Zilift, a developer of permanent magnet technologies for artificial lift applications for the energy sector, has successfully achieved an electrical submersible pump (ESP) live well cable deployment, operation and retrieval, under live well conditions.

Zilift ESP installation at California test site.The installation of ESP, deployable through 3/5-in tubing, took place in a well in California well, and included full wellhead termination and pump operation.

Zilift says that rigs are no longer an essential component in ESP operations thereby saving the rig cost and possibly largely eliminating postponed production.

Mike Rushby, Zilift’s SpeedDrive business unit manager says that “Demonstrating that ESP’s can be deployed under live well conditions without the need for a rig at any stage in its deployment is a transformational development for the upstream oil industry."