34th Gas-Lift WorkshopSingapore

February 7 - 11, 2011

This presentation is the property of the author(s) and his/her/their company(ies).It may not be used for any purpose other than viewing by Workshop attendees without the expressed written permission of the author(s).

Troubleshooting Unloading Gas Lift Design using DynaLiftTM

Ron Schmidt - Weatherford International

William Rucker – Weatherford International

Feb. 7 - 11, 2011 2011 Gas-Lift Workshop 2

Outline

• Well parameters and current unloading gas lift design

• Gas Lift Design evaluation with DynaLiftTM

• Gas Lift Re-Design with current GLM depths• Gas Lift Re-Design evaluation with DynaLiftTM

• Well evaluation for optimum gas lift mandrel depths and valve calibration

• New gas lift design evaluation with DynaLiftTM

• Summary

Feb. 7 - 11, 2011 2011 Gas-Lift Workshop 3

GL Design Parameters

• Open hole, horizontal well completions with9-5/8” csg and 4.5” tbg in the deviated, verticalsection of well

• The PI range 15 – 20 B/D/psi, ~ 2800 – 3000 psiSBHP, FGOR ~ 171:1 scf/bbl, WHP ~ 200 – 400 psi

• Current GL design had four (4) mandrel depths,1750 psi gas injection pressure, required Qi = 5.0mmscfpd, and orifice in bottom mandrel.

• Reported unloading problems – long unloadingtime, limited gas injection rate, suspected topvalve not opening

Feb. 7 - 11, 2011 2011 Gas-Lift Workshop 4

Current GL Design

• GLM depths in Meters were converted into Feetfor DynaLift input and redesign.

• Typical gas lift design method with increasingport size as depth increases.

Feb. 7 - 11, 2011 2011 Gas-Lift Workshop 5

Current GL Design

Feb. 7 - 11, 2011 2011 Gas-Lift Workshop 6

Current GLD – flowing - DynaLift™

-1000

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900

BFPD/Mcsfpd/Depth/Temp

F

ELAPSED TIME (minutes)

Original Design - Flowing

Pwhi

Pwhf

STB/day

Mscfd out

Mscfd in

TVD Annulus

Pbhf

Temp wh

Feb. 7 - 11, 2011 2011 Gas-Lift Workshop 7

Current GLD – GLV - DynaLift™

-200

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900

Qi

_

Mcfpd

_

API-C

ELAPSED TIME (Minutes)

Original Design - Qi

3586 GLV QI

6204 GLV QI

API C Value @ 8521

Feb. 7 - 11, 2011 2011 Gas-Lift Workshop 8

Redesign with Current GLM Depths

• Redesign the unloading valves with larger ports –incorporate the “throttling” characteristics of IPO valves.

• Review the well performance and determine the optimalgas injection rate.

• Simulate well unloading and operation parameters withDynaLiftTM

Feb. 7 - 11, 2011 2011 Gas-Lift Workshop 9

Current GLM - Redesign - flowing DynaLift™ simulation

-1000

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400

PSI-D

EPTH

-msc

fpd-

BFP

D-T

empe

ratu

re

Elapsed Time - minutes

Pwhi

Pwhf

STB/day

Mscfd out

Mscfd in

TVD Annulus

TVD Tubing

Pbhf

Temp wh

Feb. 7 - 11, 2011 2011 Gas-Lift Workshop 10

Current GLM - Redesign – GLV -DynaLift™ simulation

-500

0

500

1000

1500

2000

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400

GLV

QI -

MSC

FPD

__

GLV

ql -

BFP

D

Elapsed Time - Minutes

Redesign ORIG GLM - GLV's

3586 GLV Qi

6205 GLV Qi

7986 GLV Qi

7986 GLV BLPD

Feb. 7 - 11, 2011 2011 Gas-Lift Workshop 11

Redesign -GLM Depths

• Redesign the gas lift mandrels depths based upon wellperformance evaluation and gas lift valve operatingdifferential vs IPR.

• Review the well performance and determine the optimalgas injection rate (3.5 mmscfpd).

• Simulate well unloading and operation parameters withDynaLiftTM

Feb. 7 - 11, 2011 2011 Gas-Lift Workshop 12

GLM - Redesign – flowing - DynaLift™

-2000

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400

Pres

sure

-M

scfp

d -D

epth

-B

FPD

-Te

mpe

ratu

re

ELAPSED TIME - Minutes

Redesign GLM Depths - All GLV's

Pwhf

STB/day

Mscfd out

Mscfd in

TVD Annulus

Pbhf

Temp wh

Feb. 7 - 11, 2011 2011 Gas-Lift Workshop 13

GLM - Redesign – GLV - DynaLift™

-500

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200

Qi -

Msc

fpd

ELAPSED TIME - Minutes

Revised GLM Depths and GLV's Performance

3650 GLV Qi

5800 GLV Qi

7100 GLV Qi

7670 GLV Qi

8100 GLV Qi

8530 GLV Qi

Feb. 7 - 11, 2011 2011 Gas-Lift Workshop 14

Final - Redesign – GLV - DynaLift™

-500

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200

Qi -

Msc

fpd

ELAPSED TIME - Minutes

Gas Lift Valve Performance - unloading Redesign GLM Depths

3650 GLV Qi

5800 GLV Qi

7100 GLV Qi

Feb. 7 - 11, 2011 2011 Gas-Lift Workshop 15

Benefits using DynaLift™

• Utilize as a troubleshooting tool and identifies: Problems in current design – GLM depths and GLV calibration or

port selection

Evaluate proposed gas lift design changes prior to equipment installation

Evaluate surface restrictions (flowline ID, WHCK’s)

• Improve gas lift design practices and procedures Compares well performance based on gas lift mandrels spacing

or depths

Useful as an operator training tool (erosion in unloading GLV’s, unloading duration, Qi)

Feb. 7 - 11, 2011 2011 Gas-Lift Workshop 16

Any Questions ??

Feb. 7 - 11, 2011 2011 Gas-Lift Workshop 17

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Feb. 7 - 11, 2011 2011 Gas-Lift Workshop 18

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