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

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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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7000 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250

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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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

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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