Despite its common use as an artificial lift method for heavy-oil developments, electrical-submersible-pump (ESP) system performance in high-viscosity applications is not fully understood. Failure to understand challenges to equipment performance in such conditions can lead to operational inefficiency and equipment failures. The complete paper presents results of single-phase and multiphase tests performed by researchers at the University of Campinas. It also presents operational data, lessons learned, and examples of failures gathered over 10 years of ESP operation in the Peregrino field, a highly viscous, heavy‑oil field offshore Brazil operated by Equinor.
Peregrino Field
The field was discovered in 1994 in the southern part of the Campos Basin offshore Brazil.
