ESP: 2018 #43

Problem 43. The following statement concerning troubleshooting an ESP most FALSE is:

(A) The major source of info troubleshooting an ESP...
(B) Gas locking is marked by amperage decline...
(C) Solids are spotted by amperage fluctuation...
(D) Fluid pumpoff is detected by slow amperage decline..

This is a fairly tough problem to my mind. Let's count the ways:

1. It claims "the" major source for ESP troubleshooting is the ammeter? Really? Come on, the major source? I can imagine quite a few sources, and "the major source" a definite statement. But this is also a direct quote from an SPE source (Bradley) so consider it gospel. It's also in the Guidebook.

2. The gas locking question is fair, not hard to find. You can get that even if you don't know anything about ESPs.

3. "C" is a little harder, but again with a few minutes of good sources you can find this one.

4. "Fluid pumpoff" is indeed detected by slow amperage decline often due to oversized pump (not an undersized one). Again, this is a direct quote from the Guidebook (and that same pesky Bradley source). But it's a fair question; one should know this if you understand ESPs.

Note it's easy to misread this kind of problem because it gives a correct fact first and only then gives slightly incorrect second part.