Gas Lift

Production Technology
Lecture 11a- Gas Lift, Section 1 - Principles
Recommended Texts: Handout and

Artificial A ifi i l Lift Lif Methods, M h d Kermit E. Brown, Volume 2a PennWell Publishing Co, Tulsa, OK, 1980
Akim Kabir Senior Lecturer Department of Petroleum Engineering Curtin University of Technology

Aug 2008
Section 1 - Principles

Slide 1

Gas Lift

Introduction
Why is Wh i Artificial A ifi i l Lift Lif Needed? N d d? Well quit Fluid Column no longer reaches the surface Production declines with depletion of reservoir energy Water cut increases Maximize production from naturally flowing wells
Note that this is different from gas injection for pressure maintenance Injection of gas or water into reservoir to maintain reservoir pressure Improve recovery

Section 1 - Principles

Slide 2

Gas Lift

Typical History of an Oil Well

Pi Qi WC1
Production Production Production Reservoir Pressure W t C t WaterCut

At time t1 t1, artificial lift is required q to restore or increase production d ti

time

t1

Section 1 - Principles

Slide 3

Gas Lift

Types of Artificial Lift

Gas lifting
Continuous Intermittent Chamber lift Plunger g lift?

Plunger Lift Rod od pumping pu p g Electrical Submersible pumping Hydraulic Piston/Jet pumping Progressive Cavity pumping

Section 1 - Principles

Slide 4

Gas Lift

Gas Lift Classification By Mode of Injection

Gas Lift Continuous Intermittent A Continuous Gas Lift System
Produced Fluids + Lift Gas Low Pressure gas High Pressure Gas CHP Separator G lif Compressor Gaslift C FTHP

Liquid

Pwf
Section 1 - Principles

Slide 5

Gas Lift

Gas Lift Classification By Installation Configuration

Open
Section 1 - Principles

Semi-closed

Closed
Slide 6

Gas Lift

Intermittent Gas Lift Single Point Injection

Production Gas

All valves l closed

All valves closed Bottom valve open

Fluid from formation has built up above the bottom valve.

Section 1 - Principles

Bottom valve opens and Bottom valve closes slug is propelled toward when slug reaches the surface the surface
Slide 7

Gas Lift

Intermittent Gas Lift Multi-Point Multi Point Injection

Production Gas

Only bottom valve is open p

All valves closed

Fluid from formation has built up above the bottom

All valves below the slug g open as slug moves toward surface

Valves close when slug g reaches the surface

Section 1 - Principles

Slide 8

Gas Lift

Gas Lift Principles

The injected gas aerates the fluid f column and reduces the density of the fluid With the th density d it of f the th column l reduced, d d bottomhole b tt h l pressure gets lower and less reservoir pressure is required q to push p the liquid q to surface. In other words the hydrostatic back pressure to the reservoir is reduced and the reservoir pressure can overcome this reduced pressure and initiates the well to flow.

Section 1 - Principles

Slide 9

Gas Lift

G L 'e d D u al C o m p letio n - An E x am p le
W e ll : XX L o ca tion : : X 31 23 7" L IN E R S tan d ard W ell T y pe W e llh ea d : M C E V O Y D U A L (R E F U R B IS H E D ) Tu b in g : 3 .1 /2 " x 9 .2 # N ew V A M , L 8 0 Tu b ing tails: 2.7 /8 " x 6.4 # , N S C T, 2.3 /8 " x 4.6 # N S C T S TA T U S M IN I.D .
2 .9 10 2 .8 13 D K -1 B K R -5 D K -1 B K R -5 B K R -5 B K R -5 D K O -2 NO PLUG 2 .7 50 2 .9 00 2 .4 41 CLO SED NO PLUG 2 .3 13 2 .2 05 2 .8 75

Well Diagram
C o m ple tio n D ate : 1 .1 . 2 00 4

All D ep th s in F [Link] .B T H F B T H F = 44 F T B D F (T 6)
M ax . D e via tio n : 4 3 d eg @ 71 31 ft D EPTH f ft. L O N G S TR IN G
3 .1/2" F L O W C O U P L ING 3 .1/2" X X O -N IP P L E 3.1/2"K B UG 3.1/2" K B UG 3.1/2" K B UG 3.1/2" K B UG 3 .1/2" K B U G 3 .1/2" K B U G 3 .1/2 .1/2" K B U G 3.1/2" C M D -SS D 9.5 /8" R D H P AC K E R (40-4 7#) 2.7 50 2.9 00

S H O R T S TR IN G
3.1/2 " F L O W C O U P L IN G 3.1/2" X X O -NIP P L E 3 .1/2" K B UG 3 .1/2" K B UG 3 .1/2" K B UG 3 .1/2" K B UG 3 .1/2" K B UG 3 .1/2" K B UG 3 .1/2" K B UG 3.1/2" X -N IP P L E (C A M C O ) 3.1/2" L O C K AB L E C O L L ET 3.1/2" x 2.7/8 X-O V E R 2.7/8" C M D S S D 2.7/8" X N-NO G O NIP P L E C H AM F E R E D B T M (C AM C O )

DEPTH f ft.
399

M IN I.D . i in
2.9 10 2.8 13 2.8 75

S TA TU S

4 37

9 45 1667 2230 2763 4366 5764 6549

6704 6737 6747 6773 6809

106 6 1 759 2 355 2 856 4 459 5 857 6 674

B K R -5 B K R -5 B K R -5 D K -1 B K R -5 B K R -5 D K O -2 C LO S E

X V

670 1

673 7

T O P O F T IE B A C K P K R 9 .5/8 " C S G S H O E

6913 7212 797 7

3.1 /2" C M D -S S D 3.1 /2" x 2.3 /8" X -O V E R

2.7 50 1.9 01

C LO S E D

O T IS 7" W D 4.5" x 4.0" 4 .0 00 4" G P E 4 .0 00 4.1/2" B L A N K C AS IN G 3 .8 75 4.5" L T C x 4" N U8R D X O 3 .4 23 4" W W S 3 .4 23 36 - Q 1.0 - 8180 - 91 96 , 8214 - 8216 36 - Q 1.5 - 8244 - 82 46 , 8254 - 8 258 , 8264 - 8 274 3 .2 50 3 .4 23 4 .0 00 3 .2 50 4 .0 00 4 .0 00 3 .8 75 3 .4 23 3 .4 23 36 - S 8.3/8.4 3 .2 50 3 .4 23 3 .0 00 4 .0 0 00 S B S (4" N U8R D ) 4" W W S T E L L TAL E O T IS 7" W D 4.5" x 4.0" SBE O T IS 7" W D 4.5" x 4.0" 4" G P E 4.1/2" B L A N K C AS IN G 4.5" L T C x 4" N U8R D X O 4" W W S - 105 88 - 1 0672 S B S (4" N U8R D ) 4" W W S T E L L TAL E SBE O T IS 7 7" W D 4 4.5 5" x 4 4.0 0"

8074 8080 8095 8161 8162

801 3

8275 8277 8285 8291 10489 10485 10509 10572 10573 1067 6 1067 8 1068 5 1068 7 1069 3 1070 8 1074 1 1074 2

826 7

2.3 /8" T B G S E AL AS SY + 15 S E AL UN IT S S IZ E : 3.2 5"

1.9 01

106 53

2.3 /8" X D -S S D

1.8 75

O PEN

106 83

2.3 /8" L O C T B G S EA L A S S Y + 1 5 S E A L UN IT S S IZ E : 3.00 3 00 " 2 .3/8" X -NIP P L E 2.3/8 " X N-NO G O B X P 2.3/8 " x 6' P ER F . P UP 2.3/8 " W /L INE R E -E NT R Y G UID E + D R O P -O F F B U L L NO S E

1.9 01

4" G P E 4 .0 00 4.1/2" B L A N K C AS IN G 3 .8 75 4.5" L T C x 4" N U8R D X O 3 .4 23 4" W W S 3 .4 23 36 - S9 .3 - 10757 - 10 7 72 36 - S 10.1 - 1079 3 - 10 822 3 .2 50 3 .4 23 3 .4 03 S B S (4" N U8R D ) 4" W W S T E L L TAL E B U L L NO S E A S S Y

10717 10753 10756 10764

1.8 75 1.7 91 1.9 01 1.9 01

P X N P L UG

1082 4 1082 6 1083 3

L A ND IN G C O L L A R 7" C S G S H O E

10 891

D e s ig n e d B Y : D ATE : 0 9 /0 8 /0 1 (M AR L IN E ) C H E C K E D : 1 0 /0 5 /0 1 (E S M E R AL D A)

Section 1 - Principles

Slide 10

Gas Lift Pressure Profile in a Tubing g Filled with Various Density y Fluid
FTHP = 100 psig PRESSURE (PSIG)
0 0 1000 2000

Salt Water, 0.465 psi/ft

42 API Oil, 0.354 psi/ft DEPTH (FT T TVD)

Gassy Water, 0.25 psi/ft

Very Gassy Water, 0.1 psi/ft

5000

Section 1 - Principles

Slide 11

Gas Lift A Dead Well Without Gas Injection

No gas injection; Well is Dead
INJECTION GAS 0 0 500 PRESSURE (PSI) 1000

CASING PRESSURE

Fluid Level
Dummy
500

Dummy

1000

TUBING PRESSURE

Valve 1

DEPTH (FT TVD) D

1500

Valve 2 Valve 3 Orifice

2000

2500

3000

3500

Section 1 - Principles

SIBHP = Pr

Slide 12

Gas Lift

G Lift System Gas S t

Produced Fluids + Lift Gas FTHP Liftgas bubbling up the well, lightening the fluid column in th well the ll High Pressure Gas CHP Gaslift Compressor S Separator

Low Pressure gas

Liquid

Lift gas injected at the deepest mandrel

Pwf
Section 1 - Principles

Slide 13

Gas Lift

A Well Being Gas Lifted

Well Flowing
0 0 500 PRESSURE (PSI) 1000

Fluid Level INJECTION GAS

Dummy
500

TUBING Press.

CASING Press

Dummy

1000

Valve 1

1500

Valve 2
2000

Valve 3 Orifice
2500

3000

3500

Pwf

Pr

Section 1 - Principles

Slide 14

Gas Lift

A Well Being g Gas Lifted

Well Flowing
0 0 500 PRESSURE (PSI) 1000

CASING PRESSURE CASING Press TUBING Press Press.

Fluid Level INJECTION GAS

Dummy
500

Dummy

1000

Valve 1

1500

Valve 2
2000

V l 3 Valve Orifice
2500

3000

3500

Pwf

Pr

Section 1 - Principles

Slide 15

Gas Lift

To recap we use gas lift

To enable the well that will not flow naturally to produce To T increase i production d ti rates t in i natural t l flowing fl i wells To kick off wells that will later flow naturally To remove or unload fluids from gas wells.

Section 1 - Principles

Slide 16

Gas Lift

Advantages of Gas Lift

Initial I i i l down d hole h l equipment i costs lower l Low operational and maintenance cost Simplified p well completions p Can best handle sand / gas / deviated wells Flexibility, can handle high rates and high gas oil ratio wells Intervention relatively less expensive Can be used offshore, small foot print needed at the well head Electrical power not needed at well head Can be forgiving

Section 1 - Principles

Slide 17

Gas Lift

Disadvantages of Gas Lift

Must M th have a source of f gas Imported gas from other fields may result in start up problems Possible high installation cost Top sides modifications to existing platforms Compressor installation Bottomhole pressure can not be reduced too much, since backpressure of two phase flow up the tubing has to be overcome. overcome Significant effort required to operate effectively Can be too forgiving Quite inefficient (energy)

Section 1 - Principles

Slide 18

Gas Lift

G Lift Effi Gas Efficiency i

Despite low system efficiency Gas Lifting is very popular, especially i offshore in ff h fileds fil d
Life cycle economics is the driver No moving parts, resilience to sanding and other production problems Low maintenance/ minimum intervention

System y Rod pump Gas lift Electric submersible pump Progressing cavity pump Jet pumping Hydraulic pump

Efficiency y( (%) ) 30-40 25-32 50-60 60-80 10-25 30-40

Section 1 - Principles

Slide 19

Gas Lift

Gas Lifting Method - Continuous

Continuous flow is similar to natural flow and is y controlling g the injection j of gas g into the achieved by fluid column to cause aeration from the point of injection Advantages:
Takes full advantage of the gas energy available at the surface Higher Hi h production d ti volume l Equipment can be centralized Valves can either be wireline or tubing retrieved

Disadvantages:
Must have a continuous source of gas. Rates R t t to b be above b 150 b bpd df for efficient ffi i t lifti lifting. Bottom hole producing pressure increases both with depths and volume

Section 1 - Principles

Slide 20

Gas Lift

Gas lifting Method - Intermittent

Intermittent flow is by injecting gas of sufficient volume and pressure into tubing beneath a fluid column to lift liquid to the surface, this usually require high gas rate to reduce the liquid fallback. The liquid to surface is in slug or piston form. Advantages:
Can obtain lower producing bottom hole pressure than continuous flow and at low rates. Suitable for well with production below 150 bpd (low P.I wells) Can remedy wax deposition in tubing for waxy crude

Disadvantages:
Limited in volume. Causes surge on surface equipment. E i Equipment t must t be b designed d i d to t handle h dl the th surge. Cause interruption to other flowing wells in the production system Possible sand production for unconsolidated sands

Section 1 - Principles

Slide 21

Gas Lift

Why Intermittent Flow gas lift?

For Low F L Production P d ti Wells, W ll Intermittent I t itt t flow fl gas lift is i a better Choice. Per API guidelines Low production are typical well <500 BFPD) 2-3/8 2-3/8 TUBING - 100 TO 150 BFPD 2-7/8 TUBING - 200 TO 300 BFPD 3-1/2 TUBING - 300 TO 400 BFPD 3 Main Categories - Intermittent gas lift - Chamber lift - Plunger lift ? (can be used without gaslift as well)

Section 1 - Principles

Slide 22

Gas Lift

Gas Lifting (IPR Curve)

Produced Fluid + Lift Gas

Injecting gas into the well reduces weight of the fluid column and consequently reducing the flowing bottom hole pressure. (Optimal production)
1900 Optimal injection point

Pwf = 1600 psig Q1 =2000 b/d Inj. Gas = 1mscf/d

1600 1500

Pwf

Pwf P f = 1500 psig i Q1 =2200 b/d Inj. Gas = 2mscf/d

500

2000 2200 Non Optimal lifting

Qliq

At high draw-down i.e. high gas injection rate: 1) Non-darcy flow in IPR 2) Causes increase in the frictional losses in the tubing thus offsetting the reduction of weight in the fluid column.
Section 1 - Principles

Slide 23

Gas Lift

WELL PRODUCTIVITY
A wells ability to produce fluid is related to a reduction in bottom hole pressure i.e. the P(Reservoir Bottom Hole)

Section 1 - Principles

Slide 24

Gas Lift

WELL PRODUCTIVITY Required Data

Static Bottom Hole Pressure
Pressure in the wellbore at the perforations under no flow conditions no-flow SBHP, Pr, Ps

Flowing g Bottom Hole Pressure

Pressure in the wellbore at the perforations with the well producing at a given rate FBHP, FBHP Pwf , Pf

Drawdown
Change g in pressure p from static to flowing g SBHP-FBHP = P

Fluid Rate
Well W ll test t t performed f d while hil running i FBHP survey = Q
Section 1 - Principles

Slide 25

Gas Lift

PRODUCTIVITY INDEX
One way to quantify a wells productivity is to use a relationship known as: Productivity Index (P.I.)
a straight line relationship between production rate and drawdown (rate and p pressure) )

Section 1 - Principles

Slide 26

Gas Lift

PRODUCTIVITY INDEX
Simple Calculation! Productivity Index PI = BLPD / P Drawdown P = BLPD / PI Liquid Rate BLPD = P * PI

Section 1 - Principles

Slide 27

Gas Lift

PRODUCTIVITY INDEX
One way to O t plot l t Well W ll Productivity P d ti it is i in i terms t of f Productivity P d ti it Index (PI) The PI is a convenient term to compare performance between wells or over time. time

SBHP BHP

Rate
PI is expressed in terms of rate versus drawdown (bpd / psi)

Section 1 - Principles

Slide 28

Gas Lift

INFLOW PERFORMANCE RELATIONSHIP

We have another curve to describe the inflow into the well from the formation. This is the inflow curve (inflow performance relationship relationship, IPR). IPR)

BH HP

Rate

Section 1 - Principles

Slide 29

Gas Lift

INFLOW PERFORMANCE RELATIONSHIP

The inflow curve can be derived using any two points. Normally the SBHP is given as one point. Th V The Vogel l curve i is one i inflow fl relationship: l ti hi Q/Qmax = 1 - 0.2(FBHP/SBHP) - 0.8(FBHP/SBHP)2 where FBHP and Q are measured data (normally from a survey and a concurrent welltest).

SBHP B BHP FBHP Q Rate

Section 1 - Principles

Qmax

Slide 30

Gas Lift

PI AND IPR
PI is a more simple way to handle inflow. IPR is more complex, and more correct than PI b PI, but t requires i better b tt data d t to t correctly tl calculate
SBHP BH HP

PI

Rate

Section 1 - Principles

Slide 31

Gas Lift

SYSTEM SOLUTION
If we compare th the i inflow fl model d l and d the th outflow tfl model d l by drawing them on the same graph, we can find the expected flow rate and FBHP.

BHP

FBHP Q Rate
This technique is the basis for more complex predictions such as the equilibrium curve and the lift gas performance curve.
Slide 32

Section 1 - Principles

Gas Lift

SYSTEM SOLUTION
Inflow: Pwf = Pres dPres dPperf p + dPfl + dPtbg g Outflow: Pwf = Psep
TGLR1 TGLR2 TGLR3

Inflow BHP

Outflow

TGLR3 > TGLR2 > TGLR1

Rate
Section 1 - Principles

Slide 33

Gas Lift

Gas lift Injection Performance Curve

3) U Unlimited li it d Gas G or maximum i flowrate is desired
900

Net P Production(BPD)

800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0

2) Limited Gas or the most economical i l rate t is i desired d i d 1) Production is fixed Water /gas coning Sand production Government regulations

1 2

50 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000

Gas lift Injection (Mscfd)

Section 1 - Principles

Slide 34

Gas Lift

Gas lift Injection Performance Curve

Relatively more gas is required for a small incremental production as we approach maximum point
Qinj
900

Net Prod duction( (BPD)

800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0

Optimum Injection Point

Qliq

Sub-optimum injecting points

50 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000

Gas lift Injection (Mscfd)

Section 1 - Principles

Slide 35