Gas-Lift Design:

Space Mandrels and

Specify Valve
Characteristics

100 psi tubing

pressure, 100F
temperature
Formation
GLR=200 scf/bbl,
1100 psi KO Pressure,
API:30,
1000 psi operating
WG:1.03,GG:.65,
pressure
WOR:1

2 7/8’s
IPR Tubing
1860 psi
SIBHP
825 psi fbhp

7“
Csg

1000
bpd

5000’ 200 F
depth BHT
 Do some Nodal and/or
Economic Work to Select
Gas Injection

2500

2000

Pressure, psig 1500 A

B
C
D
1000 E

500

1
0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900
Outflow
Inflow @ S andface (1) Not Used Oil Rate, Bbl/D
Inflow (1) Outflow (A ) (A) 1.00
Case 2 (2) Case 2 (B ) (B) 200.00
Case 3 (3) Case 3 (C)
(C) 400.00
Case 4 (4) Case 4 (D) Outflow
Case 5 (5) Case 5 (E )
(D) 600.00
Not Used Not Used
Injection rate, Mscf/D (E) 800.00
Not Used Reg: James F. Lea - TTU

Designx.pf2

• Intersections from the above

graph will give the next gas-in
vs. oil-out curve… >>

Inject Gas: How Much is Best?

600

500

400
Oil Rate, Bbl/D

300

200

100

0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900

Injection rate Outflow

Outflow (A) Case 2 (B) (A) 1.00
(B) 200.00
Case 3 (C) Case 4 (D) (C) 400.00
Outflow (D) 600.00
Injection rate, Mscf/D (E) 800.00
Case 5 (E)
Reg: James F. Lea - TTU

• Analysis
- As a rule of thumb, inject about ½ the
gas needed to obtain the maximum
liquid rate.
- With the 200 GLR from the reservoir,
the well produces about 300 b/day, but
with about 400 more GLR added (600
total) the well produces 1000 b/day.
 Inject Gas: How Much is Best?
600

500

400

Oil Rate, Bbl/D

300

200

100

0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900

Injection rate Outflow

Outflow (A) Case 2 (B) (A) 1.00
(B) 200.00
Case 3 (C) Case 4 (D) (C) 400.00
Outflow (D) 600.00
Injection rate, Mscf/D (E) 800.00
Case 5 (E)
Reg: James F. Lea - TTU

• Analysis (continued)
- With 600 GLR injected, there is not
much increase in production.
- Let’s say, for this example, we have
done the economics and that the 400
scf/bbl is the gas injection rate that we
will use.
- Note if this was a new well, we could do
Nodal sensitivity on tubing diameter,
gas injection pressure, etc..

Calculate the Casing Pressure at

Depth

.01875 γg D
Tavg Zavg
Pv = Ps e

- Assume that Zavg = .943

.01875 x .65 x 5000

Pb = Pse 510 x .943
= 1135 psi

- This can also be done from

approximate charts and approximate
formulas or using the program CAS.
 Find Flowing BHP at 1000
bpd & 600 GLR

- Use gradient curves such as one

below or computer programs to
calculate the Pwf.

- Assume for this case that we find the

flowing bottom-hole pressure is 825 psi.

Draw In Design Gradient &

Operating Casing Pressure Line
Pressure
Pwh=100 psi Pinj, @ S= 1000 psi
Depth

Straight Line
Approximation

Actual
Gradient Pinj, @ Depth
=1135 psi

Pwf from
MPF program
=825 psi
Gradx.pf2
 Draw In 1st Valve Location
Pinj, @ S=1000,
Pko =1100
Pressure

Pwh
Depth Pmin
Pko
=435
1st Valve is
at:
L1= 1st Valve =
(Pko-Pwf)/GS
( Pko - Pwf)
=(1100-100)/.433
(GS)
= 2309 ‘
or:
L1 =5000 –
L1=TVD - 1860/.433 =704
SIBHP/GS so use 2309’

Whichever
is the
deepest

Interpolate for Pp,min,

Pi@L1 and Temperature

Pp,min = 2309/5000 x (825-100) + 100

= 435 psi

Pi@L1 = 2309/5000 x (1135-1000) + 1000

= 1062 psi

T@L1 = 100 + 2309/5000 (100) = 146 F

 Calculate the GLR needed at
Valve Number One During
Unloading

• Assume a 400 bpd unloading

rate for the first valve.
- Below 250 scf/bbl gives about 435
( Pp,min), so 250 x 400 / 1000 = 100
Mscf/D

100 psi

250 scf/bbl

435psi L1

Graphical Method

100 psi

Needed Valve 1

GLR
GLR’s
 Calculate what Valve One
Will Pass with 3/16” Port Size

• Check to see if 3/16 (.1875) port will

pass at least 100 Mscf/D with 435
psi tubing pressure, 1062 psi casing
pressure and 146 F.

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
¦ CAMCO PRODUCTS AND SERVICES - PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY GROUP ¦
¦ Thornhill - Craver gas passage through a choke calculation ¦
¦-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
¦ Input data: metric english ¦
¦ Gas flow rate .................... 19029.76 m3 665.0297 mcfd ¦
¦ Internal diameter of choke ....... 4.7625 mm .1875 inch ¦
¦ Up stream pressure ............... 7398.075 kPa 1062 psia ¦
¦ Down stream pressure ............. 2999.219 kPa 435 psia ¦
¦ Gas specific gravity ............. .65 .65 ¦
¦ Inlet temperature ................ 63.33334 deg C. 146 deg F ¦
¦-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
¦ Reference data: ¦
¦ Discharge coefficient ............ .765 ¦
¦ Ratio of specific heats (k) ...... 1.31 ¦
¦ Critical flow pressure ratio ..... .5439271 ¦

- It does pass much more, so 3/16 “

valve is plenty large enough. A larger
port is not necessary!