Essay Sample on Gas Lift

Introduction

Gas lift refers to an artificial method of lift using an external source to supplement the formation of gas to lift well fluids. It is important to note that the external source should be of relatively higher pressure. It works on a principle that the gas that is injected into the tubing is meant to reduce the density of the fluid in the tubing and the bubbles to be generated in the process have a scrubbing action on the given liquids.

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The Gas Artificial Lift and the Associated Challenge

The current lift systems practiced in Delaware and other basins consider the efficiency and the effectiveness of incorporating the principle of gas lift. However, there is a need to design and manage a proper gas lift system which begins with a proper selection. This poses a great challenge to the industry which recognizes the use of this technology: this is because the proper design methodology still remains a significant challenge. The problem may remain to be experienced even in the future since the flow conditions are always subject to change, therefore, prediction of the best conditions and the subsequent approaches is almost impossible.

The effectiveness of Foam Assisted Gas Lift

Designers recognize the need to achieve foam injection through the gas lift system. This has currently emerged as one of the most effective techniques which can be applied for the purpose of increasing the well deliverables. The approach is normally applicable in case there is late life oilfield referred to as the mature field. It may be challenging to make decisions on this situation of the oil fields. It is possible to experience problems associated with high slugging, liquid loading, as well as high water cut. In such cases, it is suggested that the well should not be closed even if the operation issue is affected by such challenges. Instead, the technique of foam assisted gas lift can be used to solve these situations; the technique helps in ensuring a less expensive solution and additionally provides a higher chance of success for improving the production output.

Oil wells supported by contender gas lift, having water cuts which range from 50%-80% has been reported to have the ability to ensure can a significant increase in the gross fluid volumes relative to the production from the foamer injected into production tubing through the gas lift feed. The skid pump is a considerable section which makes a significant basis for the system set up for the field trial. The skid pump is normally attached to a chemical tote tank and the injection point at the injection point of the wellhead gas lift. This activity is important for the management of foamer addition as well as the defoamer injection at the flow-line of the wellhead for the purpose of controlling the foaming which tends to occur at the topside separation facilities.

Best Design Practices

Many designers are currently interested in establishing the best approaches so that the given types of the well to be of great importance to society. The gas lift wells are currently studied with respect to the need to improve their efficiency. On the same note, the study suggests the use of conventional mandrels which could serve as the best option for the wells so that gas lift technology can be of great use and serve their purpose as expected. Determining that mandrels are the best option for the well is not enough, however, there is the need to have a specific number which can be incorporated to the methodology deployed in the traditional design.

Emerging Approaches for Gas Lift

The technologies associated with the gas lift are intended to improve the conditions of production of oil. This prompts the Oil companies to devise the most effective approaches which can be used to maximize the rates of oil production and reduce the costs of operations, to be incurred during the well operations. The companies respond to this obligation of well control operation by trying to identify the most suitable way to optimize wells, and ensure that a maximum flow rate of the well operation results with reference to the desired requirements.

Conclusion

Oil industry now embraces the effectiveness of the TPMsys system which was developed by the PJSC ROSNEFT Oil Company. This system has considerably the production process and has therefore proved to be a successful approach based on the need to manage oil recovery at the onshore wells. The TPMsys has specific components which contribute to its effectiveness for its desired purpose, one of which is the production model of the production wells. This section of the system contributes to the approach of continuous analysis of the oil production capacity of the wells and the planning of measures for optimization of the operating parameters. The mode of production adopted makes it easy for the assessment of the bottom-hole pressure and the production rate of all the wells. This is possible due to the regular measurements of the water cut, fluid flow rates, gas oil ratio, and the other related parameters.

References

S. Kannan, M. Boyer, J. Dufresne, L. Gonzalez and X. Services, "Impact of Gas Lift Design in Unconventional Wells - A Delaware Basin Operator's Perspective", Society of Petroleum Engineers, 2018.

R. Ismail and K. Trjangganung, "Mature Field Gas Lift Optimisation: Challenges and Strategy, Case Study of D-Field, Malaysia", society of petroleum engineers, 2018.

S. Ahmad, S. McGregor, D. Ekol, Y. Sen and S. Davoren, "Increasing Production via Foam Assisted Gas Lift in a Mature Oil Well", SPE Symposium: Production Enhancement and Cost Optimisation, 2017.

A. Lubnin, E. Yudin, R. Fazlytdinov, R. Khabibullin, E. Grishchenko and A. Bovt, "A New Approach of Gas Lift Wells Production Optimization on Offshore Fields", SPE Russian Petroleum Technology Conference and Exhibition, 2016.

R. De Santana, V. Ferreira Filho, D. Monteiro, G. Chaves, M. Duque, A. Granja Saavedra, J. Baioco, A. Teixeira and B. Vieira, "Gas Lift Optimization Under Uncertainties in BSW", SPE Latin America and Caribbean Petroleum Engineering Conference, 2017.