Case Study
Shallow Ultra-Heavy Oil Marginal Low-Production Well Steam Huff and Puff
Overcoming 10,658 mPa·s viscosity and severe rod-tubing wear, achieving RMB 222,800 comprehensive cost reduction per well per year.
Published on: June 2025
The Value
RMB 222,800
Comprehensive cost savings per well per year
132 t / 58.03%
Annual oil increase / oil-steam ratio improvement
107.58 t / 30%
Annual steam savings / power consumption reduction
+477 days
Pump inspection cycle improvement
At a Glance
Location
Nanyang, Henan, China
Oilfield / Plant
Henan Oilfield Nanyang
Well Conditions
Shallow ultra-heavy oil marginal low-production well (pump setting inclination 21°), pump depth 453 m
Recovery Process
Nitrogen-steam cyclic huff and puff
The Challenge
High viscosity, wear and sand plugging — a triple constraint on marginal low-production well economics
High Viscosity, Short Low-Temp Window
Comprehensive water cut of 85.7%, sand content of 0.7%, and formation crude dynamic viscosity of 10,658 mPa·s. As production temperature drops, crude entry into the pump becomes difficult, shortening the low-temperature production window and reducing oil-steam ratio.
Severe Rod-Tubing Wear
Severe rod-tubing wear results in an average sucker rod lifespan of less than 1.5 years.
Sand Plugging, No Injection-Production Integration
Conventional lifting is highly susceptible to sand plugging and cannot achieve injection-production integration without pulling the tubing string.
The Solution
HXBS pilot-deployed the IntelliCPCP® Intelligent Tapered Progressing Cavity Pump System
Comprehensively upgrading the lifting process to address the three core challenges of heavy oil marginal low-production wells.
Both stator and rotor are made of all-metal materials, withstanding high temperatures and enabling injection-production integration without pulling the tubing string.
Leverages the superior adaptability of progressing cavity pumps for heavy oil, significantly extending late-stage system efficiency and injection-production cycles.
The unique tapered geometry allows dynamic clearance adjustment and sand-laden production. The system prevents sand burial and back-spin during shutdown, resists scale after steam injection, and auto-lifts to clear sand plugging.
Systems Used
Systems & Equipment Used
