pumpOff

Pumpoff, also written pump-off, is a term used in pumping engineering and petroleum production to describe a condition in which a pump can no longer sustain the commanded production rate because the available downhole fluid is insufficient. The result is a drop in flow and pressure, and the pump may operate intermittently or stop delivering liquid altogether. Pumpoff can occur in systems that rely on artificial lift, such as sucker-rod pumps and electric submersible pumps (ESPs), and it is often related to changes in reservoir deliverability, fluid holdup, or gas appearance in the wellbore.

In practice, pumpoff signals a transition in the well's operating regime. Causes include reservoir depletion at the well, gas breakout from the liquid, formation damage, or excessive drawdown that exceeds the ability of the fluid column to reach the pump intake. When pumpoff occurs, surface readings—such as decreased flow rate and altered surface pressure—become indicators that the current pumping rate is unsustainable. Operators may respond by reducing the pump speed, adjusting rod load, or switching to a different artificial lift method.

Pumpoff tests (pump-off tests) are conducted to determine the maximum sustainable production rate and the deliverability of the well. During the test, the pumped flow is gradually reduced while monitoring surface and downhole pressures, flow, and equipment load. Results help set protection thresholds in pump-off controllers and guide decisions on pump settings, artificial lift design, and well management.

See also: artificial lift, pump-off controller, sucker-rod pump, electric submersible pump.