Case Study:

Case GoLift
Study: GoLift forforPremier
PremierOilOil TM TM

An existing subsea gas lifted oil well in the Central North Sea stopped producing. The existing third
party gas-lift system was comprised of 2 x IPO unloading valves and an operating valve. Due to an error in
the gas lift design continuous gas injection could only be achieved via the uppermost IPO unloading
valve. The uppermost IPO unloading valve eventually failed and it was no longer possible to inject lift gas
into the well, stopping production. PTC designed, built and installed a retrofit (straddle based) system
using an intervention vessel. The intervention operation was completed as planned and the well was
successfully brought back online .

Challenge
Existing subsea well Brenda D3 (block15/25b)
• 3 x gas-lift mandrels in 5-½” tubing in 9-⅝” casing
• 2 x IPO unloading valves, 1 x operating valve
• Mandrels set too deep for well conditions and existing Gas Lift-
Valves (GLVs) could not be pulled.

Well historically lifting from uppermost (IPO unloading) valve only

• Deeper valves unused
• Uppermost IPO unloading valve failed, as it was not designed for
constant injection (3rd Party, non-PTC valve)
Key Information
• Gas injection not possible • Region: UK North Sea
• Customer: Premier Oil
• Field: Brenda
Well unable to flow without gas lift and as a result production
• Well Type: Subsea
stopped.

Solution
PTC performed a gas lift design for D3 and discovered that only one
unloading valve and one operating valve would be required over the
life of field. Holes were punched in the tubing at the PTC specified
depths. Interwell straddles packers were used in conjunction with
PTC’s GoLiftTM straddle and GLVs.
Result
The intervention operation took approximately 7 days. PTC was pro-
vided production data after restart on 29th of November which showed
that the well was now averaging 1685stb/d. The well is still success-
fully producing today. It was estimated that the costs for the entire
intervention operation, including all equipment, personnel and the in-
tervention vessel was recovered after 68 days of production.
Case Benefits
• Retrofit Gas lift design to avoid a costly workover. Prior to
intervention there was no production. Without the design
work carried out by PTC petroleum engineers, straddles
could have been set at the incorrect depth.
Key Capabilities
• Gas lift for wells without side pocket mandrels or man-
drels set at incorrect depths.
Typical Applications
• Retrofit gas lift to increase oil production
• Retrofit gas lift for gas well dewatering
• Retrofit annulus to tubing bleed off