Results of a Project for the Electrification of Well Testing and Production Equipment in the Ecuadorian Amazon

Abstract The article presents the results and lessons learned from a project for the electrification of equipment used for well testing and production in Ecuador. We quantified the reduction of CO2 emissions and noise in upstream operations in some of the most active oil fields in South America, located in one of the most biologically rich places in the world. In Ecuador, jet pumping is used for well testing and to a lesser extent for mature field production. The power equipment for the jet pump includes a 350 hp diesel engine. To improve the energy efficiency of its services, a project was executed to replace these engines with electric motors in 30% of the production units of one of the largest service companies in Ecuador. CO2 emissions were quantified and noise generated by a sample of diesel engines were measured. From this data, the reduction of emissions achieved by this electrification project was estimated. The construction and operation of hydroelectric power plants have facilitated the integration of numerous oil fields in the Ecuadorian Amazon into the National Interconnected System. This has made it possible for operating and service companies to invest in projects to improve the energy efficiency of production processes. In this project, the replacement of diesel engines with electric motors has resulted in the avoidance of 11,200 tons of CO2 emissions since 2017. Costs associated with fuel supply were reduced. The electric equipment was more stable, and non-productive times were minimized. Additionally, noise levels in the external environment of the wells were lowered from 54 dBA to 41 dBA, this holds significant importance in environmentally sensitive regions, such as the Amazon. Among the lessons learned is the need for specialized personnel to operate and maintain electrical equipment. Internal certification processes were implemented for the technicians in charge of these tasks. It is not possible to change 100% of the production units because not all wells have access to electricity generated through renewable means. However, switching to electric motors has proven to be a cost-effective investment to improve the energy efficiency of operations and reduce CO2 emissions. It is known that to achieve climate change mitigation goals by 2050, the oil industry must reduce its emissions by 90%. The present work is an example of how current technologies, that leverage local government investments in renewables, make it possible to achieve substantial reductions in emissions, controlling the environmental impact in one of the most sensitive areas of the planet.