Valve Mechanics Equations

Injection
Pressure
Operated Valve
On Left
Production
Pressure
Operated Valve
On Right
 G A S L IF T V A L V E S C H E M A T IC Example
• Pbt = 1054
psi
Pbt
• Pi@L =
1068 psi
P in j • So if valve
@ L never
closed,
B e llo w s then it is
A rea, A b still open!

P ort
A rea, A p
P p ,m in @ L
 G A S L IF T V A L V E S C H E M A T IC

Example

Pbt -
Pbt = 1054 psi
-
Pi@L = 1068 psi
-
Pp,act = 881 psi
-
Ap/Ab = 0.067
P in j -
Open? Pbt(Ab) = Pp,min +
@ L Pi(Ab-Ap)
- Pp,min = (Pbt - Pi@L(1.-
B ellow s 0.067)/.067
A rea, A b - Pp,min = 859psi
- Pp,actual = 881 so even if
closed before then open now!
P ort
A rea, A p
P p ,m in @ L

G A S L IF T V A L V E S C H E M A T IC
Balanced Just at
Opening
Pbt Pbt(Ab) =
Pp,min(Ap) + Pi(Ab-
Ap)
P in j
@ L
Balanced Just
B ellow s
A rea, A b Before Closing
Pbt(Ab) = Pi(Ab)

P ort Or: Pbt = Pi

A rea, A p
P p ,m in @ L
 Gaslift Valve: Opening – Close Pressures:

• Pbt (bellows pressure at temperature) = 1054 psig

• Pcsg ( casing pressure at depth) = 1068 psig
• Pp (tubing pressure at depth) = 881 psig
• Ap/Ab (ratio of port area to bellows area) = 0.067
1. If the valve is open, will it stay open under the above conditions?
Why?
2. If the valve is closed will it stay closed or will it open? Why?
3. For part (a), the “close” pressure (at depth) is 1054 psig. The gas
gradient in the casing is .02 psi/ft and the valve is 5000 ft deep.
What pressure would be observed at the top of the casing when
the “close” pressure occurs at the valve at 5000 ft? The pressure at
the surface when the casing pressure at the valve drops to the
“close” pressure is called the “surface close” pressure.

Production Effect Factor

- Pbt(Ab)=Pp(Ap) + Pi(Ab-Ap)
- R = Ap/Ab
- Pbt = Pp R + Pi (1 – R)
- Pbt/R = Pp R/(1 – R) + Pi
- R/(1 – R) is the production effect factor or PEF
- (Pmax – Pmin) R/(1- R) is the production
pressure effect, or PPE
- ∆Pp x PEF is the total effect from the tubing
to balance a ∆Pi change!