1

2
• Draw DP line from L1 to depth. DP = 50 psi less injection pressure line.
• The angle of the static gradient can be determined by first calculating the
pressure created by the well fluid at 4000 feet. Apply the following
equation:
• P = Static Fluid Gradient X Depth
• Mark the calculated pressure on the 4000 foot line. Draw a straight line
from the upper left corner of the gas lift paper to the mark placed on the
4000 foot line.

3
 Pressure 
0 500 1000 1500 2000
Pwhf T@S
0

Static Gradient Line

Kick-off Pressure Line
Valve #1
T @ L1
2000 Temperature Gradient Line

Valve Depth Line

 Depth

D P Line
4000

Injection Pressure Line

6000

8000

Design Line (Unloading GLR)

Depth of Packer
10,000
Depth of Perforations T @ BH
4
• Locate the second valve by drawing a line parallel to the static gradient
line starting at PPmin @ L1 to the DP line. The point where the line
intersects the DP line represents the depth of valve #2 (L2). Read and
record the depth of the second valve, injection pressure at depth (Pi @
L2), and the minimum production pressure at depth (PPmin @ L2).

• Determine the temperature at depth for valve #2 (T @ L2) and the

required GLR to lift from the second valve by using PPmin @ L2 on the
gradient curves [repeat the steps presented earlier].

5
 Pressure 
0 500 1000 1500 2000
Pwhf T@S
0

Static Gradient Line

Kick-off Pressure Line
Valve #1
T @ L1
2000 Temperature Gradient Line
Valve Depth Line
 Depth

Valve #2
P @ L2
4000

Injection Pressure Line

6000

8000

Design Line (Unloading GLR)

Depth of Packer
10,000
Depth of Perforations T @ BH
6
• Using the gas passage chart from the vendor, determine through-put of
the second valve. Note: Use Po @ L2 for upstream pressure and PPmin @
L2 for downstream pressure. Compare to required gas passage found in
earlier steps and change port size if necessary. Record this port size.

• Locate the third valve value by drawing a line parallel to the static
gradient from PPmin @ L2 to a point of DP - PPE @ L1.

7
 Pressure 
0 500 1000 1500 2000
Pwhf
0
PPmax @ L1
Valve #1

2000
Valve #2
 Depth

4000

6000 PPE @ L1
Valve #3

8000

Depth of Packer
10,000
Depth of Perforations 8
9
Repeat the previous steps to determine additional valve depths and gas through-
put.
The system just designed has valves properly spaced from the surface to depth.
Since, as we have seen, single point injection is desirable, in order to determine
which valve will be the operating valve, use the following procedure:
Step 1 - Obtain appropriate flowing pressure gradient curves.
Step 2 - On the design sheet, mark the flowing bottom hole pressure (Pbhf) on
the depth line.
Step 3 - Overlay the design paper on the gradient curves and shift the curve so
that the formation GLR curve intersects the Pbhf on the depth line. Trace the
GLR curve upward until it intersects the first valve line.
Step 4 - Record this valve depth as the operating valve. 10
 Pressure 
0 500 1000 1500 2000
Pwhf
0

Valve #1

2000
Valve #2
 Depth

4000

Valve #3

6000
Valve #4 Operating Valve

Valve #5
8000 Formation GLR
Valve #6
Valve #7

Depth of Packer
10,000
Depth of Perforations
11
An example of a dual completion using annular gas lift on both intervals.
Dual well completions continue to be used in many fields throughout the
world. Operating problems during their flowing life are normally minimal.
Duals are best suited for separate reservoirs that can be controlled with
nearly the same weight completion fluids, are reasonably close together, and
that produce moderate rates.
Dual gas lift has some special problems. The common parallel strings of
tubing can be easily converted from flowing to artificial lift. In fact many
operators equip each tubing string with gas lift wireline type mandrels and
dummy valves on initial completion. Later, gas lift valves can be set via
slick line and the well converted to gas lift.
12
 Injection gas
Operating problems normally start when
dual simultaneous lift is initiated. The
basic problem is using a common casing Gas lift valve
and mandrels
annulus to gas lift separate zones which
have different producing attributes such as
temperature and reservoir pressures, water
Dual packer
cuts, GOR, etc. Upper zone perforations

Single packer
Lower zone perforations

13
• This is an example of a dual completion and different gas injection
pressures for each well. Use of a full third string of tubing will eliminate
the common annulus but requires either larger casing or smaller tubing
sizes. Either a parallel gas injection string using two or three string
packer can be used or a small concentric tubing can be run inside one of
the production strings. Such an installation costs significantly more and
has many more potential operating problems.
• In summary, efficient dual gas lift is difficult to achieve. Additional
effort and increased operating problems should be anticipated.

14
 Injection gas

Injection gas

Gas lift valves

and mandrels

Triple packer
Upper zone perforations

Dual packer
Retrievable gas lift valves
between packer

Single packer

Lower zone perforations

15
 Gas Lift
Surface operation - affect on well performance

 Flow line chokes, high separator pressures, long or restricted flow

lines will either reduce the producing rate or increase the injection gas
requirements, or both.

 A compressor discharge pressure should be selected to result in the

lowest compression horsepower per barrel of fluid lifted when

injecting the optimum gas volume.

16
Optimizing the gas liquid ratio - gas in/oil out

 As injection gas is added, the producing GLR is increased

 Flowing tubing pressure decreases until a minimum pressure is

reached - maximum liquid production at this point

 Further increases in gas injection will increase tubing pressure

and reduce the producing rate

17
 Problems with Gas Lift
• Gas lift valves can fail from:
– Debris/corrosion causing valves to stick open or closed
– Large change in well productivity (valves not calibrated to
handle new conditions)
• Gas lift installations can fail from:
– Tubing leaks, causing “short circuit” of gas
– Large change in well productivity (insufficient gas injection
rate or pressure)

18
 Troubleshooting
 Gas lift installations are designed to operate with a minimum amount of
manual control.

 Constant observation of performance is necessary to maintain economic

production.
 Observations
 Well tests
 Casing and tubing pressure charts
 Gas input volumes
 Flowing pressure traverses
 Bottom hole pressures
 Producing characteristics
19
 Identifying Gas Lift Problems
Methods available to help determine problems:

• Flowing pressure gradient survey

• NODAL analysis/Gas lift design software (very effective if used

with gradient survey)

• Removal and inspection of tubing, mandrels, and valves

• Gas input & output flow charts

20
Next slide shows the impact of diminishing returns with increasing gas
injection. For a given well, start injecting gas. As more gas is injected, a
point is reached where it peaks. Several peaks occur; 1) maximum profit -
the highest oil production for the least gas injection, 2) maximum operating
cash income [OCI] - where the most revenue is generated, and 3) maximum
oil rate - the point where the most oil that can be produced with the system
can be made. A balance must be made regarding the economics and
generally the max profit peak is where the system should be designed for.

21
 Max oil rate
BOPD

Max OCI

Max profit

Gas injection rate in MCFD

22
Below figure shows how a series of wells can be maximized for production
and ultimately profit.
Oil
rate
Q2Max Well no. 2
(B/D) Slope = M2
Q2
Q1Max Well no. 1
Slope = M1
Q1
Slope = M3 Q3Max Well no. 3
Q3
Max rate
G1 G 2 G3
Gas injection rate (MCF/D)
To maximize oil production, the slopes M1, M2, and M3 should be
equal and G1 + G2 + G3 equals total available gas. 23
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