with scale deposits at bottomhole-The action of microcaps and the installation of a pipe tail below the ESP base sensor allowed to deepen the continuous dosage of scale inhibitor and has already doubled the run life of the ESP equipment, with direct savings on operations costs (approximately USD 240,000) in the short time and continue and can continue to yield more.-According to post workover (WO) production tests of the two candidates and the performance of ESP parameters, the application of this strategy made possible to restore the productivity indexes and sustain them over time. This leads to reduction in production losses of 310 BOPD or 60% of the actual production in the similar period before the treatment.-The microcaps can be applied and refilled through rig-less annulus-It is a low-cost solution for scale problems at bottomhole. This document presents an analysis to reduce operating costs in wells that produce fluids with a high-scaling tendency at bottom hole, through an unconventional and low-cost strategy of chemical treatment from the sand face to the wellhead. This novel process and microcaps application can be used in wells in remote and difficult areas to service on a regular basis.

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Waterflooding project has been implemented in Shushufindi-Aguarico mature field since late 2014. Having a compatible and cost-effective injected water is one of the key elements to ensure the success of this project. In perspective, water treatment plant was constructed in 2014 during pilot stage while water sources wells were completed in 2019 as an alternative source of injected water at the expansion stage of waterflooding project. This paper presents the comparison between both systems used as part of the water injection strategy: the Water Injection Plant (WIP) and Water Producer Wells (WPW). A complete system of water treatment plant is located in one of the production stations. The process basically starts by collecting water from production wells and workovers then treating it mechanically using a flotation unit and chemically to remove solid as well as oil contents. The water is then injected into injection wells with the help of horizontal pumping system (HPS). In the system of water source wells, two wells were converted to produce water from Hollin water reservoir utilizing electrical submersible pumps (ESP). The water is directly injected without any treatment into injection wells given the analysis of its fluid properties. The initial investment for water treatment plant is four times compared to water source well providing equal injection capacity where the operational cost per barrel of injected water is similar. The operational cost for water treatment plant refers to surface facilities maintenance and daily chemical consumption while for water source well it refers to associated cost of ESP reparation and workover operation. The average run-life of the water source wells in Ecuador Oriente basin is 1,200 days. The biggest challenge of water treatment plant is dealing with solid content whereas for water source well is on how to ensure integrity of the well and the flowline system in the high temperature and CO2 environment. Continuous improvements have been performed to address these challenges such as chemical treatment adjustments, real-time surveillance of injection wells, and modification of flowline system. Water treatment plant not only provides compatible water for injection wells but also supports water handling capacity as it utilizes water from production wells. In the other hand, compatible and clean water from Hollin water reservoir is the main benefit of water source wells. This paper will outline the pros and cons of water treatment plant and water source well based on field evaluation in Shushufindi-Aguarico field. It outlines the operational experience and lessons learned that can be used as a guide and reference when evaluating water sources for a waterflooding strategy. Economical analysis as well as continuous improvement will also be presented in this paper to deliver an integrated analysis.

The Covid-19 pandemic is an unprecedented condition to the global economy including the oil & gas industry. The ability to adapt to the imposed changes, requires creativity, innovation, digitalization of processes, and resilience. This work will show a novel integrated approach around four pillars which had improved operation efficiency and brought monetary value during a challenging 2020 in Shushufindi field, Ecuador. The first pillar is new technology adoption. This aims to extend run life of critical equipment resulting in a higher well productive time. Examples of adopted technology: Chrome-enrich tubulars, downhole microcaps chemical deployment, de-sander and multiphase/extended gas handler. The second pillar is the P3 process (Pre-Pulling-Post) to quickly and effectively find the root cause of well failure that leads to definite remedial action. Digital enabler is the third pillar, its value come from reducing operational downtime and risk by using real-time surveillance capability, remote control, and data intelligence. The final pillar is to re-establish an effective communication with all stakeholders. Various dashboards have been developed in order to provide the big picture of actual field condition in quickly manner as well as implementation of ESP real time surveillance & diagnostics, real time multiphase production test, and chemical treatment automation. Workshops, online technical, and service quality meetings are regularly conducted to ensure that recommendations and opportunities can be executed properly including contractual negotiations to enable new technology implementation. Despite all the restrictions during covid-19 pandemic and some force majeures in 2020, this integrated and digitalized approach has resulted an outstanding outcome: Well failure index reduced from 0.62 in 2019 to 0.41 in 2020; Production deferment related to well failure declined significantly from 2,420 bopd in 2019 to 1,259 bopd in 2020, which translate in savings of $16.8 million dollars. In addition to that, there was a reduction on operational cost from $26.3 million dollars in 2019 to $15.2 million dollars in 2020. This proven initiative has been supported and recognized by all stakeholders. Some new technologies and digitalization projects are in the process to be implemented in Shushufindi field as part of Ecuador digital strategy 2022. This successful integrated and digitalized approach can be adopted in other fields and will generate a huge business impact.