Real-Time Gas Lift Optimization
2001 ASME/API Gas Lift Workshop - Aberdeen
Tommy White
Artificial Lift Business Development Mgr.
2 TMW
Content
• Gas Lift Optimization – Focused on Service Delivery
• Field trial of a new method – real time optimization
• The added value• New solutions• Conclusions
Virtuous CircleArtificial lift Artificial lift engineeringengineering
Data Data acquisition acquisition
and and comparisoncomparison
Artificial lift Artificial lift products products
and and servicesservices
Data Data acquisitionacquisition
4 TMW
Gas Lift Service
A service that optimizes gas lifted wells using multiphase flow-metering technology
This service encompasses– artificial lift engineering expertise– multiphase well testing equipment and
expertise – (real time production measurement)
– implementation products and services– artificial lift products and services.
5 TMW
Multiphase Metering Benefits leading to Production
Optimization– Real time data
• Extensive data base in short period of time• Quick turn around time for decision making
– Resolution• Accuracy
– Dynamic response• Accurate data and independent of flow
regime
6 TMW
Gas Lift Service
Field Trial Well application in Venezuela
7 TMW
Gas Lift Service
Slickline unit performing flowing gradient survey
8 TMW
Gas Lift Service Portable three-phase tester tied to a gas lift well
production line
9 TMW
Gas Lift Service
Control bay interprets real time data
10 TMW
Gas and total fluid result
Gas Lift Analysis
Inside control bay during multi-rate test ongas lift well
0 3 6 9 12 15Time (hr)
Oil and water rate
(BOPD)
800
700
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100
Total fluid
Total gas
11 TMW
Inside control bay during multi-rate test ongas lift well
Oil and water result
Gas Lift AnalysisTotal oil
Total water
0 3 6 9 12 15Time (hr)
Oil and water rate
(BOPD)
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
12 TMW
Gas Lift Analysis
Flowing gradient survey provides real valve injection points
Stable flow measured by PhaseTester
Flowing gradient survey result
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TVD(ft)
Temperature (º F)
13 TMW
Lift gas performance curves
Gas Lift Diagnosis
Inside artificial lift engineering office during diagnosis
Operatingrate
(STB/D)
Lift gas injection rate (MMscf/D)
0.3 0.375 0.45 0.525 0.6
14 TMW
Existing gas injection location
Gas Lift Diagnosis
Inside artificial lift engineering office during diagnosis
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Temperature (º F)
TVD(ft)
15 TMW
Gas Lift Diagnosis
Inside artificial lift engineering office during diagnosis
NODAL* production system model match to
real well data
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Temperature (º F)
50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250
TVD(ft)
16 TMW
Gas Lift Diagnosis
Artificial lift equipment selection
Venturi gas lift orifice valve• minimizes injected gas• increases well stability by injecting
subcritical gas into tubing• optimizes use of limited gas
supplies• maintains the deepest point of
injection.
17 TMW
Gas Lift Diagnosis
Inside artificial lift engineering office during diagnosis
Modeled location of Venturi gas lift valve
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Temperature (º F)
TVD(ft)
18 TMW
Gas Lift Implementation
Slickline installation of the Venturi gas lift valve
in the deepest mandrel
19 TMW
Gas Lift Validation
Inside artificial lift engineering office during validation
Gradient survey validates predictions
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7000 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250
Temperature (º F)
TVD(ft)
20 TMW
Gas Lift Validation
Real-time data acquisition validates production increase and stability
Inside artificial lift engineering office during validation
800
Time (hr)0 1 2 3
700
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100
0
Oil and
water rate
(BOPD)
BeforeBefore Injected Gas Injected Gas RateRate
0.715 MMSCF/d0.715 MMSCF/d
AfterAfter Injected Gas Injected Gas RateRate
0.675 MMSCF/d0.675 MMSCF/d
21 TMW
Added Value
Field example of Artificial Lift operation
Maximizing productivity through:
– technology– people– process.
Actual gas lift well application results:
– 16% increase in production
– 6% decrease in injected gas
– cost of operation recovered in 20 days
22 TMW
Gas Lift System OptimizationSEPERATOR Well
Focus
Gas Injection
Well Focus
GL Design
Gas Lift Design Performance
SEPERATOR Well Focus
3-Phase Flow
3-Phase MeasurementAnd Stability Monitor
Well Focus
23 TMW
Real Time Optimization Benefits• Real gains can be seen very quickly through
– placing a focus on lift optimization – use of real time data acquisition which minimizes
the cycle time for optimum data analysis and solution applications
– application of accepted technology
• Extending product knowledge to add value– identify the right path to take the solution further– implementing a path of long term lift optimization
24 TMW
The Future of Gas Lift
25 TMW
Decision Decision MakingMaking
Software ToolsSoftware Tools
InstructionsInstructions
Actuate and ControlActuate and Control
The Optimization Process
Data ManipulationData Manipulationand Storageand Storage
Office
MonitoringMonitoring
Field
SCADASCADATransmissionInterACTInterACT
Automated AL - The Future