Gas Lift

High production rate

Variable rate

Sand insensitive

High cost

Requires gas source

Low efficiency for small fields

 Outline

• Artificial Flow Gradient

• Injection Gas Pressure
• Power of Gas Compressor
• Effect of Gas Injection on Liquid
Production
• Maximum Liquid Production Rate
• Gas Lift Performance Curve
 Artificial Flow Gradient

• System Configuration
• Gas Lift valves
• Unloading Process
• Improved VLF
• The Optimum GLR
Closed Rotative Gas Lift System for Single Intermittent Well
Gas lift valve with a
nitrogen dome
Gas lift valve with a nitrogen
dome and a loading spring
Valve is open at high-
tubing pressure
Valve is closed at low-
tubing pressure
Unloading valve 1

Unloading valve 2

Unloading valve 3

Unloading valve 4

Unloading valve 5

Unloading valve 6

Gas injection
valve (orifice)
Bottom Hole Pressure Bottom Hole
Pressure in
Gas Lift
Hinj

ptf

H - Hinj

pwf pwf = ptf + Gb ( H – Hinj )

 Injection Gas Pressure
Injection gas pressure at the injection point is due to the
weight of gas column plus surface pressure

28.9γp
ρ=
zRT
0.0187γ
H inj
pinj = psurf e zT
f ( x) = e x
f ' ( x) = e x

f ( x) ≈ f ( x0 ) + f ' ( x0 )( x − x0 )
x0 = 0

f ( x ) ≈ f (0) + f ' (0)( x )

e ≈ 1+ x
x
 0.0187γ
H inj
pinj = psurf e zT

⎛ 0.0187γ ⎞
pinj = psurf ⎜1 + H inj ⎟
⎝ zT ⎠
γ = 0.70
T = 600 R
z = 0.9

⎛ H inj ⎞
pinj = psurf ⎜⎜1 + ⎟⎟
⎝ 40,000 ⎠
Example

IPR : ql = 0.39(3,050− pwf )

H = 8,000 ft
GLRf = 300 SCF/STB
psurf = 915 psi
Δpv = 100 psi
TPR: Given in chart
Oil gradient: 0.33 psi/ft
Liquid rate: 500 stb/d

Find:
1) Hinj = ?
2) qg,inj = ?
Solution:

1)

Required bottom hole pressure:

ql = 0.39(3,050 − pwf )

ql
pwf = p−
0.39
500
= 3,050 −
0.39
= 1,770 psi
Pressure Balance at the Injection Depth:

⎛ H inj ⎞
psurf ⎜⎜1 + ⎟⎟ - Δpv = pwf – Gf(H-Hinj)
⎝ 40,000 ⎠

⎛ H inj ⎞ - 100 = 1,770– 0.33(8,000-H )

915⎜⎜1 + ⎟⎟ inj
⎝ 40,000 ⎠

Hinj = 5,490 ft
2)

Injection Pressure at Depth:

⎛ H inj ⎞
ptf = psurf ⎜⎜1 + ⎟⎟ − Δpv
⎝ 40,000 ⎠

⎛ 5,490 ⎞
ptf = 915⎜1 + ⎟ − 100
⎝ 40,000 ⎠

= 940 psi
Required Total GLR: 940

GLRt = 340 SCF/STB

Injection GLR:
GLRt = 340 SCF/STB
GLRinj = GLRt -GLRf
= 340 300
= 40 SCF/STB 5490

GL
R=
300 LR =
Required Lift Gas:

SC
G

F/S 00 SC
TB
4
qg,inj = GLRinj ql
= (40)(500)

F/S
= 20,000 SCF/D

TB
 Power of Gas Compressor

⎡⎛ pdiscarhe ⎞ ⎤
HHP = 2.23 × 10 qg ⎢⎜⎜
−4
⎟⎟ − 1⎥
⎣⎝ pinlet ⎠ ⎦

Example
−4 −5⎡⎛ 1,330 ⎞ ⎤
HHP = 2.23 ×10 (1.2 ×10 SCF/D) ⎢⎜ ⎟ − 1⎥
⎣⎝ 100 ⎠ ⎦
= 18.4 hp

Take course PETE 487 for more knowledge on compressors.

 Effect of Injection Depth on Liquid Production

Density-dominating Friction-dominating

ptf

qg,inj
Effect of Injection Depth on Liquid Production

pwf = Gabove Hinj + Gbelow( H – Hinj )

= Gbelow H – (Gbelow -Gabove )Hinj

VLP IPR
Hinj pwf ql
 Maximum Liquid Production Rate

The maximum liquid production rate can be

achieved using

• Deepest injection point, and

• The optimum injection GLR
Example
Pay zone depth: 9,200 ft
7-in. casing: 9,100 ft
4-1/2-in. liner: 9,050 to 9,200 ft
3-1/2-in. tubing: 9,100 ft
Production packer: 9,000 ft
Formation GOR: 400 SCF/STB
Wellhead pressure: 60 psi

IPR: ql = 0.25(2,000 − pwf )

TPR: Given by Gilbert gradient curves

Find: The optimum gas injection rate and the maximum

liquid production rate
VLP Data from gradient curves:

q (STB/D) GLRopt (Mscf/STB) TIP (psi)

________________________________________

50 13 190
100 8.9 220
200 6.9 325
400 4.5 420
600 3.6 510
 Nodel Analysis
2500

2000
pwf (psi)

1500
q = 400 STB/D

1000

500

0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
q (STB/D)
 Total GLR

12

10
GLRt (MSCF/STB)

6
4.4
4

0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
q (STB/D)
Required Injection Gas:

GLRinj = GLRopt - GLRf

= 4,400 – 400
= 4,000 SCF/STB

qg,inj = (4,000)(400)
= 16,000 SCF/D
= 16 MSCF/D
Gas Lift Performance Curve