Artificial Lift Design

Schlumberger

Gas Lift Design New Mandrel Spacing

Learning Objectives
This case study will demonstrate the following workflow: x x x Perform Well Model / Nodal Analysis to analyze a wells requirement for artificial lift Evaluate the Gas Lift Response Perform a Gas Lift Design (using the IPO Surface Close method)

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Exercise 1 Well Model / Nodal Analysis

Given the following basic data, construct a well model and perform a Nodal Analysis at bottomhole. Assume no gas lift valves in the well at this stage.

Confirm that the well will not flow naturally assuming a wellhead pressure of 110 psig. Black Oil PVT Data
Water Cut GOR Oil Gravity Gas Gravity Water SG 55 % 300 scf/stb 32 oAPI 0.64 1.05

Flow Correlation Select the Hagedorn and Brown vertical flow correlation. Wellbore Data
MD (ft) 0 7550 mid-perf depth = 7550 ft 0 7550 TVD (ft)

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Geothermal Survey
MD (ft) 0 7550 50 175 Ambient Temp (F) 2 2 U Value (Btu/hr/ft2/F)

Tubing/Casing Dimensions 2 7/8 (2.441 ID) tubing from surface to 7500 ft 7 (6.184 ID) casing from 7500 ft to 7550ft

Reservoir and Inflow Data

Reservoir Pressure Reservoir Temperature Productivity Index Use Vogel below the bubblepoint. 2800 psig 175 oF 2.5 stb/d/psi

Steps: 1. Construct a Well Model and enter the above data. Place the Nodal Analysis icon at bottomhole. 2. Run Operations > Nodal Analysis. a. Enter the Given Outlet Pressure (110 psig). b. Leave Max Rate empty (PIPESIM will calculate rates up to the AOFP). c. Leave Inflow Sensitivity and Outflow Sensitivity empty. 3. Inspect the plot.

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Exercise 2 Evaluate the Lift Gas Response

Using the Lift Gas Response operation, determine the gas lift rate that will be used for the design. Steps: 1. Select the Lift Gas Response operation from the Artificial lift > Gas Lift submenu. 2. Enter gas lift rate sensitivity values of 0 to 5 mmscf/d in increments of: a. 0.1 mmscf/d up to 1.0 mmscf/d b. 0.5 mmscf/d up to 5.0 mmscf/d 3. Enter sensitivity values of 150 and 250 psi for the Minimum injection gas 'P. 4. Use an injection gas surface pressure of 1000 psig and assume an injection gas surface temperature of 80 F. 5. Ensure that the gas injection depth is set as Optimum Depth of Injection.

Note that the deepest injection point at the optimum rate is about 4840 ft. This will be discussed in a later exercise.

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Exercise 3 Perform Gas Lift Design (using the IPO Surface Close method)
Given the design conditions below, determine the following: 1. Determine the required Mandrel spacing to unload the well. 2. The test rack pressure of each of the unloading valves. Design Conditions
Design Control Parameters Design Spacing: Design Method: Top Valve Location: Manufacturer: Type: Size: Series: Min Port Diameter: Unloading Temperature: Production Pressure Curve: Design Parameters Kickoff Pressure: Operating Injection Pressure: Unloading Prod. Pressure: Operating Prod. Pressure Target Injection Gas Flow rate: Injection gas Surface Temp: Inj Gas Specific Gravity: Unloading Gradient: Minimum Valve Spacing: Minimum Valve Inj DP: Bracketing Options: New Spacing IPO-Surface Close Assume Liquid to Surface SLB (Camco) IPO 1 (Tubing size 2 7/8 < 3 ) BK-1 None Default (Unloading) Production Pressure Model

1000 psig 1000 psig 110 psig 110 psig 1.25 mmscf/d 80 F 0.64 0.465 psi/ft Calculated 150 psi Not selected

Safety Factors Surface Close Pressure Drop Between Valves: Locating DP at Valve Location: Transfer Factor: Place Orifice at operating valve location: Discharge Coefficient for Orifice:

15 psi 50 psi 0 Yes 0.865

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Steps: 1. Go to Artificial Lift > Gas Lift > Gas Lift Design in the top menu. 2. Enter the Gas Lift Design Data given above. 3. Click on Perform Design. 4. Select Graph to plot the gas lift design response.

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Gas Lift Design Current Mandrel Spacing

Learning Objectives
In this case study you will learn how to design a gas lift system with a current mandrel spacing using the following workflow: x x x x Install a Gas Lift Valve system in the tubing Perform a Deepest Injection Point operation to find the maximum depth that could be achieved. (Using Pinj = 1000 psig and Lift gas rate = 1.25 mmscf/d) Perform a Gas Lift response operation to produce a graph of oil rate vs. lift gas rate Design the gas lift system using the current mandrel spacing

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Exercise 1 Install a Gas Lift Valve System, Deepest Injection Point Operation
Using the model created during the previous case study, insert the following Gas lift valve system into the tubing:
Equipment Gas Lift Valve Gas Lift Valve Gas Lift Valve Gas Lift Valve Gas Lift Valve Gas Lift Valve MD 1500 2700 3600 4200 4700 5100 Properties IPO-1/8 IPO-1/4 IPO-5/1 IPO-5/16 IPO-5/16 IPO-5/16 Label BK-1 BK-1 BK-1 BK-1 BK-1 BK-1

Steps: 1. In the Downhole Equipment tab (located in the detailed tubing dialog), select the G/L Valve System button and check the Edit Valve Details (only used for Gas Lift Diagnostics) box. Specify the spacing shown above in the tubing user form. 2. Select the first row in the user form, click on the Add[Valve Lookup] button. The Gas Lift Valve Selection user form displays. 3. Select SLB (Camco) as the manufacturer, IPO as the type, 1 as the size and BK-1 as the series. Select Refresh. 4. Click on Add valve to add the required valve. 5. Add the depth of the first valve in the gas lift valve system user form. 6. Repeat the above steps for all the valves. 7. From the Artificial Lift > Gas Lift menu, perform a Deepest Injection Point operation as shown below. Use a lift gas rate of 1.25 mmscf/d and an injection pressure or 1000psig. Then click on the Calculate button.

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The maximum depth of injection is 4770 ft; therefore, you should be able to inject at the mandrel located at 4700 ft. The corresponding oil rate should be 1882 STBD. This shows that a gas lift valve cannot be set below the DIP.

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Exercise 2 Generate the Gas Lift Response Curves

Perform a Gas Lift Response operation to produce a graph of oil rate vs. lift gas rate (Use Minimum gas injection Delta P of 150 psi and 250 psi as the sensitivity and lift gas rates ranging from 0 to 5 mmscf/d in increments of 0.5 mmscf/d. Ensure that the Injection at valve depth only option is selected and run the operation.

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Exercise 3 Design the Gas Lift Valve System using the Current Mandrel Spacing
Given the design conditions (Identical to the previous case study) and the current mandrel spacing, perform the gas lift design. Select current spacing in the design control tab prior to performing the design. Use 1.25 mmscf/d as the lift gas rate.

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It is important to note that we are not injecting at the mandrel located at 4700 ft, but at the mandrel located at 4200 ft. The rate is not 1871 stb/d, but 1708 stb/d. This is due to the fact that the Deepest Injection Point operation does not take into account the 15-psi pressure drop in casing pressure for each unloading valve. It is also important to notice that when designing for a current mandrel spacing, the depth between valves is fixed. It is the transfer pressure that is calculated at each valve. When the transfer pressures lie to the left of the production pressure curve or the equilibrium curve, it may not be possible to transfer to the next valve.

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Exercise 4 Gas Lift Diagnostics

Assuming that the system has been in operation for a while, and that the producing conditions have changed. The separator pressure is now 200 psia and the measured gas lift injection rate is 1.5 mmscf/d. Perform a gas lift diagnosis to ensure that the valves are operating under these conditions. Steps: 1. Go to Artificial Lift > Gas Lift > Gas Lift Diagnosis. 2. Enter the current producing conditions and run the diagnostics. 3. Open the Data Sheet to determine which valves are open, closed or throttling, and the gas rates observed across each valve.

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