Save the Date! ALRDC Gas Lift Workshop 2025
June 2-5, 2025
In the vibrant city of San Antonio, TX USA!
Following the success of our 2024 event in Stavanger, Norway, this premier gathering has been a cornerstone for over 20 years, bringing together professionals, researchers, vendors, and innovators in the gas lift space. Sponsored by the non-profit Artificial Lift Research and Development Council (ALRDC), this event is dedicated to advancing research and development in gas lift and related production optimization techniques.
Sponsored By
Event Chair
Stephanie Thomson
Stephanie Thomson holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Penn State University. She started working for ConocoPhillips in 2007 and has held various Production Engineering positions across the globe during her career. Her current role is Staff Production Engineer based in Stavanger, Norway. Previously, she supported a number of different assets in the Lower48, Australia, and Alaska, and her varied experiences have helped her develop a broad skill set in production surveillance and optimization and artificial lift. In recent years, she has focused her expertise on gas lift and ESP design and optimization. Stephanie served as the ESP Sub-Committee Chair for the 2022 SPE Artificial Lift Conference and Exhibition, and she is honored and excited to serve as the Chairperson for the 2024 ALRDC Gas Lift Workshop in Norway.
Technical Sessions
June 5th & 6th
Wednesday, June 5
8:00 – 8:15
Kick Off / Safety Details / Conference Vision
Speaker – Larry Harms, Optimization Harmsway LLC
Session Chairperson – Stephanie Thomson, ConocoPhillips
Real-Time Surveillance System
for Gas Lift Troubleshooting
Speaker – Irina Sokolova, ConocoPhillipsSession Chairperson – Stephanie Thomson, ConocoPhillips
8:45 – 9:15
Industry Pursuit of API 19G2 V0
The Most Stringent Standards
for FCD Barrier Qualification
Speaker – Tommy Hunt, JMI Manufacturing
Session Chairperson – Stephanie Thomson, ConocoPhillips
9:15 – 9:45
Gulf of Mexico – Subsea Gas Lift Valve Intervention
Speaker – Adam Shuttleworth, Weatherford
Session Chairperson – Stephanie Thomson, ConocoPhillips
9:45 – 10:30
Morning Break (45 min.)
10:30 – 11:00
Learnings from the Design and Testing of a
New Electrically Operated Gas Lift Valve
Speaker – Nicole Lemon, SwRi – South West Research Institute
Session Chair – Michael Romer, ExxonMobil Upstream Integrated Solutions
11:00 – 11:30
Using AI to Address Hidden Inefficiencies
in Gas-Lifted Wells
Speaker – Larry Lafferty, Gas Lift Gurus
Session Chair – Michael Romer, ExxonMobil Upstream Integrated Solutions
11:30 – 12:00
Gas Lift Design Automation
Speaker – Muhammad Daanyal, Saudi Aramco
Session Chair – Michael Romer, ExxonMobil Upstream Integrated Solutions
12:00 – 13:00
Lunch
13:00 – 13:30
Disruptive S-Curves for
Surface Controlled Gas Lift and ESPs
Speaker – Joel Shaw, Silverwell
Session Chair – Kai Petter Vika, Interwell
The Mjolnir of Gas Lift award &
API American Petroleum Industry
Committee 19G (Gas Lift ) update
Speaker – Stephanie Thomson, ALRDCSpeaker – Michael Romer, ALRDC
Session Chair – Kai Petter Vika, Interwell
14:00 – 14:30
Optimization of Gas Lift Compression
for Increased Production
Speaker – Larry Harms, Optimization Harmsway LLC
Session Chair – Kai Petter Vika, Interwell
14:30 – 15:00
Break (30 Min.)
15:00 – 15:30
Unlocking Future Well Productivity:
Insights from Historical Data-Driven Analysis
of an Intelligent Surface-Controlled Gas Lift Technology
Speaker – Aleksei Andriianov, Precise Downhole Solutions
Session Chair – Mark Cowie
15:30 – 16:00
A Review of Intermittent Gas Lift and
Fallback Factor Modeling
Speaker – Dr. Smith Legget, Texas Tech
Session Chair – Mark Cowie
16:00 – 16:30
Unlimited Number of Shearable Valves UsingÂ
Barrier Qualified Annulus Activated Technology
Speaker -Vegard Asebo, Weatherford
Session Chair – Mark Cowie
16:30 – 16:45
Closing Remarks
Speaker – Larry Harms, Optimization Harmsway LLC
Speaker – Stephanie Thomson, ConocoPhillips
16:30 – 16:45
Breakout Sessions
Thursday, June 6
8:00 – 8:15
Kick Off / Safety Details / Conference Vision
Speaker – Larry Harms, Optimization Harmsway LLC
Session Chairperson – Stephanie Thomson, ConocoPhillips
8:15 – 8:45
Gaslift Optimization Strategies for Enhanced
Productivity in Ageing Brown Fields
Speaker – Onyinyechi Ekerenduh, Shell Nigeria
Session Chair – Steven Freeman, Shell Franchise – Gas Lift / P&A
8:45 – 9:15
Innovative Retrofit Straddle Deep Gas-Lift Technology
for Activating and Enhancing Oil Production
Speaker – Himanshu Tyagi – Weatherford
Session Chair – Steven Freeman, Shell Franchise – Gas Lift / P&A
9:15 – 9:45
Erosion Testing of Conventional Gas Lift Check Valves
for Unconventional Applications
Speaker – Michael Romer, ExxonMobil Upstream Integrated Solutions
Session Chair – Steven Freeman, Shell Franchise – Gas Lift / P&A
9:45 – 10:30
Morning Break (45 min.)
10:30 – 11:30
Keynote Address
Making the most out of
The Norwegian Oil and Gas Industry
Speaker – Kjell Morisbak Lund, Petoro
Session Chairperson – Stephanie Thomson, ConocoPhillips
11:30 – 13:00
Lunch
13:00 – 13:30
Case Study of First Deployment in Middle East
of Digital Gas Lift in Dual String Offshore Well
Speaker – Hamza Abdulla Al Shehhi, ADNOC
Session Chair –Â Michael Romer, ExxonMobil Upstream Integrated Solutions
13:30 – 14:00
The Success Story of High Pressure Gas LiftÂ
In Onshore Unconventional Production
Speaker – Will Nelle, Estis Compression
Session Chair – Michael Romer, ExxonMobil Upstream Integrated Solutions
14:00 – 14:30
Production Stabilization in Wells with
Downward Inclined Flowlines Through Seafloor Gas Lift
Speaker – Fernando Rocha, Petrobras
Session Chair – Michael Romer, ExxonMobil Upstream Integrated Solutions
14:30 – 15:00
Break (30 Min.)
15:00 – 15:30
Surface Controlled Gas Lift Optimization Vision
Speaker – Logan Smart, Exxon
Speaker – Alex Moore, Precise Downhole Solutions
Session Chair – Greg Stephenson, Occidental Petroleum
15:30 – 16:00
Dayapump – A retrofit downhole pump system
for depleted gas lifted wells
Speaker – Henning Hansen, Aarbakke
Session Chair – Greg Stephenson, Occidental Petroleum
16:00 – 16:30
Application of Shear Gas Lift Valves
in the Pre-Salt Buzios Field
Session Chair – Greg Stephenson, Occidental Petroleum
16:30 – 16:45
Closing Remarks
Speaker – Larry Harms, Optimization Harmsway LLC
Speaker – Stephanie Thomson, ConocoPhillips
Call for Abstracts
Presentations by operators and innovators are key elements of a successful workshop. If you have improved or optimized production, reduced operating costs or failures, overcome challenges, or discovered new and innovative techniques or products related to gas lift, we invite you to submit an abstract for consideration as a technical presentation at the upcoming Gas Lift Workshop. Contributing knowledge and experience is a valuable and critical opportunity to do your part to ‘give back’ and help ensure generations of ongoing success with gas lift as a form of artificial lift.
Abstracts requirements and conditions
- Abstracts must be a minimum of two hundred fifty words with a maximum of five hundred words.
- Topic must be gas lift related or relevant to the artificial lift industry.
- Abstract deemed to be commercial only, will be rejected.
- Abstracts about research, lab testing, manufacturing processes, and field trials are acceptable.
- All abstract content accepted will be public and available for access on ALRDC’s website.
- Presentations will be grouped by topics for review by the gas lift workshop committee.
- The use of company names and logos is prohibited in the title.
- The abstract shall be professional in nature and refrain from social or political statements.
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Abstract submissions should contain the following
- Objective / Scope
- Methods,
- Procedures
- Processes
- Results
- Observations
- Conclusions
- Authors names and contact details
Â
Abstract submission will close February 29, 2024
Keynote
Thursday June 6th | 10:30 AM
The ALRDC proudly presents our keynote speaker for the 2024 Gas Lift Workshop in Stavanger, Norway, Kjell Morisbak Lund, a prominent figure in the oilfield industry.
Kjell Morisbak Lund
Vice-President of License and Technology, Petoro
Kjell Morisbak Lund is the Vice President of License and Technology at Petoro. In this role, he manages the State’s participating interests in production licenses on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. He has served Petoro for 10 years in executive level positions, influencing the asset management and development of the 37 producing fields and 185 production licenses.
Kjell started his career as a researcher on marine structures in Sintef. Then he moved to Statoil where he spent the next 18 years in various technical and leadership roles spanning both the upstream and downstream sides of the oil and gas business. His most recent roles with Statoil prior to his move to Petoro include Head of Asset Development of downstream operations, and VP HSE for midstream and downstream operations.
Kjell holds a MSc. in Marine Technology from Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
Continuing Education
This year's Gas Lift Workshop offers one and two day courses that oil and gas operators and producers with every level of experience are sure to find valuable.
Gas Lift Fundamentals
2 Day Course
Monday, June 3rd and Tuesday June 4th | $350
The Gas Lift Fundamentals course covers a wide range of topics related to gas lift systems over a 2-day period.
On day 1, participants learn about the basics of gas lift and continuous flow gas lift systems, along with the purpose, advantages, and limitations of gas lift. There will also be information regarding downhole equipment, types of installations, valve mechanics, inflow and outflow performance, and nodal analysis techniques.
Day 2 of the course includes practical guidance on gas lift design, operations, troubleshooting, best practices. Overall, this comprehensive training equips professionals with essential knowledge for effective gas lift operations in the oil and gas industry.
Course Outline
Day 1
Topics | Instructor | Delivery |
|---|---|---|
Section I: Basic Principles of Oil Production and Artificial Lift​ | ||
Introductions - Instructors & Class | Jason | Discussion |
Safety, Course Plan, Admin BS | Greg & Jason | Lecture |
Overview of Artificial Lift | Greg & Jason | Lecture |
Check Your Understanding | Greg | Clicker Quiz |
GL History & Documentation | Greg & Jason | Lecture |
Section II: Introduction to Gas Lift | ||
Types of Gas Lift | Jason | Lecture |
Overview of Cont. Flow GL | Greg | Lecture |
Lifting From Bottom | Greg | Discussion |
Purpose, Optimal Conditions, Applications, Advantages of GL | Greg & Jason | Lecture |
Why Select GL vs Other Lift Methods | Greg | Discussion |
Disadvantages of GL | Jason | Lecture |
Surface Facilities | Greg | Lecture |
GL System Application Considerations | Jason | Lecture |
Break | ||
DH Equipment Overview | Jason | Lecture |
Intermittent Flow GL | Greg & Jason | Lecture |
Check Your Understanding | Greg | Clicker Quiz |
Design Guidelines | Jason | Lecture |
Types of Gas Lift Installations | Jason | Lecture |
GL Operating Considerations | Jason | Lecture |
Unloading GL Wells | Greg & Jason | Lecture |
Section Wrap-Up | Jason | Lecture |
Lunch | ||
Section III: Gas Lift Mechanics​ | ||
Overview of GL Valves, Mandrels and Accessories | Jason | Lecture |
Force Balance for IPO Valves | Greg | Lecture |
Setting an IPO Valve | Jason | Video |
Intro to Valve Performance | Greg | Lecture |
Section Wrap-Up | Jason | Lecture |
Break | ||
Section IV: Well Performance​ | ||
Section Objectives | Jason | Lecture |
Well Performance Overview | Jason | Lecture + Video |
Inflow Performance Overview | Greg | Lecture |
Outflow Performance | Greg & Jason | Lecture |
Intro to Nodal Analysis | Greg | Lecture |
Day 1 Wrap-Up | Jason | Discussion |
Day 2
Topics | Instructor | Delivery |
|---|---|---|
Section V: Gas Lift Design - Injection Pressure Operated​ | ||
Day 1 Recap, Q&A | Greg & Jason | Discussion |
Into to Design | Jason | Lecture |
Overview of IPO Design | Jason | Lecture |
Mandrel Spacing | Greg & Jason | Lecture |
Valve Calculations | Greg & Jason | Demo |
Break | ||
Section VI: Gas Lift Optimization and Troubleshooting​ | ||
Troubleshooting GL Wells | Greg & Jason | Lecture |
Check Your Understanding | Greg & Jason | Clicker Quiz |
Lunch | ||
Bongo #1 Maze Problem | Greg & Jason | Group Activity |
Section VII: Special Applications​ | ||
Special Applications | Jason | Lecture |
Break | ||
Section VIII: Best Practices​ | ||
Overview of Best Practices | Jason | Lecture |
Section IX: Operational Procedure​ | ||
Overview of Operational Procedures | Greg & Jason | Lecture |
Course Wrap-Up​ | ||
Course Wrap-Up | Greg & Jason | Discussion |
Course Instructors
Greg Stephenson, Occidental Petroleum
Greg Stephenson is the Chief Production Engineer at Occidental Petroleum and is based in Houston, Texas. In this role, he has functional responsibility for the production engineering discipline; he leads a team of Artificial Lift subject matter experts; he leads the Oxy Engineering Development Program for recent engineering graduates; and he provides technical support, mentoring and training for multiple artificial lift techniques.Â
Throughout his career, Greg has specialized in the various aspects of artificial lift, production surveillance, automation and optimization. He has taught numerous industry courses throughout the world and written a variety of technical papers and publications on the subject.
In addition to his work at Oxy, Stephenson serves on the Board of Directors of the Artificial Lift Research and Development Council and the SPE Production and Facilities Advisory Board. From 2018-2023, Greg served on both the JPT Editorial Committee as Technical Editor for Artificial Lift and as chairperson for API Task Group 19G/11S, which managed 25 product standards, recommended practices and technical reports related to artificial lift technology.Â
Greg holds a BS in Petroleum Engineering from Texas Tech University.
Jason Jones, ConocoPhillips
Jason Jones is a Staff AL Engineer at ConocoPhillips where he serves as the Gas Lift subject matter expert. He is based in Houston, Texas. He serves as the lead advisor globally for both gas lift and plunger lift applications. This includes gas lift and plunger lift training, troubleshooting, optimization, and individual technical support.
Jason began his career at Schlumberger and spent several years at Flowco Production Solutions before transitioning to his current role with ConocoPhillips in 2022. He has worked in the gas lift arena for 20+ years beginning in the shop before working in various gas lift roles. These include performing field installations, technical sales, training, operations management, and advising.
This work has included many stops throughout North America with additional support for gas lift projects in South America and Europe. Jason is a member of the API 19G gas lift and 11PL plunger lift task groups.
Jason is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a BS in Mechanical Engineering.
Exhibit Hall
June 5th & 6th | 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Exhibitor & Sponsor Opportunities
ALRDC’s Gas lift Workshop returns to Stavanger Norway this June offering gas lift training for engineers and operators and a variety of technical presentations that provide innovative and informative approaches to various aspect of the gas lift industry.
To enhance learning opportunities for workshop attendees, a variety of leading and innovative solutions, products and services will be on display in our nearby exhibit hall, where participants are encouraged to browse during designated breaks. Representatives from oil and gas operating companies, manufactures, suppliers and service companies will be available to network, engage, and answer questions.
Interested in showcasing your company, products, or services at the upcoming Gas Lift Workshop?
Sponsorship & exhibitor packages focus- on creating opportunities for meaningful connections between vendors and prospective buyers, through a variety of digital and traditional means. ALRDC’s subscribed audience thousands of energy industry personnel with a passion for gas lift. Staff from oil and gas operators, service companies, students, researchers, and inventors will be among those present for this year’s gas lift workshop.
PTC Shop Tour
June 4 | 5:00 PM
ALRDC is pleased to partner with PTC an Interwell Company for an exclusive shop tour where you will witness the intricate process of gas lift valve production and the setup of advanced gas lift systems.
This tour offers a unique insight into PTC’s commitment to excellence in the oil and gas industry, showcasing production facilities where skilled technicians craft valves to exacting standards.
Experience firsthand PTC’s innovative gas lift technology showcase, featuring conventional, retrofit, and the latest digital surface-controlled systems.
Please note that there will be no workshop activities planned during the shop tour, thus PPE will not be required.
Food and drinks will be served.
The shop tour is scheduled for June 4th and begins at 5PM. All attendees must preregister with PTC at the following site: PTC, an Interwell company, gas lift shop tour - June 4th, 2024 (office.com)
PTC’s physical address is:
Slettestrandveien 13, 4032 Stavanger, Norway
Train and bus service are available a short walk from the Clarion Hotel. The station near PTC is Gausel station. From Gausel station PTC’s office is a short three-minute walk.
Exhibiting Companies
Workshop Information & Resources
Please email [email protected] with any inquiries.
Click the + to expand each section and view more information below.
Clarion Hotel Stavanger
Arne Rettedals gate 14, 4008
Stavanger, Norway
+47 51 50 25 00
Hotel Website | Map
Accommodation
A block of rooms has been reserved for workshop participants at a rate of 1,570 NOK per night including VAT. Double room +200 NOK. Please click the ‘Reserve a Room’ link below to access exclusive ALRDC workshop rates. Group rates are available until May 15.
Stavanger, Norway – Area Information
Website
How to Register as a Sponsor
- Visit the Sponsorship page on the ALRDC website to review Sponsorship packages.
- Click the ‘Buy Now’ button below the Sponsorship package you wish to purchase.
- Follow the prompts to submit payment.
- Complete the Sponsor Questionnaire.
How to Redeem Complimentary Workshop Passes Included with Sponsorships
Complimentary workshop passes are included with the purchase select sponsorships, as indicated. If your purchase includes complimentary passes, you will receive a follow-up email within 3 business days of registration.
Lunch is are included with registration. Lunch from 12:00PM to 1:00PM, with morning and afternoon snacks available during breaks.
Each vendor may purchase up to two booths, which will be assigned side by side unless otherwise requested. Requests for specific booth locations will be considered, with priority given to registrants on a first come, first serve basis.
How to Register as an Exhibitor
- Visit the Exhibitor page on the ALRDC website.
- Click the ‘Buy Now’ button below the Exhibitor Benefits.
- Select up to two booths, then follow the prompts to submit payment.
- Complete the Exhibitor Questionnaire.
Please review the floor plan and submit your preferred booth number via the Exhibitor Questionnaire. Booths will be assigned to fully registered exhibitors on a first-come, first-serve basis. Assignment will take place after exhibitor registration closes on Friday, July 28th. Exhibitors will receive confirmed booth numbers by email on Monday, August 14th.
Exhibitors should have their booth at the hotel by June 3rd with June 4th for set up by 5PM for the following two-day conference. Move out date is 1PM on June 6th.
Shipping address:
ALRDC Conference
Clarion Hotel Stavanger
Att: Ida Hanssen
Arne Rettedals Gate 14
4008 Stavanger, Norway
Prior to the first day of the workshop, please contact us by email at [email protected] with any inquiries.
ALRDC representatives will be at the registration table during workshop hours in case you have questions, need assistance, or would like to donate a door prize. Donors are encouraged to attach a business card to prizes. Door prize draws will take place during the final hour of the workshop on Thursday.
Workshop Resources
Please email [email protected] with any inquiries.
Click the + to expand each section and view more information below.
Continuing Education Classes
August 28 | 8:00am to 3:30pm
August 29 | 8:00am to 3:30pm
Technical Sessions
August 30 | 8:00am to 4:30pm
August 31 | 8:00am to 4:30pm
Download Presentations
Keynote
August 30 | 12:15pm
Details
D&I Panel
August 31 | 12:00pm
Details
Exhibit Hall
August 30 | 7:30am to 5:30pm
August 31 | 7:30am to 3:00pm
Download Exhibitor List/Map
Registration/Information Table
August 28 | 7:30am to 5:30pm
August 29 | 7:30am to 5:30pm
August 30 | 7:30am to 5:30pm
August 31 | 7:30am to 5:30pm
Exhibit Hall
August 30 | 7:30am to 5:30pm
August 31 | 7:30am to 3:00pm
Download Exhibitor List/Map
Midland, TX – Area Information
Website
Bush Convention Center
105 N Main St
Midland, Texas 79701
(432) 687-8250
Venue Website | Map
Accommodation
There are several accommodation options available for workshop participants:
DoubleTree By Hilton Hotel Midland Plaza
117 West Wall Street
Midland, Texas 79701
(432) 683-6131
Hotel Website |Â Map |Â Â Reserve a Room
Home2 Suites by Hilton Midland East
4104 N Big Spring St.
Midland, Texas 79705
(432) 682-6000
Hotel Website |Â Map |Â Reserve a Room
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Midland Odessa
5716 Deauville Boulevard
Midland, Texas 79706
(432) 682-6000
Hotel Website |Â Map |Â Reserve a Room
Townplace Suites Midland South/I-20
912 Crump Street
Midland, Texas 79701
(432) 682-6000
Hotel Website |Â Map |Â Â Reserve a Room
Holiday Inn Express and Suites-Midland Loop
5309 West Loop 250
North Midland, Texas
(432) 520-3600
Hotel Website |Â Map |Â Reserve a Room
Holiday Inn Express Midland SouthÂ
900 Crump Street
Midland, Texas
(432) 695-9020
Hotel Website |Â Map |Â Reserve a Room
How to Register as a Sponsor
- Visit the Sponsorship page on the ALRDC website to review Sponsorship packages.
- Click the ‘Buy Now’ button below the Sponsorship package you wish to purchase.
- Follow the prompts to submit payment.
- Complete the Sponsor Questionnaire.
How to Redeem Complimentary Workshop Passes Included with Sponsorships
Complimentary workshop passes are included with the purchase select sponsorships, as indicated. If your purchase includes complimentary passes, you will receive a follow-up email within 3 business days of registration containing a unique promo code to be redeemed for workshop passes.
Daily meals are included with registration. Breakfast will be served from 7:00AM to 8:00AM, lunch from 12:00PM to 1:00PM, with morning and afternoon snacks available during breaks.Â
Sorry, we’re SOLD OUT of exhibit spaces for the 2023 Sucker Rod Pumping Workshop.
Each vendor may purchase up to two booths, which will be assigned side by side unless otherwise requested. Requests for specific booth locations will be considered, with priority given to registrants on a first come, first serve basis.
How to Register as an Exhibitor
- Visit the Exhibitor page on the ALRDC website.
- Click the ‘Buy Now’ button below the Exhibitor Benefits.
- Select up to two 10×10 booths, then follow the prompts to submit payment.
- Complete the Exhibitor Questionnaire.
Please review the floor plan and submit your preferred booth number via the Exhibitor Questionnaire. Booths will be assigned to fully registered exhibitors on a first-come, first-serve basis. Assignment will take place after exhibitor registration closes on Friday, July 28th. Exhibitors will receive confirmed booth numbers by email on Monday, August 14th.
Exhibitors will have access to the Exhibit Hall for setup on Tuesday, August 29th from 1PM until 7PM. The Exhibit Hall will be open to workshop participants on Wednesday, August 30th and Thursday, August 31st. Teardown may begin on Thursday, August 31st, following the afternoon break.
Pallet jacks and a fork lift are available for use on-site.Â
Prior to the first day of the workshop, please contact us by email at [email protected] with any inquiries.
Jehn Scantlebury will be at the registration table during workshop hours in case you have questions, need assistance, or would like to donate a door prize. Donors are encouraged to attach a business card to prizes. Door prize draws will take place during the final hour of the workshop on Thursday.
Matt Raglin began working for Diagnostic Services (DSI) in 1985, traveling and analyzing rod pump wells first in the United States and later globally until it was purchased by Halliburton. In 1989, Raglin formed his first company, Reservoir Evaluation Services, which continued his work in the rod pump system analysis field. RES was sold to Wood Group in 1995.
From 1995 to 2001, Raglin was an independent consultant for rod pump analysis and design and he worked with many of the largest producers in the industry, including Shell, BP, Exxon, Occidental and Chevron. In 2001, Raglin began working for Lufkin Automation as the General Manager of Permian Operations. It was here he began a close working relationship with Dr. Sam Gibbs and Ken Nolen and was instrumental in helping design and introduced the industry to the SAM Controller, which is now used worldwide.
Raglin left Lufkin and formed Spirit Global Energy Solutions in 2008. Headquartered in Midland, the primary focus of Spirit Global was analyzing wells with portable dynograph and fluid level equipment. The company also provided remote analysis utilizing a SCADA host. Wanting to provide additional solutions to the industry, Raglin invented several patented downhole tools to mitigate gas and sand issues and a laser positioning device. Spirit Global also released the Genesis Controller, which is now known as the ChampionX Smarten Controller, under Raglin’s guidance. Spirit Global had offices in every producing basin in the United States as well as regional operations in Canada. The company was purchased by Dover Artificial Lift in 2013 and now operates as ChampionX.
Raglin formed WellWorx Energy in 2018 with a mission to offer in-person trainings and webinars focusing on rod pump principles and best practices as well as dynagraph interpretation. These education-based solutions were taken a step further and he began to design and patent the ToolWorx product line of downhole tools. Raglin currently holds 14 patents and his designs are focused on gas and sand mitigation efforts. The product line includes the Super Max System, the Helix Sand ByPass, the Halo, the Dominator and the ESP Gas ByPass with additional products planned for the future.
Seeing additional needs within the industry, Raglin purchased GreenShot LLC from Dr. Sam Gibbs and Ken Nolen. GreenShot is patented as the first fully permanent and automated fluid level system. It is also the only true ‘green’ system in existence, functioning without high-pressure nitrogen or C02 and instead utilizing the well’s naturaly-producing casing gas.
In the last 25 years, Raglin has taught hundreds of Rod Pump classes across the world. Throughout his career, Raglin has published more than a dozen technical papers and is partnered with multiple Texas universities to organize internships with field training as well as served as a guest lecturer to offer insight into the petroleum industry.
Ken Nolen, WellWorx Energy
Kenneth B. (Ken) Nolen attended Texas A&M College and graduated in 1957 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. Upon graduation, he joined Shell Oil Company as a Production Engineer. His career was temporarily halted for three years while he served in the U.S. Air Force as a Weather Officer at Dow Air Force Base in Bangor, Maine. Returning to Shell, he gained further experience in artificial lift as production engineering section head.
In 1970, he left Shell and teamed up with Dr. S. G. Gibbs to become co-founder and Vice President of Nabla Corporation, a high-tech services and manufacturing firm in Midland, Texas. While there, he pursued his career-long passion of optimizing production from artificially lifted wells. Lufkin Automation acquired Nabla in August 1997. Nolen continued his career as Technical Coordinator for the new firm until his retirement in 2002.
Retirement was short lived and he started working as an artificial lift consultant specializing in technical support and training. Again, Nolen and Dr. Gibbs teamed up in 2014 and formed GreenShot LLC, a company specializing in automated oil well fluid level technology. WellWorx Energy acquired GreenShot in 2018 and Nolen is currently employed by WellWorx as R&D Advisor.
Nolen has been a key contributor to the art and science of artificial lift his entire career. He was a co-developer with Dr. Gibbs of wellsite diagnostic methods (dynamometers, fluid level sounders and pump-off controllers) for sucker rod pumping systems. These diagnostic methods are widely used within the industry to remotely access data through automated continuously monitoring systems.
Nolen has been active in SPE his entire career and is a registered professional engineer emeritus in Colorado and New Mexico. He has eight patents, has written textbooks on artificial lift subjects and has written or co-written numerous technical papers to serve the industry. In the past 50 years, Nolen has taught more than 200 schools on artificial lift (mainly rod pumping technology) throughout the world.