LAPSE:2025.0336
Published Article

LAPSE:2025.0336
Non-Linear Model Predictive Control for Oil Production in Wells Using Electric Submersible Pumps
June 27, 2025
Abstract
The oil production in wells using electric submersible pumps (ESPs) demands precise control of parameters within safety and efficiency constraints to minimise failures, extend equipment lifespan, and reduce costs. This study proposes a non-linear model predictive control (NMPC) system designed for ESP-lifted wells, leveraging pump frequency and choke valve adjustments to maximise production while adhering to operational limits. Tested on a simulated pilot plant using a first-principles model to predict key variables like flow and liquid column height, the NMPC demonstrated offset-free performance, effective disturbance rejection, and ensured stable, safe, and optimised operations, addressing challenges in nonlinear, constraint-intensive environments.
The oil production in wells using electric submersible pumps (ESPs) demands precise control of parameters within safety and efficiency constraints to minimise failures, extend equipment lifespan, and reduce costs. This study proposes a non-linear model predictive control (NMPC) system designed for ESP-lifted wells, leveraging pump frequency and choke valve adjustments to maximise production while adhering to operational limits. Tested on a simulated pilot plant using a first-principles model to predict key variables like flow and liquid column height, the NMPC demonstrated offset-free performance, effective disturbance rejection, and ensured stable, safe, and optimised operations, addressing challenges in nonlinear, constraint-intensive environments.
Record ID
Keywords
ESP, Nonlinear Predictive Control, Oil Wells, Operating envelope
Subject
Suggested Citation
Rebello CM, Costa EA, Ribeiro MP, Fontana M, Schnitman L, Nogueira IBDR. Non-Linear Model Predictive Control for Oil Production in Wells Using Electric Submersible Pumps. Systems and Control Transactions 4:1145-1150 (2025) https://doi.org/10.69997/sct.178327
Author Affiliations
Rebello CM: Department of Chemical Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Gløshaugen, Trondheim, 7034, Norway
Costa EA: Department of Chemical Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Gløshaugen, Trondheim, 7034, Norway
Ribeiro MP: CENPES, Petrobras R&D Center, Av. Horacio ´ Macedo 950, Cid. Universitaria, ´ Ilha do Fundao, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
Fontana M: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Federal University of Bahia, Polytechnic School, R. Prof. Aristídes Novis, 2 -
Schnitman L: Department of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of Bahia, Polytechnic School, R. Prof. Aristídes Novis, 2 - Federação, Salvador, 40210-630, Brazil
Nogueira IBDR: Department of Chemical Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Gløshaugen, Trondheim, 7034, Norway
Costa EA: Department of Chemical Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Gløshaugen, Trondheim, 7034, Norway
Ribeiro MP: CENPES, Petrobras R&D Center, Av. Horacio ´ Macedo 950, Cid. Universitaria, ´ Ilha do Fundao, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
Fontana M: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Federal University of Bahia, Polytechnic School, R. Prof. Aristídes Novis, 2 -
Schnitman L: Department of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of Bahia, Polytechnic School, R. Prof. Aristídes Novis, 2 - Federação, Salvador, 40210-630, Brazil
Nogueira IBDR: Department of Chemical Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Gløshaugen, Trondheim, 7034, Norway
Journal Name
Systems and Control Transactions
Volume
4
First Page
1145
Last Page
1150
Year
2025
Publication Date
2025-07-01
Version Comments
Original Submission
Other Meta
PII: 1145-1150-1497-SCT-4-2025, Publication Type: Journal Article
Record Map
Published Article

LAPSE:2025.0336
This Record
External Link

https://doi.org/10.69997/sct.178327
Article DOI
Download
Meta
Record Statistics
Record Views
1037
Version History
[v1] (Original Submission)
Jun 27, 2025
Verified by curator on
Jun 27, 2025
This Version Number
v1
Citations
Most Recent
This Version
URL Here
https://psecommunity.org/LAPSE:2025.0336
Record Owner
PSE Press
Links to Related Works
References Cited
- FAKHER, Sherif; KHLAIFAT, Abdelaziz; NAMEER, Hashim. Improving electric submersible pumps efficiency and mean time between failure using permanent magnet motor. Upstream Oil and Gas Technology, v. 9, p. 100074, 2022 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.upstre.2022.100074
- ZHU, Jianjun; ZHANG, Hong-Quan. CFD simulation of ESP performance and bubble size estimation under gassy conditions. In: SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition?. SPE, 2014. p. SPE-170727-MS https://doi.org/10.2118/170727-MS
- ZHU, Jianjun et al. A numerical study on flow patterns inside an electrical submersible pump (ESP) and comparison with visualization experiments. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, v. 173, p. 339-350, 2019 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2018.10.038
- KOLAWOLE, Oladoyin; GAMADI, Talal; BULLARD, Denny. Comprehensive review of artificial lift system applications in tight formations. In: SPE Eastern Regional Meeting. SPE, 2019. p. D021S002R008 https://doi.org/10.2118/196592-MS
- CARPENTER, D. E.; MCCREA, A. A. Beta field history: submersible pumps in heavy crude. In: SPE Oklahoma City Oil and Gas Symposium/Production and Operations Symposium. SPE, 1995. p. SPE-29508-MS https://doi.org/10.2523/29508-MS
- SHARMA, R. & GLEMMESTAD, B. Optimal control strategies with nonlinear optimization for an Electric Submersible Pump lifted oil field. Modeling, Identification and Control 2013;34(2):55-67 http://dx.doi.org/10.4173/mic.2013.2.2 https://doi.org/10.4173/mic.2013.2.2
- AL-BALLAM, Shaikha; KARAMI, Hamidreza; DEVEGOWDA, Deepak. A Data-Based Reliability Analysis of ESP Failures in Oil Production Wells. Journal of Energy and Power Technology, v. 4, n. 4, p. 1-29, 2022 https://doi.org/10.21926/jept.2204036
- CARIDAD, Jose; SHANG, Song. Advancing High-Temperature ESP Technology for SAGD Applications. In: SPE Gulf Coast Section Electric Submersible Pumps Symposium?. SPE, 2019. p. D031S006R001. https://doi.org/10.2118/194387-MS
- YUSUPBEKOV, Nodirbek et al. Application of advanced process control technologies for optimization of polymers production processes. In: International Conference on Theory and Application of Soft Computing, Computing with Words and Perceptions. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2019. p. 345-351 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-35249-3_44
- NOGUEIRA, Idelfonso BR et al. Dynamics of a true moving bed separation process: Linear model identification and advanced process control. Journal of Chromatography A, v. 1504, p. 112-123, 2017 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chroma.2017.04.060
- NOGUEIRA, Idelfonso BR et al. A robustly model predictive control strategy applied in the control of a simulated industrial polyethylene polymerization process. Computers & Chemical Engineering, v. 133, p. 106664, 2020 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compchemeng.2019.106664
- SHARMA, Roshan; GLEMMESTAD, Bjørn. Nonlinear optimization and control of an electric submersible pump lifted oil field. In: 2013 5th International Conference on Modelling, Identification and Control (ICMIC). IEEE, 2013. p. 26-31. https://doi.org/10.2316/P.2014.809-042
- MEJÍA, Jorge Andrés Prada; SILVA, Luis Angel; FLÓREZ, Julián Andrés Peña. Control strategy for oil production wells with electrical submersible pumping based on the nonlinear model-based predictive control technique. In: 2018 IEEE ANDESCON. IEEE, 2018. p. 1-6 https://doi.org/10.1109/ANDESCON.2018.8564581
- MIRZAIE HARSINI, Farid Aldin; NAZARISARAM, Mahdi; HOSSEINIAN, Armin Hosseinian. Nonlinear model predictive controller for electrical submersible pump lifted wells. Journal of Petroleum Research, v. 32, n. 1401-4, p. 145-161, 2022. 10.22078/pr.2022.4734.3124
- SHARMA, Roshan; GLEMMESTAD, Bjørn. Nonlinear optimization and control of an electric submersible pump lifted oil field. In: 2013 5th International Conference on Modelling, Identification and Control (ICMIC). IEEE, 2013. p. 26-31. 10.2316/P.2014.809-042
- SHARMA, Roshan; GLEMMESTAD, Bjørn. Nonlinear model predictive control for optimal operation of electric submersible pump lifted oil field. In: Proceedings of the IASTED International Conference on Modelling, Identification and Control. 2014. p. 229-236 https://doi.org/10.2316/P.2014.809-042
- MEJÍA, Jorge Andrés Prada; SILVA, Luis Angel; FLÓREZ, Julián Andrés Peña. Control strategy for oil production wells with electrical submersible pumping based on the nonlinear model-based predictive control technique. In: 2018 IEEE ANDESCON. IEEE, 2018. p. 1-6 https://doi.org/10.1109/ANDESCON.2018.8564581
- SANTANA, Bruno A. et al. Embedded MPC Strategies for ESP-Lifted Oil Wells: Hardware-in-the-Loop Performance Analysis of Nonlinear and Robust Techniques. Processes, v. 11, n. 5, p. 1354, 2023 https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11051354
- COSTA, E. A. et al. A Bayesian approach to the dynamic modeling of ESP-lifted oil well systems: An experimental validation on an ESP prototype. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, v. 205, p. 108880, 2021 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2021.108880
(0.09 seconds)
[0.1 s]

