Permanent Magnet Motor (PMM) Field Wide Implementation, Execution and Lessons Learned

Using permanent magnet motors (PMMs) is the pathway to future power consumption savings and carbon footprint reduction with electric submersible pumps (ESP). Power consumption savings are generated by the physics of the motor, not in the efficiency increases in a performance curve with many variables. When a magnetic field is established in the rotor, it eliminates the need to induce a magnetic field, which is where the true savings are derived. This paper follows Oxy's journey through technology, safety and reliability challenges, focusing on lessons learned and opportunities for improvement. Although more innovation is required to improve the performance with PMMs, this operator would like to share its journey of challenges and successes and illustrate the potential of the systems. Consideration of PMMs originally started with a consortium of other operators testing the validity of power savings in 2015. Some initial installations proved to be successful, but dangerous. This operator began its journey with PMMs in 2016, conducting initial tests on the motors in a laboratory setting to determine the potential for actual power savings. After this was verified, field tests began to determine achievable results under real operating conditions. The operator installed its first PMMs in the field in 2017 (the first one is still running after 2,900 days, as of this writing). Field testing validated the power consumption savings, and the decision was made to continue with the development. Moving forward required a roadmap to be created to understand the technology, testing to be conducted on devices and logic, and, most importantly, training personnel to keep everyone safe. Although testing and field installations showed positive results in power consumption savings, reliability remained a concern, potentially offsetting the savings with additional costs.