GasLift

Preparing Gas lift valves and tools:

1. Conduct a Pre-job meeting with TEPI Company man to discuss and confirm
the Well program of work.

2. Ensure correctly ranged and accurately calibrated pressure gauges to enable

pressure readings to be determined on the THP (tubing head pressure) and
PAP (production annulus pressure).

NOTE: Ensure that adequate isolation exists so that pressure cannot leak
back from the surface Production facilities, particularly from the Gas lift supply
lines connected to the production annulus.
It is good practice to also install an accurate gauge and record the pressure
on the Surface annulus. This may assist in determining and confirming a leak
path should the production annulus fail to test later in this procedure.

3. Verify the contents of the Tubing and the Production annulus to later
determine the HSP (hydrostatic pressures) as required.

NOTE 1: Production annulus contents may be advised by the Client based on

Well completion or production department information.
NOTE 2: Tubing Liquid level should / may be observed during the previously
performed drift run and tag bottom. Well previous history and production
performance data may also assist in calculating HSP in the tubing.

4. Review the well schematic to understand the tubing completion components,

internal diameters, and well bore deviation to prepare the required wire line
tools to carry out the assigned task.

5. Identify well Nipple profiles to ensure the correct type of Catcher plug and
running/pulling tools can be prepared prior to use.

6. Prepared to use tool for set gaslift.

Gas lift valves change-out must be carried out successfully with a competently trained
operator. Care should be taken at all times when passing GLM to avoid impacting GLM
guides and GLV latches. Care should be taken to ensure gas lift valves do not become
bent due to rough jarring or failing to “Kickover” the tool properly.

Setting catcher plug prior to gas lift valve change-out

1. A catcher plug is set in the tubing nipple below the lowest gas lift valve
required to be changed to catch/account for possible dropped gas lift valves.
 The catcher plug should be capable of being able to fully contain the gas lift
valve and enable the catcher plug to be recovered with the Gas lift valve with-
in.

The principle reason for using a catcher plug is as follows:

A. Gas lift valves are expensive and risk of losing them in the well is reduced
B. Should a gas lift valve be dropped it needs to be accounted for, as it may
become lodged in a lower SPM hampering future GLV work efforts.

2. A catcher plug may be run with packing to both catch dropped plugs and also
to enable tubing pressure testing after each gas lift valve is changed out.
This would require pressuring the tubing with water which may not be
practical to unload after Gas lift valve change-out in low pressure wells.

3. A plug with packing is required to be run when the tubing pressure needs to
be increased to enable equalization at a GLV when the production annulus is
full of completion fluid. (example: In a new Gas lift valve installation)

4. A catcher plug may be run without packing, with the sole purpose to catch a
possible dropped gas lift valve. This is the general application for running a
catcher plug.

5. RIH to install the catcher plug in the tubing nipple immediately below the
lowest gas lift valve requiring change-out
Run and pull plugs and tubing integrity testing is covered in Procedure WOP-
5.8

Changing gas lift valves in a new gas lift valve installation

6. Gas lift valve change-out is carried out in the tubing starting from the bottom
gas lift valve and working up.

7. It is good practice to only change out and test one (1) GLV valve at a time.
This will ensure an unsuccessfully set (leaking) GLV can be determined
immediately after it has been installed and the leak can be rectified (usually
by re-running that GLV).

8. Calculate the Total HSP at the gas lift valve that is required to be changed in
both the tubing and the production annulus side.

9. If the Fluid HSP in the production annulus exceeds the tubing HSP at the gas
lift valve requiring change-out, a tubing plug will need to be installed in the
tubing nipple immediately below to enable the tubing HSP to be increased to
equalize the fluid HSP of the annulus at the gas lift valve requiring change-out
.
10. Install the plug and test as per Procedure.

11. Pulling into the lubricator and isolating the Xmas tree valves to depressurize
lubricator is to be carried out as per Procedure WOP-3.4

12. Increase the HSP in the tubing at the GLV requiring change-out until
equalized with HSP in the Production annulus side.

13. RIH with the gas lift valve Kick over tool (KOT) and pulling tool.

14. Locate and orientate in the GLM and sit down to latch the GLV.

15. Confirm Equalizing pressures at this GLV to ensure no changes have taken
place.

16. Pull the gas lift valve from the SPM and recover the tools to surface.

17. Confirm the recovery of the gas lift valve.

18. Re-pin the KOT. Install J latch running tool and the new GLV.

19. It may be possible to apply gas lift pressure slowly to the production annulus
and allow unloading of production annulus/tubing fluids via the production
facilities. Unload the well slowly to avoid flow damage to the open SPM. This
unloading procedure will reduce the amount of fluid and time required later to
be unloaded through the newly installed GLV’s, possibly extending their
service life.

20. RIH, past the upper GLM’s slowly to avoid hanging up with the KOT. Record
pick-up weights at approximately 10 ft above the SPM for installation.

21. Locate and Orientate the KOT in the GLM and sit down to install the GLV in
the side pocket. Pull tension to confirm the GLV is latched in the SPM.
Shear off the Gas lift valve to POH with the KOT.

22. At surface lift the lubricator and confirm the Gas lift valve has been released
from the running tool.

23. If the production annulus has been (unloaded) pressurized with gas lift, it is
possible to bleed down the Production annulus and create a differential
across the installed GLV to test sealing correctly.
 24. OR pressure the tubing using a pump while monitoring the Production
annulus for build up to test the newly installed GLV.

25. Moving up the hole to the next above GLM repeat the steps for pulling the gas
lift valves and replacing and testing as per the above GLV change-out
procedure steps.
.
26. After successfully replacing & testing all Gas lift valves required in the work
program, equalize & pull the installed catcher plug as per Procedure WOP-5.8

Changing gas lift valves in an Existing gas lifted well

27. A catcher plug (without packing) is set in the tubing nipple below the lowest
gas lift valve required to be changed to catch/account for a possible dropped
gas lift valve

28. Calculate the Total HSP at the gas lift valve that is required to be changed in
both the tubing and the production annulus side.

NOTE: if you are changing an existing gas injection valve the risk of being
under balanced in the tubing is greatly reduced. (Risk of being blown up the
hole is reduced)

NOTE: if you are changing a GLV in a deeper GLM valve that has not
previously been gas lifted you Must equalize for the additional HSP of fluid in
the Production annulus or you risk being blown up the hole. In this case
reducing the Production annulus surface pressure may be enough to reduce
the total HSP and allow equalization at the new GLM. Ensure you calculate
HSP for equalization every time you attempt to pull a GLV.

29. RIH with gas lift valve Kick over tool (KOT) and pulling tool to the lowest GLV
requiring change-out. Check pick-up weights approximately 10 ft above the
GLM.

30. Locate and orientate in the GLM requiring change-out and sit down to latch
the GLV.

31. Confirm Equalizing pressures at this GLV to ensure no changes have taken
place.

32. Pull gas lift valve from the SPM and recover tools to surface.

33. Confirm the recovery of the gas lift valve.

34. Re-pin the KOT. Install J latch running tool and the new GLV.
 35. RIH, past the upper GLM’s slowly to avoid hanging up with the KOT. Record
pick-up weights at approximately 10 ft above the SPM for installation.

36. Locate and Orientate the KOT in the GLM and sit down to install the GLV in
the side pocket. Pull tension to confirm the GLV is latched in the SPM.
Shear off the Gas lift valve to POH with the KOT.

37. At surface lift the lubricator and confirm the Gas lift valve has been released
from the running tool.

38. As the production annulus has been (unloaded) pressurized with gas lift, it is
possible to bleed down the Production annulus and create a differential
across the installed GLV to test sealing correctly.

39. Moving up the hole to the next above GLM repeat the steps for pulling the gas
lift valves and replacing and testing as per the above GLV change-out
procedure steps.

40. After successfully replacing and testing all Gas lift valves required in the work
program, equalize (should have No packing) and pull the installed catcher
plug as per Procedure WOP-5.8

Recovering a dropped gas lift valve

Should a gas lift valve be dropped in the well during pulling or running it is advisable to
recover that valve from the catcher plug before proceeding further with the work
program.
The GLV may be recovered using a pulling tool or if the catcher plug has enough depth
to contain a gas lift valve complete, it may be possible to pull the catcher plug and
recover the GLV.
Re-run the catcher plug if it has been pulled to recover a dropped valve.

CAMCO – SELECTION OF RUNNING / PULLING TOOLS & ACCESSORIES

* ‘GA-2’ Running Tool
* ‘RK-1’ Running Tool
* Series ‘J’ Running Tool
* ‘JD’ Pulling Tool
* ‘JU’ Pulling Tool

Drawing of CAMCO GA-2 RUNNING TOOL

1. Adjusting Plunger.
2. Roll pin 1/8” x 3/8”
3. Brass shear pin 1/8” x ½”
4. Stabilizer.
5. Body.