Skip to content
Quest Training

Electrical Submersible Pump (ESP) Operation & Troubleshooting Training Course

Builds the skills to operate, monitor, optimize and troubleshoot electrical submersible pump systems so wells produce more and pumps run longer.

UPS · Upstream Operations, Exploration, Drilling, Reservoir & ProductionAll Levels#2346ClassroomEnglish , Arabic
Duration
5 Days
Download BrochureView Upcoming Dates

Free substitution at any time · 30+ days' notice: full refund minus 10%. Cancellation policy

Sectors:Oil & GasCategories:Upstream Operations, Exploration, Drilling, Reservoir & Production

Course Overview

The Electrical Submersible Pump (ESP) Operation & Troubleshooting Training Course equips production engineers, artificial lift specialists, and field operations personnel with the practical knowledge needed to operate, monitor, optimize, and troubleshoot ESP systems to maximize production and extend run life. Electrical submersible pumps are one of the most widely used artificial lift methods for high-rate oil wells and water supply wells, but they are also costly to replace. Premature failures caused by poor design, installation practices, gas, sand, scale, high temperatures, or incorrect operation can lead to significant production losses and workover costs. The course covers the ESP system from design basis to failure analysis, informed by widely used API recommended practices for ESP installation, operation, sizing, and teardown analysis. Participants learn ESP applications and limitations, system components from surface transformer and variable speed drive to downhole motor, protector, gas separator, pump, cable, and sensors, pump performance curves and operating ranges, and the relationship between well inflow and pump performance. The program then addresses ESP sizing fundamentals, installation and commissioning practices, surveillance using amperage charts, drive data, and downhole gauges, and production optimization using variable speed drives. Participants also develop skills in troubleshooting common operating problems, including gas interference, pump-off, underload and overload, cycling, sand, scale, and electrical faults, and in failure analysis, run life improvement, key performance indicators, remote monitoring, and electrical safety. The course is delivered through ESP component demonstrations, performance curve and sizing exercises, amperage chart and drive data interpretation, and failure analysis case studies. Participants leave with an ESP component and function guide, a performance curve interpretation guide, an operating data troubleshooting chart, a commissioning and start-up checklist, and a failure analysis and run life improvement template.

Learning Objectives

  • Analyze the role of ESPs in artificial lift, their applications, advantages, and limitations on Day 1.
  • Identify ESP system components and their functions, including transformers, variable speed drives, switchboards, cables, motors, protectors, gas separators and handlers, pumps, and downhole sensors.
  • Interpret ESP pump performance curves, including head, rate, efficiency, horsepower, and recommended operating ranges, and the effects of downthrust and upthrust.
  • Relate well inflow performance, productivity index, and fluid properties to ESP performance and operating conditions.
  • Apply ESP sizing fundamentals, including total dynamic head, pump stage selection, motor sizing, and cable selection.
  • Apply best practices for ESP handling, installation, cable splicing, electrical testing, commissioning, and start-up.
  • Monitor ESP performance using amperage charts, variable speed drive data, downhole gauges, and surface production data.
  • Optimize ESP operation and production using variable speed drives and operating envelope management.
  • Troubleshoot common ESP operating problems, including gas interference, gas lock, pump-off, underload, overload, cycling, sand, scale, viscosity, and high temperature.
  • Diagnose electrical problems using insulation resistance and other electrical tests.
  • Conduct ESP failure analysis using teardown findings and operating history to identify root causes.
  • Improve ESP run life using key performance indicators, remote monitoring, predictive analytics, and safe electrical work practices by the end of Day 5.

Who Should Attend

This course is designed for production engineers, petroleum engineers, artificial lift engineers and specialists, and production and well site supervisors responsible for ESP wells. It is also relevant for field operators, electrical and instrumentation technicians and engineers supporting ESP systems, workover and completion engineers, and ESP service company field engineers and technicians. It is particularly valuable for professionals in oil and gas production companies operating onshore and offshore ESP wells, artificial lift and ESP service companies, workover and well services contractors, and water utilities and industrial operators using submersible pumps for high-volume water production.

Learning Outcomes

  • By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
  • Explain when ESPs are the right artificial lift choice.
  • Describe each ESP component and how the system works together.
  • Read pump performance curves and keep pumps within their operating range.
  • Relate well performance to pump performance.
  • Check the basic sizing of an ESP installation.
  • Apply correct installation, commissioning, and start-up practices.
  • Monitor ESP wells using surface and downhole data.
  • Optimize production using variable speed drives.
  • Diagnose common ESP operating problems from operating data.
  • Identify electrical faults using appropriate tests.
  • Determine root causes of ESP failures.
  • Recommend practical actions to extend ESP run life.

Course Outline

Course Outline:

Day 1

ESP Fundamentals and System Components

  • Artificial lift methods and ESP applications and limitations
  • Surface equipment: transformers, variable speed drives, switchboards, and wellhead penetrators
  • Downhole equipment: cables, motors, protectors, gas separators and handlers, pumps, and sensors
  • Relevant API recommended practices for ESP systems
  • Practical application: participants identify ESP components and trace the power and fluid paths through an ESP system
Day 2

Pump Performance, Well Performance, and Sizing

  • Pump performance curves, operating ranges, downthrust, and upthrust
  • Inflow performance, productivity index, and fluid properties
  • Total dynamic head, stage selection, motor sizing, and cable selection
  • Effects of gas, viscosity, and temperature on performance
  • Practical application: participants interpret performance curves and check the sizing of an ESP installation
Day 3

Installation, Commissioning, and Surveillance

  • Handling, installation, and cable splicing practices
  • Electrical testing, commissioning, and start-up
  • Surveillance using amperage charts, drive data, and downhole gauges
  • Production optimization using variable speed drives
  • Practical application: participants complete a commissioning checklist and interpret surveillance data
Day 4

ESP Troubleshooting

  • Gas interference, gas lock, pump-off, underload, and overload
  • Cycling, sand, scale, emulsions, viscosity, and high temperature problems
  • Electrical problems and insulation resistance testing
  • Structured troubleshooting approach
  • Practical application: participants diagnose problems from amperage charts, drive data, and downhole gauge data for multiple well scenarios
Day 5

Failure Analysis, Run Life Improvement, and Safety

  • ESP failure analysis and teardown findings
  • Root cause analysis and run life improvement
  • ESP key performance indicators, remote monitoring, and predictive analytics
  • Electrical safety in ESP operations
  • Final workshop: participants analyze ESP failure cases and present a run life improvement plan for a case study field

Upcoming Dates

Selected date

Barcelona · 8 – 12 Mar 2027 · Classroom

Need more details?Chat with us on WhatsApp

CityDatesPrice per ParticipantEarly Bird
Kuala LumpurScheduled
2 – 6 Nov 2026€4,700—
SelectDownload Brochure
LisbonScheduled
9 – 13 Nov 2026€6,000—
SelectDownload Brochure
MadinahScheduled
16 – 20 Nov 2026€4,800—
SelectDownload Brochure
Cape TownScheduled
16 – 20 Nov 2026€7,700—
SelectDownload Brochure
LondonScheduled
16 – 20 Nov 2026€5,800—
SelectDownload Brochure
MadridScheduled
23 – 27 Nov 2026€6,000€5,400until 2 Nov
SelectDownload Brochure
MakkahScheduled
30 Nov – 4 Dec 2026€4,800€4,320until 9 Nov
SelectDownload Brochure
DammamScheduled
6 – 10 Dec 2026€4,800€4,320until 16 Nov
SelectDownload Brochure
ManamaScheduled
7 – 11 Dec 2026€5,300€4,770until 16 Nov
SelectDownload Brochure
MarrakeshScheduled
14 – 18 Dec 2026€4,700€4,230until 23 Nov
SelectDownload Brochure
MilanScheduled
21 – 25 Dec 2026€7,000€6,300until 30 Nov
SelectDownload Brochure
DohaScheduled
27 – 31 Dec 2026€4,700€4,230until 7 Dec
SelectDownload Brochure
MunichScheduled
28 Dec 2026 – 1 Jan 2027€6,000€5,400until 7 Dec
SelectDownload Brochure
MuscatScheduled
28 Dec 2026 – 1 Jan 2027€6,300€5,670until 7 Dec
SelectDownload Brochure
OnlineScheduled
3 – 7 Jan 2027€2,700€2,430until 14 Dec
SelectDownload Brochure
ParisScheduled
11 – 15 Jan 2027€6,700€6,030until 21 Dec
SelectDownload Brochure
DubaiScheduled
17 – 21 Jan 2027€4,700€4,230until 28 Dec
SelectDownload Brochure
RiyadhScheduled
18 – 22 Jan 2027€4,800€4,320until 28 Dec
SelectDownload Brochure
RomeScheduled
25 – 29 Jan 2027€7,000€6,300until 4 Jan
SelectDownload Brochure
ErbilScheduled
31 Jan – 4 Feb 2027€4,000€3,600until 11 Jan
SelectDownload Brochure
Sharm El-SheikhScheduled
1 – 5 Feb 2027€5,300€4,770until 11 Jan
SelectDownload Brochure
TunisiaScheduled
8 – 12 Feb 2027€4,300€3,870until 18 Jan
SelectDownload Brochure
ZurichScheduled
15 – 19 Feb 2027€5,800€5,220until 25 Jan
SelectDownload Brochure
ViennaScheduled
15 – 19 Feb 2027€6,400€5,760until 25 Jan
SelectDownload Brochure
AmmanScheduled
21 – 25 Feb 2027€4,000€3,600until 1 Feb
SelectDownload Brochure
FrankfurtScheduled
22 – 26 Feb 2027€6,200€5,580until 1 Feb
SelectDownload Brochure
AmsterdamScheduled
1 – 5 Mar 2027€6,000€5,400until 8 Feb
SelectDownload Brochure
BarcelonaScheduled
8 – 12 Mar 2027€6,000€5,400until 15 Feb
✓ SelectedDownload Brochure
JeddahScheduled
14 – 18 Mar 2027€4,800€4,320until 22 Feb
SelectDownload Brochure
BerlinScheduled
15 – 19 Mar 2027€6,300€5,670until 22 Feb
SelectDownload Brochure

Available in: Istanbul · Dubai · London · Riyadh · Doha · Amsterdam

Related Courses

Ready to Elevate Your Team's Capabilities?

Speak with our advisors about upcoming programmes or a bespoke corporate training plan.

Download BrochureContact Our Team