The Driller
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • EQUIPMENT
  • SAFETY
  • VIDEOS
  • EDUCATION
  • SOURCEBOOK
  • EVENTS
  • SUBMIT
  • ABOUT
  • SIGN UP
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • NEWS
  • Water
  • Geothermal
  • Construction
  • Environmental
  • Mining
  • All Industry News
  • EQUIPMENT
  • Rigs & Heavy Equipment
  • Consumables
  • Pumps
  • Featured Products
  • VIDEOS
  • Newscast
  • Drill Talks
  • Ask Brock
  • Emerging Drillers
  • EDUCATION
  • Drilling Business Insights
  • Reference Desk
  • Sponsored Insights
  • EVENTS
  • Conferences & Demo Days
  • Newscast LIVE
  • SUBMIT
  • Drillers @Work
  • ABOUT
  • Contact
  • Advertise
The Driller
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
The Driller
  • NEWS
    • Water
    • Geothermal
    • Construction
    • Environmental
    • Mining
    • All Industry News
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • EQUIPMENT
    • Rigs & Heavy Equipment
    • Consumables
    • Pumps
    • Featured Products
  • SAFETY
  • VIDEOS
    • Newscast
    • Drill Talks
    • Ask Brock
    • Emerging Drillers
  • EDUCATION
    • Drilling Business Insights
    • Reference Desk
    • Sponsored Insights
  • SOURCEBOOK
  • EVENTS
    • Conferences & Demo Days
    • Newscast LIVE
  • SUBMIT
    • Drillers @Work
  • ABOUT
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP
Drilling Industry NewsOil & Gas DrillingHorizontal Directional Drilling

Baker Hughes First LEAP Field Trial Doubles, Triples Production

Natural Gas Up 200 Percent, Oil Up 300

Baker Hughes LEAP
January 18, 2016

Baker Hughes’ first field trial of its LEAP adaptive production system, installed in December, is delivering 300 percent greater oil production and 200 percent higher natural gas production compared to the previous artificial lift solution.

“Until now, operators have had to use 100-year-old technology that was never intended to operate in deep, horizontal wells or to handle the rapidly declining production rates and high gas volumes typical of unconventional reservoirs,” says Wade Welborn, vice president for Artificial Lift Systems at Baker Hughes. “As the first artificial lift technology designed specifically for these unique production challenges, the LEAP adaptive production system represents a step-change in artificial lift technology.”

The system, developed in the Mississippi Lime play in Woods County, Okla., for SandRidge Energy, is 5,200 feet deep and has been in continuous operation since its installation. It was seamlessly deployed through the deviated section of the wellbore and started on its first attempt with no issues.

An entirely new approach to artificial lift, the LEAP system is designed to adapt to the dynamic production profiles typical in most unconventional oil wells.

The downhole system consists of a positive displacement pump, which can be installed to sit deeper in a well than traditional rod pumps; a submersible linear electromagnetically actuated motor, which drives the pump and eliminates the need for the long rod string (a primary source of failure in rod lift systems); and a sensor, which provides pressure and temperature data to help ensure the highest level of production optimization and system longevity.

Unlike other positive displacement pumping technology, proprietary software built into the LEAP system surface variable speed drive (VSD) integrates with downhole electronics to allow remote adjustments to the pumping system speed and stroke length as production rates change.

“Overcoming the technical hurdles associated with unconventional production isn’t the only advantage of the LEAP system. It also is helping Baker Hughes meet its commitment to deliver solutions that continually improve the safety and environmental sustainability of customer operations,” Welborn says. “It dramatically reduces the large surface footprint required for traditional rod systems, mitigates potential emission and leak paths and eliminates the safety hazards to wellsite personnel that are inherent with large pump jacks.”

Recognizing in 2013 that traditional production technologies were not meeting the demands of unconventional oil plays, Baker Hughes established a team, based at the Baker Hughes Artificial Lift Research and Technology Center in Claremore, Okla., to research innovative artificial lift solutions to address these challenges. The SandRidge field trial comes 18 months after approval of the initial system design.

Baker Hughes is a supplier of oilfield services, products, technology and systems to the worldwide oil and natural gas industry. The company's 60,000 employees today work in more than 80 countries. For more information, visit www.bakerhughes.com.

KEYWORDS: Baker Hughes horizontal directional drilling VFDs

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • geotechnical drilling rig

    6 Onsite Phrases Environmental Drillers Hate

    Here are six phrases that highlight common frustrations...
    Markets
    By: Jeff Garby
  • Wayne Nash

    Pipe Stuck? Common Causes and Solutions for Drillers

    If you have drilled for any length of time, sooner or...
    Markets
    By: Wayne Nash
  • deep water well

    Selecting and Sizing Submersible Pump Cable

    This article helps pump installers and servicers decide...
    Equipment
    By: Bob Pelikan
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Manage My Account
  • eNewsletters
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service
  • Manage My Preferences

The Driller Newscast: Hard Hats, Hot Topics, and Dad Jokes

The Driller Newscast: Hard Hats, Hot Topics, and Dad Jokes

Environmental Works - 3135GT Testimonial

Environmental Works - 3135GT Testimonial

ClimateMaster’s “Geo Joe” Discusses Industry Growth Through State Organizations

ClimateMaster’s “Geo Joe” Discusses Industry Growth Through State Organizations

The Driller Newscast - The Exit Interview: The Battle of Bron vs. Brock

The Driller Newscast - The Exit Interview: The Battle of Bron vs. Brock

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the The Driller audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of The Driller or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • demo of a DM450 drilling rig during a customer factory visit
    Sponsored byGeoprobe

    Built for You: Smarter Drill Rigs, Stronger Support, Bigger Opportunities

Popular Stories

An image of the Plume Stop tech

New Filter System to Mitigate PFAS Said to Last 40 Years

An image of a pair of boots

The Job Site Fit Check: Boots

An image of a Vesa Drill rig

Breaking: Charger Acquires Versa-Drill

The Driller Classifieds

COMPRESSORS

EAST WEST MACHINERY & DRILLING IS BUYING AND SELLING AIR COMPRESSORS, AIR BOOSTERS, AIR ENDS & PARTS
Company: East West Machinery

DRILL RIGS

LOOKING FOR LATE MODEL TOPHEADS & DRILLTECH D25'S
Company: Spikes’s Rig Sales

DRILL RIG PARTS

MEETING DRILLERS NEEDS AROUND THE WORLD
Company: East West Machinery

ELEVATORS

SEMCO INC. PIPE ELEVATORS
Company: Semco Inc.

GROUTERS

GROUTING EQUIPMENT - GROUT PUMPS & GROUT HOSE REELS
Company: Geo-Loop Inc.

PUMP HOISTS

SEMCO INC. - BASIC PUMP HOISTS
Company: Semco Inc.

WELL PACKERS

LANSAS PRODUCTS - INFLATABLE WELL PACKERS
Company: Vanderlans Lansas Products

WELL SCREENS

WELL SCREENS & SLOTTED PIPE
Company: Alloy Screen Works

Products

Water Quality Engineering: Physical / Chemical Treatment Processes

Water Quality Engineering: Physical / Chemical Treatment Processes

By carefully explaining both the underlying theory and the underlying mathematics, this text enables readers to fully grasp the fundamentals of physical and chemical treatment processes for water and wastewater.

See More Products

The Driller E.G.O. Award - Enter now!

Related Articles

  • Oil and Gas Default

    Baker Hughes Unveils Next-Gen JewelSuite 6

    See More
  • Oil and Gas Default

    Baker Hughes, GE Merger Forms Full-stream Oil & Gas Company

    See More
  • Oil and Gas

    Halliburton, Baker Hughes Agree to Combine in $34.6 Billion Deal

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • deepwater.jpg

    Deepwater Drilling 1st Edition

  • fundamentals.jpg

    Fundamentals of Sustainable Drilling Engineering

  • 1119819962.jpg

    Stantec's Water Treatment: Principles and Design, Updated, 3rd Edition

See More Products
×

Dig deeper into the drilling and water supply industry!

Build your knowledge with The Driller, covering the people, equipment and technologies across drilling markets.

SIGN UP NOW
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
    • Classifieds
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eNewsletters
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing

The Driller
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
The Driller
  • NEWS
    • Water
    • Geothermal
    • Construction
    • Environmental
    • Mining
    • All Industry News
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • EQUIPMENT
    • Rigs & Heavy Equipment
    • Consumables
    • Pumps
    • Featured Products
  • SAFETY
  • VIDEOS
    • Newscast
    • Drill Talks
    • Ask Brock
    • Emerging Drillers
  • EDUCATION
    • Drilling Business Insights
    • Reference Desk
    • Sponsored Insights
  • SOURCEBOOK
  • EVENTS
    • Conferences & Demo Days
    • Newscast LIVE
  • SUBMIT
    • Drillers @Work
  • ABOUT
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP