Artificial Lift*

G L
Gas Lift
f Systems
S
 Content
o Preamble
o Introduction to artificial lift
o Types of gas lift
o Applications of continuous gas lift flow
o Advantages & disadvantages of gas lift
o Basic introduction to gas lift principles
o Continuous flow unloading sequence
o G lift valve
Gas l mechanics
h i
o Gas lift valves & accessories
o Gas lift mandrels, latches, & kickover tools
o Surface flow control equipment
o Overview of inflow & outflow performance
o Gas lift trouble-shooting techniques
o Compressor and gas lift design
o Work problems using computer-aided gas lift design & analysis
o Other lift methods
o Work problems using computer
computer-aided
aided gas lift design & analysis

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 Preamble - Worldwide Production Decline

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 Preamble - IOR Definition & Processes

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 Preamble - IOR/EOR Challenges
o Optimizing implementation timing

o Understanding impact of geological complexity

o Sustaining high level of surveillance

o Integrating surface & subsurface activities

o Overcoming high UTCs & operating costs

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 I t d ti to
Introduction t A
Artificial
tifi i l Lift

Gas Lift

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 Importance of GL in Petroleum Industry
Industry*

*Source: API task Group on GL, 09/27/2004

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 Advantages of Gas Lift

Gas Lift

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 Gas Lift

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 Gas Lift

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 Application

o Used to lift fluid from depleted wells

o Achieved through conventional & wireline
retrievable:
– Continuous
– Intermittent gas injection @ bottom of
production
d ti ttubingbi

Gas Lift

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 Applications
A li ti off C
Continuous
ti
Gas Lift Flow

Gas Lift

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 Continuous Flow
C Fl
U l di sequence
Unloading

Gas Lift

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 Operation
o Install gas lift valves in well full of kill fluid (0.5 psi/ft)
o Unload kill fluid to pit using gas injection (0.1 (0 1 psi/ft) via annulus
– Inject gas into annulus through surface choke
– Kill fluid starts out of tubing
– With injection of gas, Pcsg Pcsg=625 psi valve #1 opens
kill fluid + gas U-tubed from annulus into tbg
– Valve # 1 uncovered pressure gradient above valve in csg (0.1
psi/ft) pressure @ valve #1 decreases (< 625 psi) valve #1
closes
o Same procedure for valves #2 #2, #3,
#3 #4,
#4 etc
o During unloading before valve #4 is reached, Pwf drops
reservoir fluids (oil/brine/gas) kick into wellbore
o Formation
F ti liliquid
id llevell b
builds
ild up iin wellbore
llb
o Gas mixes with oil from point of injection upward
o Oil aerated more formation fluids kick in
o Formation liquids flow to surface
o Once valve #4 reached, Pcsg≈550 psig unload rest of kill fluid to
pit unload oil to separator
pit, Gas Lift

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 Continuous Flow Gas Kickoff

Gas Lift

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 Gas Lift

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 Gas Lift

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 Gas Lift

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 Gas Lift

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 Gas Lift

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 Gas Lift

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 Gas Lift

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 Gas Lift

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 Gas Lift

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 Gas Lift

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 Gas Lift

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 Gas Lift

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 Principle

Aerate (reduce density) fluid flowing gradient

to produce more oil to surface:

qo  PI * ( PR  Pwf )
 as Pwf  qo

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 GL Measurement Problems & Solutions

 Inaccurate measurement of small amts of liquid (2-3%) in

excessive gas (95-99.5%)
(95-99 5%)

 Need accurate meters for precise measurement under

different flow regimes

 Need frequent well tests

 Rule out 2 & 3-phase testing (large retention & inaccuracies)

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 GL Technology - Continuous Gas Lift Optimization

*Shell IIORC, Oct ‘03

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 GL Technology - Continuous Gas Lift Optimization

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 Gas Lift

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 Gas Lift

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 Gas Lift

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 Gas Lift

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 Gas Lift

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 Gas Lift

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 Gas Lift

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 Gas Lift

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 Gas Lift

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 Different Multi
Multi-phase
phase Flow Regimes

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 Gas Lift

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 Gas Lift

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 Injection pressure indicates:
1. Which unloading valves are
open
2. Maximum depth of injection

Gas Lift

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 Examining Case # 1

Gas Lift

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 Case # 1 – Gas Lift Design

Gas Lift

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 Case # 1 – Fluid Level Shot

Gas Lift

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 Case # 1 – Pressure vs
vs. Depth Plot

Gas Lift

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 Case # 1 – Summaryy & Conclusions

Gas Lift

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 Examining Case # 2

Gas Lift

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 Case # 2 – Gas Lift Design

Gas Lift

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 Case # 2 – Fluid Level Shot

Gas Lift

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 Case # 2 – Two-pen Recorder Chart

Gas Lift

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 Case # 2 – Flowing Gradient Survey

Gas Lift

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 Case # 2 – Casing Pressure Analysis

Gas Lift

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 Case # 2 – Summary & Conclusions

Gas Lift

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 Case # 2 – Summary & Conclusions

Gas Lift

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 Case # 2 – Summary & Conclusions

Gas Lift

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 Examining Case # 3

Gas Lift

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 Case # 3 – Inflow Performance

Gas Lift

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 Case # 3 – Casing Pressure Analysis

Gas Lift

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 Case # 3 – Gradient Plot

Gas Lift

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 Case # 3 – Gas Passage Analysis

Gas Lift

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 Case # 3 – System
y Deliverabilityy

Gas Lift

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 Case # 3 – Summary & Conclusions

Gas Lift

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 Example of Flowing
Gradient Surveys

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 Gas Lift

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 STABLE & OPTIMUM POINT OF INJECTION

Theoretical opt.
Unstable gas gas inj. rate
i j rate
inj. t

Opt. gas inj

Opt inj. rate
with system constraints

Gas Lift

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 STABILITY CHECK

Gas Lift

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