Gas Lift Training

ISO-9001:2000, ISO 14001: 2004
& OHSAS 18001: 1999 Certified
GAS LIFT
- T K Mandal
CE(P)
Apr 16, 2024 Training on GAS LIFT

ISO-9001:2000, ISO 14001: 2004

GAS LIFT ISO-9001:2000, ISO 14001: 2004
 It is a method of Artificial Lift

whereby relative high pressure gas
is injected into a fluid column to
reduce the density of the fluid from
the point of gas injection to the
surface.

GAS LIFT… ISO-9001:2000, ISO 14001: 2004
 The injection gas supplements the

formation gas and lightens the
flowing fluid traverse above the
point of injection. This allows a
lower reservoir pressure to lift the
fluids to the surface.

Chronological development ISO-9001:2000, ISO 14001: 2004
 1797 : In Lab comp air was used to lift liq.

 1864 : First practical application of air lift by
Cockford in Pennsylvania.
 1865 : First U. S. patent “Oil Ejector” was

issued to Mr. A. Brear.
 1940 : Pressure operated valve introduced.

 1957: Introduction of wire line retrievable
valves.
BASICS OF GAS LIFT ISO-9001:2000, ISO 14001: 2004
 Gas lift is an extension of self flow.
 High pressure gas is injected from

casing to lighten the tubing column for
reducing FBHP.
 Required total GLR supplemented by

way of gas injection ( inj.GLR)

BASICS OF GAS LIFT ….. ISO-9001:2000, ISO 14001: 2004
 Ideally , injection depth should be as

deep as possible.
 Deeper injection point requires higher

injection pressures.
 Deeper wells require higher injection
pressures.
 Tubing head pressure also plays an

important role.
 FBHP( Gaslift well ) –Tubing pressure up

to injection depth@TGLR (IGLR + FGLR)
+ Tubing pressure below inj.depth @FGLR
 Lower FBHP leads to more oil production.
 Higher well head pressure (THP) thus
increases FBHP leading to lesser oil
production.


 MAX GLR – GLR beyond which tubing pressure

starts increasing rather than reducing.
 Optimum GLR – GLR beyond which FBHP does

not reduce proportionately ( leads to almost
constant production )
 Optimum GLR to Max GLR – Gas injection

quantity increases without proportionate increase
in oil production

Basics of Gas Lift …. ISO-9001:2000, ISO 14001: 2004
 For same tubing pressure , Injection depth

increases with injection pressure and leads
to more production.
 For same casing pressure , injection depth
will be shallower for increase in tubing
pressure , leading to lesser oil production.
 Injection gas quantity increases with higher
tubing pressure for particular casing
pressure , for same withdrawl of production.

Thumb Rules ISO-9001:2000, ISO 14001: 2004
CONTINUOUS GAS LIFT

 Tubing Gradient – 0.15 psi/ft
(for 2 7/8”& & 3 ½ ”)
 1 Kg/cm2 effective injection pressure
( inj.pr – Tub.head pr ) -100 ft of injection
 Max possible injection depth (ft) =
(Inj.Pr – THP) /Gradient
Production Estimation ISO-9001:2000, ISO 14001: 2004
 For a well depth of 9000 ft , Inj pr:85 Kg/cm2,

THP:10 Kg/cm2. approx. Inj depth?
 7500 ft.
 With FGLR gradient of 0.36 psi/ft and TGLR
gradient of 0.15 psi/ft , FBHP at 8500 ft?
 1485 psi.
 With SBHP of 2100 psi and PI – 2 bbl/d/psi,
expected production?
 1230 bbls /day
TYPES OF GAS LIFT ISO-9001:2000, ISO 14001: 2004

TYPES OF GAS LIFT….. ISO-9001:2000, ISO 14001: 2004
Continuous Gas Lift
Resembles Extension of self flow
High volume of production
Apr 16, 202426.05.08 Training on GAS LIFT

Training on GAS LIFT


Intermittent Gas Lift Cycle ISO-9001:2000, ISO 14001: 2004
controller
flow line
Slug build-up
gas inj line
 Operating Valve - closed
unloading gas  Controller – closed

lift valve
 No gas injection taking place
 Producing Fluid - accumulates above

operating valve
operating valve to a desired length
controller
Slug lifting:
flow line
• Controller - Open & gas injection resumes
gas inj line
• Casing pressure - builds up to opening pr.
of operating valve. Operating valve opens &
Injection gas enters tubing & starts displacing
unloading gas
lift valve liquid slug to surface
• Injection gas breakthrough occurs soon
after operating valve opens
• Injection gas breakthrough a function of
operating valve
depth of lift: increases with depth
controller
Slug surfacing & after flow:
flow line
• Controller – closed
gas inj line
• Operating gas lift valve - remains open
• Fluid slug & tail gas - enter flow line

unloading gas
lift valve
• Casing pressure - drops to the
closing pressure of operating valve
(operating valve closes & next cycle
begins)
operating valve
• Injection gas breakthrough further
occurs near wellhead when liquid
slug passes wellhead with reduction
in slug velocity
ISO-9001:2000, ISO 14001: 2004
Intermittent Gas Lift : Pressure build-up vs. Time & OHSAS 18001: 1999 Certified
Depth of recording - 1300 mts

69
67
Injection
Closes
65
63
61
PRESSURE,KG/CM2
Slug load
59
unloaded
57 Injection
to WH
55
Starts
53
51
49
47
45
7 11
Buildup time 15 19 23
TIME,HRS
INTERMITTENT GAS LIFT:
Tendency of gas breakthrough

Liquid fallback
Instantaneous gas injection very high
Efficiency low
Utilized when continuous gas lift does not
operate
Apr 16, 2024
THUMB RULES ISO-9001:2000, ISO 14001: 2004
INTERMITTENT GAS LIFT:

 Liquid Fall Back – 7% for every 1000 ft.
 Inj Cycle time – not less than 3 min/1000
ft.
 Inj.period /cycle – 30 sec /1000 ft

 Slug speed – not less than 1000ft/min
Apr 16, 202426.05.08
PLUNGER LIFT
 An improvement over intermittent lift.
 Injection gas lifts the plunger inside the
tubing which moves up the tubing lifting
the fluid over the plunger.
 This is also used in gas well unloading.


Other important types:

 Gas lifting by chamber installations.
 Gas lifting by Macaroni installations.

TYPES OF INSTALLATION ISO-9001:2000, ISO 14001: 2004
Apr 16, 2024

TYPES OF INSTALLATION…. ISO-9001:2000, ISO 14001: 2004
Advantages of Packer :
 Stabilizes fluid level in the annulus.
 A must where the injection gas pressure
varies.
 A must where supply of injection gas is
interrupted frequently.
 Preventing injection gas pressure acting
on the formation.
Apr 16, 202426.05.08
TYPES OF INSTALLATION…. ISO-9001:2000, ISO 14001: 2004
Packer is recommended :
 To prevent production casing coming in
contact with the well fluid.
 To prevent U-tubing through the tubing.
 To prevent rise of fluid level in the
annulus.
 Mandatory to offshore wells.
Apr 16, 202426.05.08

COMPONENTS OF GL SYSTEM ISO-9001:2000, ISO 14001: 2004
 High Pressure gas Source

 Lift gas Injection line .
 Lift gas Metering and Control units .
Gas lift Mandrels .
 Gas lift valves.
 LP gas compressors .
Apr 16, 2024

TYPICAL GAS LIFT NETWORK ISO-9001:2000, ISO 14001: 2004
Apr 16, 2024

TYPICAL GAS LIFT NETWORK ISO-9001:2000, ISO 14001: 2004
HP Comp Distribution
Header
Well Well Well Well

Booster
Comp.
Group
Separator
Header
Oil + water

GAS LIFT VALVES ISO-9001:2000, ISO 14001: 2004
Basic components:
 Body
 Loading element
 Responsive element
 Transmission element
 Metering element
GAS LIFT VALVES… ISO-9001:2000, ISO 14001: 2004
Apr 16, 2024

Apr 16, 2024

TYPE OF GAS LIFT VALVES:

(As per completion )
 Conventional gas lift valves.
 Wire line retrievable gas lift valve.
Apr 16, 2024

TYPE OF GAS LIFT VALVES:

(As per principle of operation)
 Casing pressure operated.
 Tubing pressure operated.
Apr 16, 202426.05.08 Training on GAS LIFT

Apr 16, 2024

Apr 16, 2024

Casing pressure operated valve
Merits Limitations
Simple design Excessive valve spread
Applicable for continuous
/intermittent.
Apr 16, 2024


Tubing pressure operated valve
Merits Limitations
Finds an application in dually No control from
Completed wells surface.
Not applicable for

low FBHP wells


PILOT VALVE
Merits Limitations
Special application Complicated design
Not applicable for

continuous gas lift

FORCE BALANCE EQUATION ISO-9001:2000, ISO 14001: 2004
A. Valve
ready to
open
condition :
Apr 16, 2024

FORCE BALANCE EQUATION… ISO-9001:2000, ISO 14001: 2004
A. Valve ready to open condition :

Closing force = Pd * Ab
Opening force = Pt * Ap + Pc (Ab-Ap)
Equate and solve,
Pc = Pd _ Pt * R
1- R 1- R
where R = Ap / Ab
Apr 16, 2024
B. Valve
ready to
close
condition :
Apr 16, 202426.05.08

B. Valve ready to close condition

Pd * Ab = Pt * Ap + Pc (Ab - Ap)
Pt = Pc , Just before closing
Solving , Pc = Pd ( ie Pc is to be reduced to
Pd for valve to close )
Valve spread = Opening Pr - Closing Pr
( Pc - Pd )
Apr 16, 2024

ISO-9001:2000, ISO 14001: 2004
Any Questions??
Apr 16, 202426.05.08

ISO-9001:2000, ISO 14001: 2004

SIDE POCKET MANDREL.. . ISO-9001:2000, ISO 14001: 2004
Injection
Gas In Produced
Hydrocarbons
Out
Side Pocket
Mandrel with
Gas Lift Valve
Side Pocket
Mandrel with
Gas Lift Valve
Side Pocket
Mandrel with
Gas Lift Valve
Completion
Fluid
Single Production
Packer
Apr 16, 202426.05.08

SIDE POCKET MANDREL ISO-9001:2000, ISO 14001: 2004
Typical Latch
ISO-9001:2000, ISO 14001: 2004
Typical Latch
Apr 16, 2024
GAS LIFT VALVE IN OPERATION ISO-9001:2000, ISO 14001: 2004

ISO-9001:2000, ISO 14001: 2004

ISO-9001:2000, ISO 14001: 2004
Apr 16, 202426.05.08

Apr 16, 2024

MACARONI WITH GLV’S… ISO-9001:2000, ISO 14001: 2004
This is an indigenous improvement over

the macaroni method of Gas lifting.
In this mandrels for fitting Gas lift valves
are designed so as to install GLV’s inside
the Macaroni .
Thus the Macaroni acts as annulus for
carrying gas to GLVs. This is the first time
ever tried in ONGC and elsewhere.
Apr 16, 2024
MACARONI WITH GLV’S… ISO-9001:2000, ISO 14001: 2004
 With this design we can lift liquid from

deeper depths compared to the normal
Macaroni design.
 We can get optimized flow from wells with
damaged casing.
 This can also be used for completion of
dual wells.
Apr 16, 2024


Gas Lift Training

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ISO-9001:2000, ISO 14001: 2004

& OHSAS 18001: 1999 Certified

Apr 16, 2024 Training on GAS LIFT

Apr 16, 2024 Training on GAS LIFT

 It is a method of Artificial Lift

Apr 16, 2024 Training on GAS LIFT

 The injection gas supplements the

Apr 16, 2024 Training on GAS LIFT

 1797 : In Lab comp air was used to lift liq.

 1865 : First U. S. patent “Oil Ejector” was

 1940 : Pressure operated valve introduced.

 Gas lift is an extension of self flow.

 High pressure gas is injected from

 Required total GLR supplemented by

Apr 16, 2024 Training on GAS LIFT

 Ideally , injection depth should be as

 Deeper injection point requires higher

 Tubing head pressure also plays an

 FBHP( Gaslift well ) –Tubing pressure up

Apr 16, 2024 Training on GAS LIFT

Apr 16, 2024 Training on GAS LIFT

 MAX GLR – GLR beyond which tubing pressure

 Optimum GLR – GLR beyond which FBHP does

 Optimum GLR to Max GLR – Gas injection

Apr 16, 2024 Training on GAS LIFT

 For same tubing pressure , Injection depth

Apr 16, 2024 Training on GAS LIFT

CONTINUOUS GAS LIFT

 For a well depth of 9000 ft , Inj pr:85 Kg/cm2,

Apr 16, 2024 Training on GAS LIFT

Continuous Gas Lift

Resembles Extension of self flow

High volume of production

Apr 16, 202426.05.08 Training on GAS LIFT

Training on GAS LIFT

Training on GAS LIFT

unloading gas  Controller – closed

 No gas injection taking place

 Producing Fluid - accumulates above

• Fluid slug & tail gas - enter flow line

Depth of recording - 1300 mts

INTERMITTENT GAS LIFT:

Tendency of gas breakthrough

INTERMITTENT GAS LIFT:

 Inj.period /cycle – 30 sec /1000 ft

Apr 16, 2024 Training on GAS LIFT

Apr 16, 2024 Training on GAS LIFT

Other important types:

Apr 16, 2024 Training on GAS LIFT

Apr 16, 2024

Apr 16, 202426.05.08

 High Pressure gas Source

Apr 16, 2024

Apr 16, 2024

Well Well Well Well

Apr 16, 2024 Training on GAS LIFT

Apr 16, 2024

Apr 16, 2024

TYPE OF GAS LIFT VALVES:

 Conventional gas lift valves.

 Wire line retrievable gas lift valve.

Apr 16, 2024

TYPE OF GAS LIFT VALVES: