Abstract
The ever-declining rate of oil production from an oil well has been a problem for the industry and
the broader economy. Despite various mitigation methods, achieving a hundred percent recovery
rate remains elusive. Therefore, this article provides a cost-effective and professional approach to
address this challenge through a comparative analysis of artificial lift methods. Specifically, we
explore the performance of gas lift continuous and Electrical Submersible Pump (ESP) in
mitigating the declining productivity of the JK1 well, utilizing PROSPER software for
comprehensive nodal analysis. The application of PROSPER nodal analysis shed more light on
the need for the implementation of sound engineering practices during selection and operation of
suitable artificial lift methods. . The case study, centered on the JK1 well in the Niger Delta,
highlights the importance of accurately updating reservoir properties, standard operating
conditions, and procedures in the software throughout the production life cycle. The findings of
the nodal analysis significantly enhance the output of the JK1 well. Comparative modelling reveals
that gas lift continuous and electrical submersible pump methods yield 12,753.4 barrels and
6,771.8 barrels per day, respectively. In contrast, without artificial lift, the well produces zero
barrels per day according to Darcy’s model. Through a comparative examination of the study’s
data, it is evident that both artificial lift methods improve well output, with gas lift continuous
emerging as the preferred option due to its excellent performance under extreme well conditions.
This study not only provides valuable insights into the selection and operation of artificial lift
methods but also emphasizes the critical role of advanced nodal analysis tools like PROSPER in
optimizing well performance.