Intelligent Fault Detection in Electrical Submersible Pumps Systems Using Real-Time Oilfield Data
Paper ID : 1094-ICEEM2025
Authors
Mohamed Fathy Eldeery *1, Lamiaa Mohamed Elshenawy2, Sameh Abd-Elhaleem Mohamed3
1Toukh El Qalibia
2AlRyada University for Science
3Faculty of Electronic Engineering
Abstract
Electrical Submersible Pumps (ESPs) are among
the most extensively utilized artificial lift systems in crude oil
production, particularly in high-rate wells. Their capability to
efficiently extract large volumes of fluid from medium to deep
reservoirs plays a critical role in enhancing hydrocarbon recovery
and sustaining production. Despite their advantages, ESPs are
exposed to harsh downhole conditions and are subjected to
continuous mechanical, thermal, and electrical stresses. These
operating challenges often lead to a range of faults, including
shaft breakage, motor overheating, insulation degradation, seal
failure, gas locking, and pump wear. Undetected faults can
result in unplanned shutdowns, reduced equipment lifespan,
and significant production losses. This paper presents a fault
detection approach using Principal Component Analysis (PCA),
an unsupervised machine learning method well-suited for mul-
tivariate process monitoring. The methodology was applied to
operational data from three ESP wells located in the Meleiha
field, operated by Agiba Petroleum Company in Egypt. The
results confirm that PCA effectively detects deviations from
normal behavior, enabling timely fault diagnosis and supporting
predictive maintenance decisions.
Keywords
Electrical Submersible Pumps (ESPs), Fault Detection, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Unsupervised Machine Learning, System Reliability
Status: Accepted