Session 3 - Continous Flow Basics - No 3 15-4-15

SPDC
Basic Gas
Lift
CONTINUOUS FLOW BASICS
– Flowing/Unloading Hydraulics
– Multiphase flow
– Continuous flow unloading
– Precautions during unloading
– Well Instability
Copyright 1998 SIEP EPT-OM Portions Copyright SEPTCo, Burney Waring 1

SPDC
Basic Gas
Lift
IPO UNLOADING
How do we inject gas into a well in the first place?
This process of replacing the completion brine with injection gas is

called unloading and it is done only once after the initial
completion and after any well servicing where the casing to tubing
annulus is filled with liquid.
Pressure
Depth
SBHP
SPDC
Basic Gas
Lift
IPO UNLOADING
Gas is injected into the casing - tubing annulus and the pressure
pushes the brine through each of the gas lift valves which are wide
open. This is a particularly dangerous time for the valves. If the
differential is too high the liquid velocity can be enough to cut the
valve seat. Then, the valve will not be able to close and the design
will not work.
Pressure
Depth
SBHP

SPDC
Basic Gas
Lift
IPO UNLOADING
Operators must allow sufficient time for unloading. The rule from
API RP 11V5 is to take 10 minutes for each 50 psi increase in casing
pressure up to 400 psi. After that point a 100 psi increase every 10
minutes is acceptable until gas injects into the tubing. To get up to
1000 psi should require at least 2 hr, 20 min. A good practice is to
assign an operator to the well for the duration of this operation.
Pressure
Depth
Brine may go out the

tubing or into the
reservoir.
SBHP

SPDC
Basic Gas
Lift
IPO UNLOADING
Once the brine level is below the top valve, gas will
enter the tubing and begin lifting the well. If the tubing
pressure is less than the SBHP the reservoir will
begin to contribute. The first production from the
reservoir is normally recovered completion brine.
Pressure
Depth
SBHP

SPDC
Basic Gas
Lift
IPO UNLOADING
When the second valve is uncovered, gas

will begin to enter the tubing at the second
valve.
Pressure
Depth
SBHP

SPDC
Basic Gas
Lift
IPO UNLOADING
In the case of IPO valves, the injection gas rate into the well at
the surface must be regulated to control the gas entry to
approximately the design rate of one valve. Since two valves
are passing injection gas, the pressure in the casing annulus
will fall.
Gas to
casing
+500 500 mcfd
Gas from
-500 casing
500 mcfd
-500 Gas from

casing
500 mcfd
With more gas leaving casing than entering, the injection
pressure must fall.

SPDC
Basic Gas
Lift
IPO UNLOADING
When the casing pressure falls enough, the top

valve wWill close based on valve mechanics in a
good design.
Pressure
Depth
SBHP

SPDC
Basic Gas
Lift
IPO UNLOADING
Since there is still more casing pressure than tubing

pressure at the bottom valve and the bottom valve is
still open, the injection gas will continue to displace
the brine in the annulus until the third valve is
uncovered.
Pressure
Depth
SBHP

SPDC
Basic Gas
Lift
IPO UNLOADING
Once again with more gas leaving the casing through

two valves, the casing pressure will fall until the
second valve closes. Obviously if there were more
valves deeper the unloading process would continue.
Pressure
Depth
What would happen if

the third valve injected
too much gas? SBHP

SPDC
Basic Gas
Lift
IPO UNLOADING
Valve 4 (orifice)
injecting, 3 closes
Time
Valve 3 injecting, 2
closes
Valve 2 injecting, 1
closes
Valve 1
injecting
Start gas to
well

SPDC
Basic Gas
Lift
UNLOADING
Although we have been talking about unloading, the

same is true for kickoff, which is the same lift and
transfer progression, except starting with an empty
casing. This occurs every time the well is shut-in wheras
unloading occurs only the first time the well is put on lift.
Pressure
Depth
SBHP

SPDC
Basic Gas
Lift
PPO UNLOADING
Lets look at the process of unloading with PPO valves.

This process of replacing the completion brine with
injection gas is called unloading and it is done only
once after the initial completion and after any well
servicing where the casing to tubing annulus is filled
with liquid. Pressure
Depth
SBHP

SPDC
Basic Gas
Lift
PPO UNLOADING
Gas is injected into the casing - tubing annulus and the pressure
pushes the brine through each of the gas lift valves which are wide
open. This is a particularly dangerous time for the valves. If the
differential is too high the liquid velocity can be enough to cut the
valve seat. Then, the valve will not be able to close and the design
will not work.
Pressure
Depth
SBHP

SPDC
Basic Gas
Lift
PPO UNLOADING
Operators must allow sufficient time for unloading. The rule from API RP
11V5 is to take 10 minutes for each 50 psi increase in casing pressure up to 400
psi. After that point a 100 psi increase is acceptable until gas injects into the
tubing. To get up to 1000 psi should require at least 2 hr, 20 min. A good
practice is to assign an operator to the well for the duration of this
operation.
Pressure
Depth
Brine may go out the tubing

or into the reservoir. SBHP

SPDC
Basic Gas
Lift
PPO UNLOADING
Once the brine level is below the top valve, gas will enter the tubing and
begin lifting the well. If the tubing pressure is less than the SBHP the
reservoir will begin to contribute. The first production from the reservoir is
normally recovered completion brine. In PPO valve unloading, the valve
will tend to inject gas, close, re-open and repeat the cycle at each valve
while the brine is being unloaded.
Pressure
Depth
SBHP

SPDC
Basic Gas
Lift
PPO UNLOADING
When the second valve is uncovered, gas will begin

to enter the tubing and the tubing pressure at the top
valve will fall and the top valve will close. The second
valve will tend to open and close.
Pressure
Depth
SBHP

SPDC
Basic Gas
Lift
PPO UNLOADING
Since there is still more casing pressure than tubing

pressure at the bottom valve and the bottom valve is
still open, the injection gas will continue to displace
the brine in the annulus until the third valve is
uncovered.
Pressure
Depth
SBHP

SPDC
Basic Gas
Lift
PPO UNLOADING
When the third valve is uncovered, gas will be

injected and the pressure at the second valve will fall,
closing the second valve. What will happen at the
third valve?
Pressure
Depth
Never operate from

a PPO valve. SBHP

SPDC
Basic Gas
Lift
PPO UNLOADING
Use an IPO or an orifice valve at the

operating depth.
Pressure
Depth
SBHP

SPDC
Basic Gas
Lift
PPO UNLOADING
Time
Gas into valve

4
Gas into valve

3
Gas into valve Gas into valve

2 1
Start gas to
well

SPDC
Basic Gas
Lift
UNLOADING PRECAUTIONS
• Don’t Cut Out the Valves!
• Buildup Injection Pressure

Slowly
• 5 psi/min. to 400 psi
• 10 psi/min. Until Gas

Production
• Then increase Gas

Injection Rate to the
Desired Value
SPDC
Basic Gas
Lift
OPERATING PARAMETERS
• Data Variable Impacts

on Downhole Operation
• Well Instability, Causes,

Remedies & Impacts
• Dual Gas-Lift
Completions

SPDC
Basic Gas
Lift
Higher backpressure requires more lift gas
FTP=205,
LG=550
FTP=100,
LG=280
Which case would produce more?

SPDC
Basic Gas
Lift
We can see the effect of lifting from various depths.
No gas lift = lift at zero

depth.
Assumed lift
depths
If the SBHP is 1500 psi, will the well produce

with no lift gas?

SPDC
Basic Gas
Lift
A useful analysis is to change the amount of gas injected

into a well and see the difference.
In this illustration the injection gas is changed by a fixed
increment, starting at zero injection. There is a tremendous
increase in drawdown as the first increment of gas is
injected into the well. Thereafter, the benefit diminishes.
Finally the well reaches the minimum gradient.
Zero injection
(natural flow)
100 mcfd
increments
Minimum
gradient

SPDC
Basic Gas
Gas lift Injection
Lift
Performance Curve
1. Unlimited Gas or
maximum
flowrate is
900 desired
800 2. Limited Gas or
the most
700
economical rate
Net Production(BPD)
600 is desired
500 3. Production is
fixed
400 3 2 1 • Water /gas
coning
300
• Sand
200 production
• Government
100 regulations
0
50 1002003004005006007008009001000
Gas lift Injection (Mscfd)

SPDC Gas lift Injection Performance
Basic Gas
Lift Curve
• Relatively more gas is required for a small

incremental production as we approach
maximum point
dQinj
900
800 Optimum Injection Point dQliq
700
Net Production(BPD)
600
500
Sub-optimum injecting points
400
300
200
100
0
50 1002003004005006007008009001000
Gas lift Injection (Mscfd)

SPDC
Basic Gas
Lift
WELL INSTABILITY
• Causes
– Valve Interference
– Low injection gas, liquid production
– Incorrect size valve ports
– Poor lift gas supply control
– Variations in production system pressure
• Impacts
– Propogate instability in other wells
– Excessive G/L & control valve wear
– Production system upsets
• Remedies
– Design installations with good data
– Use effective control systems
– Operate within the envelope

SPDC
Basic Gas
Lift
BACKUP SLIDE

FLOW REGIMES
SPDC
Basic Gas
Lift

Pressure Drops in Oil Production
SPDC
Basic Gas
Lift

Session 3 - Continous Flow Basics - No 3 15-4-15

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SPDC

– Continuous flow unloading

– Precautions during unloading

Copyright 1998 SIEP EPT-OM Portions Copyright SEPTCo, Burney Waring 1

How do we inject gas into a well in the first place?

This process of replacing the completion brine with injection gas is

Copyright 1998 SIEP EPT-OM Portions Copyright SEPTCo, Burney Waring 3

Brine may go out the

Copyright 1998 SIEP EPT-OM Portions Copyright SEPTCo, Burney Waring 4

Copyright 1998 SIEP EPT-OM Portions Copyright SEPTCo, Burney Waring 5

When the second valve is uncovered, gas

Copyright 1998 SIEP EPT-OM Portions Copyright SEPTCo, Burney Waring 6

-500 Gas from

Copyright 1998 SIEP EPT-OM Portions Copyright SEPTCo, Burney Waring 7

When the casing pressure falls enough, the top

Copyright 1998 SIEP EPT-OM Portions Copyright SEPTCo, Burney Waring 8

Since there is still more casing pressure than tubing

Copyright 1998 SIEP EPT-OM Portions Copyright SEPTCo, Burney Waring 9

Once again with more gas leaving the casing through

What would happen if

Copyright 1998 SIEP EPT-OM Portions Copyright SEPTCo, Burney Waring 10

Copyright 1998 SIEP EPT-OM Portions Copyright SEPTCo, Burney Waring 11

Although we have been talking about unloading, the

Copyright 1998 SIEP EPT-OM Portions Copyright SEPTCo, Burney Waring 12

Lets look at the process of unloading with PPO valves.

Copyright 1998 SIEP EPT-OM Portions Copyright SEPTCo, Burney Waring 13

Copyright 1998 SIEP EPT-OM Portions Copyright SEPTCo, Burney Waring 14

Brine may go out the tubing

Copyright 1998 SIEP EPT-OM Portions Copyright SEPTCo, Burney Waring 15

Copyright 1998 SIEP EPT-OM Portions Copyright SEPTCo, Burney Waring 16

When the second valve is uncovered, gas will begin

Copyright 1998 SIEP EPT-OM Portions Copyright SEPTCo, Burney Waring 17

Since there is still more casing pressure than tubing

Copyright 1998 SIEP EPT-OM Portions Copyright SEPTCo, Burney Waring 18

When the third valve is uncovered, gas will be

Never operate from

Copyright 1998 SIEP EPT-OM Portions Copyright SEPTCo, Burney Waring 19

Use an IPO or an orifice valve at the

Copyright 1998 SIEP EPT-OM Portions Copyright SEPTCo, Burney Waring 20

Gas into valve

Gas into valve

Gas into valve Gas into valve

Copyright 1998 SIEP EPT-OM Portions Copyright SEPTCo, Burney Waring 21

• Don’t Cut Out the Valves!

• Buildup Injection Pressure

• 5 psi/min. to 400 psi

• 10 psi/min. Until Gas

• Then increase Gas

• Data Variable Impacts

• Well Instability, Causes,

Copyright 1998 SIEP EPT-OM Portions Copyright SEPTCo, Burney Waring 23

Higher backpressure requires more lift gas

Which case would produce more?

Copyright 1998 SIEP EPT-OM Portions Copyright SEPTCo, Burney Waring 24

We can see the effect of lifting from various depths.

No gas lift = lift at zero

If the SBHP is 1500 psi, will the well produce

Copyright 1998 SIEP EPT-OM Portions Copyright SEPTCo, Burney Waring 25

A useful analysis is to change the amount of gas injected

Copyright 1998 SIEP EPT-OM Portions Copyright SEPTCo, Burney Waring 26

Gas lift Injection (Mscfd)

Copyright 1998 SIEP EPT-OM Portions Copyright SEPTCo, Burney Waring 27

• Relatively more gas is required for a small