I've never heard of anyone switching from pumping units to ESPs as part of their field development. That makes no sense to me. ESPs can move up to 10,000+ BPD, pumping units are lucky to get 1,000 BPD. We turn our wells on ESP landed in the vertical at KOP, then lower to the horizontal once they are pumped off. Then move to rod pump landed in the horizontal once the total rate gets under 400 BPD (we have several 320s in inventory).
In our field, there is no competition between ESPs and gas lift. High water rates, under-pressured reservoir and low gas cut render gas lift impossible. Every well is different and painting a broad brush over the entire oil industry is ignorant.
And don't even get me started on rod pumps. There's a reason they've been the staple of artificial lift for a hundred years. They're not going anywhere anytime soon.
I don't disagree with you on gas lift being a great option, it's definitely the cheapest to maintain, but there's a reason there are other artificial lift systems out there.
In our field, there is no competition between ESPs and gas lift. High water rates, under-pressured reservoir and low gas cut render gas lift impossible. Every well is different and painting a broad brush over the entire oil industry is ignorant.
And don't even get me started on rod pumps. There's a reason they've been the staple of artificial lift for a hundred years. They're not going anywhere anytime soon.
I don't disagree with you on gas lift being a great option, it's definitely the cheapest to maintain, but there's a reason there are other artificial lift systems out there.