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Preprint - Subject to Correction AWPsTe paper For Release - Afternoon Papers May 6, 1954 No.801=! Morning Papers May 7, 1954 Sa Paper for Presentation at the Spring Meeting of the Pacifle Const District, Divisien of Production, American Pete Inatitute, Statler Hotel, Loe Angeles, California May Gand 7. 1954 NOTE TO EDITORS: Permission is hereby granted to reprint {his paper on condition that the aurpices under which i wae presented be conspicuously indicated, the original tile weed, Snd omission, if any, indicated clear. (The statements and opinions expressed herein aze those of the authors, and thould not be conetraed aa an official setion of the Inatitate,) FLOWING AND GAS-LIFT WELL PERFORMANCE ay , Gilberts ‘vertical-ift function, explaine the hnydrautice of natural flow, outlines two-phase flow through orifices, summarises ‘methods for evtimating individual well capebilties, and includes approximations {for solution of natural-flow and gan-Uift problems for tubing of the 1-66, 1.90, 2.375, 2,075 and 3-50-inch API sizes, and crude oll inthe gravity range from, 25 to 40 degrees A.P.1. INTRODUCTION ‘Advances in knowledge ofthe diferent lifting methods do not Lend themn- faluation quichiy or in eimple economic terma. Inthe aggregate, however, fy baste for improved lifting policies and profitabilitie, ‘hey conatitate the nece ‘wherever oll ts 73 ‘Production by natural flow righty tops the st of lifting methods, ince it produces more el than all other mathods combined. It proceede vith minimam cost Envslative absence of operating ificultien, and fe relinquished finally in an atmon~ phase charged with regrets and supercharged with expletives intended to forty the Conclusion that the stoppage is an irreversible act of Providence. Neverthe ‘reduction men have been haunted for years with the thought that a more definite Rhowledge of flowing performance would suggest means of reruming low after ‘mit more effective well control, more appropriate flow= ‘Asiatic Petroleum Corporation, New York Development of organized information on vertical flow has been #9 far a matter of slow growth, A Presentation in 1930 9f the basic theary by the late, Professor Doctor J. Verstuys bout hae been appited only to ® Mnnited extent due to practical difcsitie factors which spear in the Versluys diferent [An interesting attempt to solve the problem of two-phase verticals by tenting flow through short (6T-toot) tubes was Feported in 1931 by T- We Moore and HD. Wilde © Fatlure of this project to provide the desired generalization seem® rfbutable to use of tube Lengths 40 short that representative conditions were not tained, Kemicr snd Poole 4 ima paper on flowing wells presented before the ‘American Petroteumn Institste in 1996, developed a limited correlation between gaa/ guia ratio and pressure drop per unit of tabing length, and explained a method of tstlmating flowing life. Tae work of ©. 3. May and A Laird ©" 2, reasleed im wert= [EAL Lft generatizntione well adapted to predict Fesults within & pertricted range of conditions. ‘The interesting paper by Postiman and Carpenter ©, appeared subsequent fo the time of derivation of te material here presented "Gaa-Lift Principles and Practices" by §. F. Shaw 7, the pioneer coneultant ‘with correlations, which, though limited in scope, were none the Teas use(s. Saw if intake pressures and manimutn liquid production rater, has been ‘The excellent paper by E. C, Babson 8, added constderably.to knowledge of vertical flow, particularly in the range for gue/liquid ratior grester than 2.0 MCF ber barrel. ‘Tos large extent the present paper ie s result of reviewing Babson'e Bnte and work alter adding s considerable fund of depth-prenuvre information n= Yyolving gus/tiquid ratios lees than 2.0 MCF per barrel. Thus, Shaw, Dabson and the late EN. Merrill mentioned by Babson, provided the prior work mainiy used In the appended correlations of vertieal flow. 11 will be noted that no distinction is made here between galt and natural flow. In the gat-ift range covered by Babvon, mist flow and annular flow predomin= end no perceptible differences are to be expected. Where fosm flow ex ‘ould be ied to expect somewhat steeper gradients for nateral flow than fOF ‘Sith the ster total gae/Aiguld ration, becauee for natural flow more of the ga ‘ould be in solution, and the ration are small enough #o that the gat in solbtion ‘hat no firm differences between gas-llft tnd two-phase natural flow have been ob ‘Wai Gata and would therefore tend to repratont fourneflow gas requirements ‘The present purgoses are to explain owing and gas-Iift well 4n the light of what in now known of vertical flow, and to provide procedures and tsropiriest correlations which have been usefully applied over Solution of practical problems. It ix thought that the i however thowld be ured with care a Flowing tnd Gas.Litt Well Performance Paper No. 801-301 offered tn the ho forme veedity ‘that they mey encourage development of more specie dats in ptable to field wee A PRIMARY pistivcTioN ‘To develop an understanding of the behavior of lowing and g Mguid mintures info « bore hole, an entirely aifferent set of conditions affecting low of mixtures (rom the bottom to the top of the well, and 3 third set affecting fom ‘through beans atthe surface. We may designate the firet as "inflow performance”! the second as "vertical-lt performance", and the third a2 "bean performance” INFLOW PER. Keowledgs of individual well inflow performance iz « basic necessity in ‘equipping and operating ol wells for maximum proiit under any act of imposed ‘conditions Rigorous determination ofthe inflow performance of & well at any state in te producing life would involve: 1. Measurement of the static pressure in the wall atthe midpoint of the producing interval 2. Measurement of the mamrate of inflow of exch fluid phate corrected. fo midpoint conditions for each of reries of steady operating pressures meaaured at the midpoint. Fortunately, auch detailed determinations are seldom necessary, but one or more ‘very complete determinations ina particular (eld ean prove helpfel in deciding what thortoeuts and approximations are focally practlesble. by He static preswure (in poi) And masiemem {nftow rate wher the increment of inflow pe unit of prearure or productivity index (Ph, oeneured in b/d per pat) st that time te Constant. ‘The gae/Uiqud retio (GLA freasured in MCF per barrel) may be, for tlmaple conditions the inflow performance can bbe depicied as shown in Figure 2 (see newt pagel. This latter type of graph is useful Tipredicting both the timing and character of liting changes needed to maintain p ‘ction and traploment the loest Fererveie belley. The relation between the midpoint Presaure tnd the iguia inflow rete (flow Paper Mo. 601-3081 formance relationship, or IPR, fentioned Inter) {a not always a atraight ine an shown in Figure ly but may be concave tothe origin a» thown In Figure 3. Evenif this curvature ia marked, ite poraible by study of = group of much curves Applicable method of predicting the TPR irom the welts static prenture and a tingle drawdown determination. principal (actor in development of reservoir policy. Ratios in practice are alfected by ‘Zimlated withdrawals and atany ane stage aur of neous oa Stsithdrasal they are allected be produce sitgmrcionsnct es fr har boon posnted out by Rad. — Sateen “Generaity, erat faces bearing pon future well performance, the gee/Miguld ratio fe the leset preaictable “There have been instances of gaa/oil ratio reduction following a change in the tubing setting depth. Only very minor per cent Improvements in drawdown opposite jas sand can be eifecied for a given liquid ofitake rate by altering the position of the fubing. At the same time Killing a well with water to move tubing can reduce oil and fue permeabilities, and it stem that of the two, gaz producing layers are the more it Secmomennt Sore ioyfeane a cpa Ry freoeursstatee” Gllcamulties corven ineritise ene ties Im aelecting the best operating grove rate for an individual wet well, it {[S vometimes helpful to plot the approx fo or three cute as indicated in Figure 4 (Gee next pagel. However, if epecial teats Sle necestary for this purpose, 10 Flowing and a Paper No, 001-301 desirable to remember thet emporary use bLabnoxmally high inflase rates can induce. ‘tun ince inate ens * a under some circumstances, for example, h om it theater shut-off is insecure, or if there i Sion, | CHEETOS SS ONT ana Differential depletion is progre ‘ove ew wa Now through the bore between producing 7 layers taker place during any subsequent 3 [> periods of shut-down unlere a suitable mud eae Fe spotted im the producing interval. Thus d say water inflow from a relatively Righ oa the more depleted est layer during a slut= down period, and with permanent injury in ‘Atver long periods of flow, a two oF three= ‘week shutdown ean cause {rom 20 to 40 per cent permanent reduction of the inflow Capacity of well tapping a depletion type reservate even the water cut $2 no gr ‘han 5 per cont. Thus, differential depletion is factor requiring close considers In rany llelda if the operator's equity in operating wells into be protected. Generally, the rate of Uquid snow snerensan as the pressure ina well Le reduced, and the absolute tssiraim liguid inflow would result i zero absolute pressure Could be maintained at the bottom of the well. This condition of course cannot be Mttsined, 1nd leat of all Ins flowing well, Because 4 pressure drop in the tubing (rom the bottoun #0 the top ofthe well a neceerary to sustain vertical flow. A large pressure Nthe bottom of 8 well facilitates vertical eutflow but Giacourages lateral inflow. In {nis sense, the pressure requirementa for inflow and thore for vertical lit are opposed to one another, snd, In particular cares, when an eifective compromize can no longer bbe mace by adjustment of controllable factors, flow uct ceare, For any steady Flowing condition, the nom of (1) the effective presoure drop {rom the drainage radius tothe borer, {2} the preveare deap in the vertical column, and_(3} the pressure drop seross the bean for avifie) at the surface, in substantially equel tothe difference Between the well's static pressure and the flow-tine pressure VERTICAL LIFT PERFORMANCE, {Ait we need know about tworphase vertical flow ist How mach pressure {9 required toll the wall buid ats piven sate frm a glven depth with « giver ge/iguld Zatlo through tubing of « given sizes Tale prot lem la more complicated than the prob ‘em of single-phase flow in tuvface pipe tines bechune we are dealing with the flow of Sins/liqud mintore, and because the put pressure must be rufilent not nly to Gvercome flow revisiance in the pipe and the bean at the surface, but moat in addition Br vutticent to support the totat weight of the compressible mixture in the pipe. In Merlnonst flew the vrat poostura dap for a given flow rate can be op Flowing and Gas Lift Wel! Performance Paper No. 601-3081 reprctented as #0 many pounds per square inch per thousand feet of length. No ruth Convenient yardetick ean be ured for vertical two-phase flow because the mreaalre. “drop per unit of tongth fe not constant, but increases with depth. For this res1on, in jrocecding to eystemalize It old information on vertical flow for pressures ess tan fhe bubbte-paint prescure, we find there ina eiferent depth-pressure gradient for uch size of pipes cach rate of iguid flow, and exch gae/liguld ratio. * Depth Pressure Gradients “the depth-préssure gradient 4 the basic unit of two-phase vertical flow, and solution of individuat well problema in negety 8 mater of having avatlable & Covering suitable ranges of tubing sizes fe not concerned here. with any detailed analysis of the physical ph omens which cause the pressure gradients observed or derived (rom practical field Information, However, itis of interest to know that 2 single gmdient curve repre tents e sequence of different typea af flow. "Thus, starting at the upper end of [Einsion like that for 200 B/D in 2-875-inch tubing with 1.0 MGE/B gae/guld ratio, Trodilied progressively by an unwardly moving ail film which ctings to the inaide Surface of the pipe and inczenase in thickness with depth: this film, combined with {nist low im the center of the pipe has been dencribed as annular Now. As relative Eepuns increase, the film becomes #0 thick and wavy that it oceaslonaily bridge Scrose the section, vecuiting n slug flow, At oill greater depths, slug flow mer io foam flow, and thie finally merges foto ingle-phave flow at the pressure bey ‘which all of tae gue is Sn solution. Ree Lo ere 5 areates te ae of 8 Va bing pressure from the intake {rom the tabing preseure, (or 8 {ven production rate and rai fora well of any depth. For figure, 5, 000-foot wells with van 2uev5cinch tabing producing 200 (sr or crab CURES the tubing preseure ae the #ur~ vom {hee is one atmoephere (sero gaUge Iv are aise i tial i Rr and gaa/t Aaliblitiss, However, there is rea sae peu obined tn the light-il (5 t0 40 degrees A.P-T.) fields of Long Beach, Sintr Pe, Domingues, Venture, Canal and Ten Section and several foreign fields, Srithout edjecting for ouch factore. Also, it ne not been found nece Gradients for water cuts. However, the aradiente ars inadequate io predict she fifecta of emulsions, Flowing and Gas-Lift Well Performance Paper No, £01-30H e pressure), and, a4 shown at C, they will have an intake pressure of about 1,750 pat If the tubing pressure in 800 pel,” Similarly, ae shown at Din Figure 5, an 8,000.fo0t Swell for the same conditions having an ihtake pressure of 1,390 pal will have « tubing Pressure of 200 pei. Thus by using the gradient for the desired production rate and Eatio and interpolating when necesssry, ‘ve may estimate either the tubing pre {he intake pr through 5; and similar families families of gradient curves for 1-66, 1.90, 2.375 and 3, 50-inch tubing are given in Plates* 6, 7, Band 9. The 2,875-inch gradiente are ‘bined upon correlation of data with gee/tiguld ratios ranging from 0.4 to 2-0 MCF/B from &,000.feot-vells in. Ten Section leld, combined with Babson’s generalizations inthe qae-lift range. Errors attributable to the 2.875-inch curves for 100, 200, 400 {and 600 B/D should sot exceed 15 per cent. ‘The gradlente for 80 B/D in the 2.875~ Inch sine and for 50, 100, 200, 400 and 600 B/D in the other sizes are based upon Information which ie far less complete. However, they are offered in the belief that they reliably indicate the relative characteriotics of each size and are not likely to © Webs sicttctions i conmervatiely employed. Furth” nay oy be etd that they represents fais correlation and interpretation of the fnformation reudily available, ‘The Two-phase Vertleslaft Function Using the process outlined in Figure 2, and a aet of gradient curv te thove on Plates I through 8, the two-phase function for aby particular depth and foure may be constructed. For example, confining attention to Bers inch tubing, and sere gauge tubing pressure, the fonction may De represented cither in termne of intake pressure and gas/liqeid ratio, as shown at A {In Flgure b. foce newt pagel in terme of intake pressure and production rate, a6 shown at Bin Fipare 65 or in terme of intake preesure, production Fate and gea/Miguld ratio, {Ss ohown at © in Figure 6, All three graph represent equivatent information: At A te ‘he ype of graph sed by Babson: the form of Sifurtration B is snteresting becaue the bréinates and tbcivsae are the tame as thove for the inflow performance (IPR) of @ Sretty and the two types of data may thus be superimposed. ‘They are considered below In connection with estimates of the daration of flowing life. Several general charae~ teriatice of two-phase vertical flow may be observed at Cin Figure 6. In partielar, Ht may be noted tha 4 ite of how = —Siittased ss indicated by Carve 1. (Theee observations Ste of interert in connection with flowing wells because Of the tendency of flowing welle to have a more or less STs each Fister growp A ncladen gradients Tor gas/iqud vation whieh ae Tear Wham fhe optimum, and group Binclades gradiente for ratios greater than the optimum. “The gradient for the optlnmum gae/liguid ratio (called optimum because it provides the Riwent preesure (or the given rate of flow) is atthe bottom of group A and. marked ltitn sn arrow pointing tothe ratio. The gradients have been divided into two groupe Simply to avold croraing of line "se see Plates attached numerically at back of report Flowing and Gs-1iée Well Performance Paper No. 601-308 constant gae/lquld ratio at eny one time.) 2, For any constant rate of low, there iss gaa/t ‘slip which provides rinimam inlake prasaura. Tie Triniswimn intake pressure is directly related tothe ate of flow, while the gae/Ugutd ratio for minimum wre ts Saversely related to the rate of ‘The form ofthe two-phase fanction in argely the result ofthe ineraetion of Mow resistance mvt slippase of gas through the ai, the resistance factor being, Teast Important when slippage ia greatest and vice verea. It ix more or less obvious thatthe column prenware, bring due tothe weight of the misture, te greatest at low fue/llguid rarios, However, itis teen obvious that for any gas iiquld ratio and depth th lower rates requiring ‘svraguiring more lifting prea For the reader who finds dificulty with thia set of facta, the following, explanation may prove helpful ‘a, Imagine for this purpose a 2, 000-f00t length of 2.875-inch [API tubing mounted vertically on the face of 2 precipice in Se macyicunintng with swindon pation tte pee {ype pum station at its lower ond capable of continuously Injecting oil of, nay, 0,05 gravity and gue with 2 constant ratio of aay, 2 MCF/B. 1. Taking the initial rate ae 0.01 2/9 of of with the 1.2 CFT {atten the tiguid level would appear at the uoper platform ‘ter about @000 1 0.01 = 172-7 = 115.8) 115 days. Out of the ofl column the cbservar would see gae bubbling atthe rate of about (1200 "0,01 x 17204 1440 x 60 +)a quarter Gt cable inch per second, and the pump atthe lower end Srouté be operating at an input pressure appeosimating the Tguid gradient precaure, =mouniing £9 (2000 x 0.133 x 0.85 Se pels Moet ef the gus pumped Snto the tubing during the N1S-tny period would have slipped out of the column by the Aime the level of ne minture renched the observation pat form. fe. Now if pumping of the same mixture were maintained at 400 B/D, since the Lguid alone would ft the pipe In {2000 1440.2 400'x 172.7 «) leas than 45 minutes, there ‘Would be very litte time for slippage of gae through the (Gitand the (800 x 1.2 +) 480 MG/D of gas ecompanying ‘he cil would eoon produce an oll mist around the top of the piper the gue-oil volume ratio at thet polat being (480000 /400 x 5.614 «) about 213 volumes per volume, ‘The input preasure would be about 150 pei Lastly, with an injection rate of 4,000 8/0, #1 ‘would be abviated by extreme turbulence and the input Preesure, increased by realatance, would be about 230 pst i we notd the L1gold rate constant end ineresry the yee/tyuta rom s starting pot with sero gar when the ance accompany ratio, the Intake pressure deere ‘provure le the tum of the liguld welght and the Iguid flow res Bha'then increasce steadily for greater ration due to increasing Te Ing higher ieta vetoctien ‘The observations summarised in paragraphs 1 and 2 apply in general to ewouphane vertical low from any depth wlth an eductor of any sise oF type and any ven outlet presvare - ‘he esltiv effects of the diferent tubing D avo ae indented in Figure 7 fenich wae FS “| Pitta 09) In genera, the smaller | {thing weer aes abamage of Lover + fr ow, snd theratore tend to prolong the owing feof tow gee/igud sto well: aad ‘of flow, enpecinily for the higher gae/ Tiga rat “Annales flow Se not treated here However, it may be mentioned that the poorer an annulus Se a0 flow section for Eingio=phaae flow, the mo: ‘be for two-phase flow in minimising exe. ipeage aad in improving gas wilizetion in ieelinnage xanga cammered with srt Tar flow string of equal sectional ar ‘TMO-PHASE BEAN PERFORMANCE ‘sean isthe oll-countey teri for the orifice ured om the tubing outlet to Controt the production rate of flwring well: ‘Production mon are accustomed to selecting bean sizes for particular wells om #trial~ to correlation for two-phase flow through beane has been generally “tho following approximation is derived from regularly reported daily Indivisont oll production date Paper No. 601-308 ee er ao sn though it correctly correlated hee involved ‘As an example interprating the Flowing and Gas Lit Paper No. 601-301 treater than the line pressure, the beam aise indicated by the formate will be too small ithe given conditions. No study has been made of two-piaee bean performance for tubing prescuree in the range from sero to 70 per cent greater thom Une prewmre iets men uoustly ty to aveld operation in this range becouse Auctuatlone of line pressure alfect the well's operation. ELOWING-WELL PERFORMANGE, Individual well problema im natural low may be analyzed quite simply by graphical means, 2 form whieh Inte general application being sown in Figure 10. In this Figure, Carve A represents the inflow performance of tirell with tubing intake pressures plotied agsinet guld production rate {The gradient curves B, for 2.0 MCF/B GLA were than ploted starting with 100, 200 and 400 B/D. The inter deetione of these gradients at the ‘Thich the well will sustain, Plotted ae shown by Curve G. The Aspen ve. presture dlagram of Figure 10 Mlustraten the part played by gradients in owing-well perform- Shisined disecty {vor Corve A by sub- Sracting the total geactent preazute for Emposing the periormance Carve D for sToyeasinen beam, we conciude that The well aboold flow st about 96 B/D ‘with tubing prescure of about 850 os Considering Curves Cand D, 24 shown InFigure 1h, i walt be seen thet there ihe possitte equilibriom potete, Vand 2. Ierecction | provides a stable flowing Condition because, if tendency develope impouce more pressure Fesiatance tan the well cam aurtain, and ia tendency develops to reduce the flow ato, the well develops 4 higher tebing prevoure than the beam requires. in Chek of thece cares a temporary die flncement of the flowing rate generates Eiprencure differential which Feturne the welt to ite equilibriumeproducing Condition. Intersection 2 So an unstable oe Flowing end Gae-Lift Well Pe sformes Pa 1-308 ‘equilibrium point bectuse any temporary dleplacement brings into action presnure ‘tferential which inereasen the dleplacement, ard causes Uke well either to flow faster fo to die, depending on the direction ofthe initial displacement. This Limited explana ‘lon ansumen a constant gua/llguld ratio. Both the tubing cutie: curve Cand the bexh ‘curve D change with each change in the gaa/Uguld ratio after the manner shown at B Jn Figure 12, but for ench ratio there ia 2 stable equilibrium point and production rates in of the type abown at Rin Figure 12, Two similar curves derived from wells where several bean sizes were ‘beed over s short period of time (obr months Gr'tecs) ere shown in Figure 1D, Naither Sr these wells could be expected to maintain Stendy Mow at rates of tere than 50 B/D, ‘Nhtough they both would prodace sata Exctorily at higher ates. The reason for this timication Wes fn the fact thatthe differ~ titial preasure, avaliable to inereave produe~ tion when the rate of flow temporarily drope cron nv below the stable equilibrium rate, progres” See ee teen ively diminishes as the Dean aise fr reduced ouuimuet osc mes Exod the bean size which provider maxdmam mae ubing pressure. ‘Thus considering the bean- performance intersections with the tubinge Presvure curve for 1600 cuble feet por barrel EMR in Pigore 12, 4 1O/64-nck beam provides Tmatter beane, inrge differential pra ‘he beam sive ja reduced. For « 6/64- wt SoA SS bean, te tobing and bean perform omc molronimave "ance curves nearly coincide andy reduc tion in vate of low cannot ba prevented. practical minimum for one tubing sine, can only be maintained by une of smaller Ribings ex by flowing the welt intermitienty for short perioge at relatively high cates Needless to tay, the most popular procedure in handling welle with allotments £90 Sionll to support flow with the exieting tubing size, is co Install mechanical 1B, Whether or not this ia the best procedure depends upon the wells fature capabilites judged from dain summarized in the form indicated in Figure FLOWING LIFE future IPRs censive stages of oil withdrival ag shown in Figure 14, and curves like ths timated from a graph Uke Figure 2 are plotied for suc~ shown a3. Flowin at Bin Figure 6 are superimposed, an estimate can be made of flowing fe. A ‘cedure for this purpore wae developed by RJ. Woodwar NM etd (shown at A in the figure) provide the the intake prencures necensary fo rustain lft with 200 pel tubing levies of gua/liguid sation were superimposed over the IPR lines and the wel Swaw Interpolated using the gas/liquid rao 6 Whe “curve becomes tangent t9 the TPR, flow zat Timiter graphe for sther tubing eines, it was concluded tht this well would fnw 20,000 ble, in 415 days with use of 3.5uinch tubing, 135,000 bbls, in 505 dave with nd 28 0 dave wi = ‘any sat observad.cataa omer decline stall ning at eal 1 {nes capacities lowing decline is representative of Vecline to be expected on ‘Tha season (or this Kes inthe fact that flowing isa highorate Lifting method and rcs rm Zeauiren greater lifting presgures as rates-are reduced, | Exam be ‘Sila from practice. However in the hypothetical case of Figure 14, it will be seen T Beat Of Company ae that the well atarte out owing about (625 x 100/1100 =) $7 per c ‘maximumerate capacity, and at the end of its flowing life, fin (5 = 100/540 =) 14 per cont of Ste rewidual maximum: St inca ly producing sbovt capselty. UNSTEADY FLOW ‘Avworking knowledge of unsteady flow Sn 4 necessary tool fn maintaining desired production fates nnd in avoiding unnecetonsy stoppages Particularly im the ‘hate_are two principal sources of unateady flow: (1) Segeesation of free. ‘ens {rom tiguld in the Helng Auld column nd, @) Segregation of free gaa Seam avid at the tubing intake. (2 Pormation heading, which ls avident in La Pas fla, Venezuela, may de ‘excluded from uaual consideration tines it cannot occur unless the well le tapping © ending of the nat type ia cbservabte even in tetted pumping welle operating with Tow liquid velumetric-parp efficiencies and Js 2 relatively unimportant Phenomenon. It causes relatively small, and often irregular, presoure changew of Short cyclical Govation and has hit eifect om the continuity Of production except in Wary weak flowing wells, may accentuate unsteadiness of the second types Also, 1 pretence mats blog peanore intartor fo casing prearen boat nteee of Heading of the ancond type (sometimes called “annulus heading") oecure when () the ligsld entering the Intake, andy @) ratio “erage producing rate af the well. Figore 15 provides diagrams ilusteating heuding of this type, and Figare 16 stlustrates the Eonirel function sf an intermitter in thie connection. (See Figures on Pages 16 and 17) ‘This type of intermitting does produce oil trom the well head "by Jerks but it regulerisey inflows and vith suitable adjustment, (reduces the range of ‘election through the liter screen aa compared with unregulated heading. A Tormaity cloved motor vaive ia preferable for operating a well at a low percentage Srite full Rowing capacity snd a normally open valve should be used for maximum Casing-tubing packsra obviate annulus heading i nstatled at the intake but do not"serve the function ef an Sotermiter im regularising production strate Below the minim stable-fiow vate, and if not installed when the well is completed, the danger of damaging the well by Riling it with md ox water to installa packer ‘may mute alternative use of sn intermitter more atractive, Incidentally, the only fanctlon of = pecker inthis cave ito guide bubbles ino the tubing, which fact may surgeet new forme which are equally effective and atll permit ready means of Checolating to hill the well necessary without moving the tubing CASING AND TUBING PRESSURES When gas bubbles are large enough to encape entrainment with Liguld entering the ting, the annulus fille with gas and the casing pre Handing Grete: Due to by-ptening of gas into the snmulue, the guid level is lowly being lowered: annstus ofl ie being diaplaced Into the tubing. ‘The wel ie att producing at a tow rate and the tubing column te hneavy Because gue ie being iverted into annoloe and ofl from the snnalue te Boing, fliveried into the ting the intaie prevsure, [And allows gas from the anmalu Ae the well do gae-lifted wien snd this reduces the intake pressure to its Lowest val ‘ndvantage. sna ‘The well gas is NOT being wrod to bei 5. The extra annulus gas has heen dissipated and flid, ve to the low intake presur fr Towing at high rate into both the tubing and the annulus. ‘The ting colorants ‘Becoming heavier and the outflow rate in diminishing 6, riuid se till owing into the well at faster rate chen it will flow out ofthe well with the exiating intake preseure, 1. The rate of outflow te aguin in balance withthe rate of inflow, and by-pesning of a8 {nto the annulus starts repetition ofthe cycl ‘Obeervato ‘This is not an elfictent type of flow because It produces a large proportion of the oll Thess aeficlene nupply of gue and a ennall proportion of the ofl with an excess supply sunt practice of beaning & well back to low rate of flow to avotd this type of ‘cing Is not efficient und in many instances revulte in avoldable reduction of income. ‘Thin type of flow fe characteristic of the latter part of the flowing life of watls in Tow trene, but le slao characteristic of many relatively new low-gae/tiquid-ratio wen Heading action ofthis kind can be minimized by ase of tuling-easing packers, but BSEEUPS Silane are not already inaellod, uve of casing-actuated intermitters may be 4 UNSTEADY NATURAL FLOW Figure 15 a 6 Flowing and Gas-Lit Ws Heading Cycle oy 1, At the start of the owing period, ‘the tubing ir opened by the elng Tmnich actuates the "The columnn of 8 Thich hae collected in the upper part ofthe tubing ie produced and ne consequent reduction of pressure ‘cnnuren flow of the uid mixture {he tubing below thie gas column, 2, The tabing pressure trende owmeard while fluid is Being ae- placed out ofthe annulie, and then 3, Rises a» snmulus gas starts to Uroak around the foot of the tubing. bur low inte the well continues with {gee and Iiguid flowing to the annulus, Tubing presrures continue to ise. The casing Freesure which to directly related to the amount of gee stored in the annulus, also ine Ercasce tn response fo got and liguid entering the well. When the casing preseure Seeches the presetermined manimim, repetition of the cycle is sterted by opening of Observations: By regulartaing flow, casing-actuated intermitters can be used to incre of flow un extend the Howing life af wella when they Peach the heading wage, the ea Intermittors are not to be recommended for wells which will produce more fon the pump, But they are recommendable ao inctente She rate of flow of wells which have been beaned back to avold heading? bb. To repulariae and increase the flow of new low-ratio wells until increas “of gua ration may permit oteady flow at desl red rates Intermitters have been weed to flow welle which would not flow without am intermitter, Walis with water cute excceding 0 per cont and welle at rates exceeding 500 D/¢, Tnermittere have been misapplied, and mostly by inexpert welection of bean size an Cuslng.presuure ranges, ‘The bean thould preferably be ar large as necesenry to ensure SContimuoue drop of caving preenure during the on-period (Ito end of 3) and no larger. he cauing.preesure range must be Inrge enough to ensure a blow of gaa around the Toos the bing, signalised by 2 stendy buildup in tubing pressure. A longer range ry and often undestssble. INTERMITTER CONTROL OF NATURAL FLOW Figure 16 Page 17 Flowing and Gas-Lift Well Performance Paper No, 801-304 sensitive Indicator of flowing performance, An empirical formula for estimating Inake presturee from cating pressures ie given in Figure 17. Bubble sizes at the inlake of course cannot be measured directly; however, an engineer armed srith simulteneous mesturements of caaing nd intake pressures can eeeily determine Seite in hie aren are useful in extimnating nate pressures, Gas gradients are most Meely to exist when gas/liquid ratios are fon the high side and productivities are Sinall, “Two-phase gradients are help) Inthis connection, but ere often lene curate then vaning pressure data because EEE they depend upon gas-liquid ratios which are So teat rellable than pressure measurements, tn many fields the IPR of & well say be estimated from knowledge of ite Static pressure plue + representative casing pressure and the corresponding liquid production rate, a indicated in Firwe To, ‘Fer heading welle the average casing pressure may be used, Estimates Brine eype are in erro on the conservative aide the annulus contains Higuid. (le, Ghe true HOR will be Larger than the setimated IPR). Thus Kf caving pressures and Wtiuic prectures have been carefully measured and cecorded they can often be used Ao outline IPR trends in terms of withdrawels Generally ebing and casing Bncers and operating personnel, and thére auch to be suid in favor of accurate Te~ porting and control of bean sizes. ange indicating pressure gauge! ‘ave beginning to be urefally applied, the Thoughtbeing that flowing wells do not re~ (quire gouging ov other ingieidual attention Except wen a change occurs in the normal omen ‘Tonge of varlotion of thelr ting and casing Frc 10 protruree., Range readings are often con- senico of evar a mot Ejgaive ae indices for operating control and ve Sancti eos Cand some po reading axe not conctusive, RESTARTING NATURAL FLOW ‘Flowing wells are not improved by parlods of shutdown, and when they die they are candidates for immediate attention, Even though flowing ia no longer the TMYiddsn method, it io sometimes desirable to restart » well av protective measure iy for oF inrted by & procedure tailored to the requirements of the individual wel ‘Spplied without unnecessary loce of time In connection with restarting, the following facts are often significant 1, The gas/liguid ratio typical of the wall may require two or three daye of operation for full development after restarting because under shut-down conditions Tiguid produced into the well Bore frequently invades the more aclive gas-producing layers and temporarily reduces effective gas permeabilities, 2, For wells with open annalt ste yaually necessary to fill she annul with gas at the desired intake preasure before stable flow can be reestablished 3. the well dind due to heading action, delay may diminish the pos bitty of successful reerarting. Also, im eritical cases, use of smaller tubing oF use tra casing presaure-actusted injermitter may be necessary if 17 desired to prolong the well's Howing lie Swabbing is definitely inferior to use of a gue compressor for ailficult restarting jobs _decause with swabbing, the well ordinarily restarts with a considerable column of Tigotd Hil remaining inthe annulus and by tne lime the production crew has moved iSenother Iocation, typanaing of gat paet the intake loads the tubing with a heavy mixture from the stnulus and the well dies, Hpeidentally, aa a well declines, redc- Sonora Gable fees Newrwer, ange aa Semede in email merement Pe Tibily computed entre quantity of gas must be stored in the annulus before the well's {fal ges/ttquid ratio can be sifective in the tubing for lifting at the lower rate, Ignorance tr thle fact and inck of = readily avatiable starting compressor result in premature Pelinguishment of natural flow ia meny cas! (GAS-LIET APPLICATIONS 1 te tll true that no one method of Ife will provide optimum results in aut wette, and due process of rating wells and methods will always be desirable to rainiain the profit margine eavential im mecting demands for oll. _Gas-Lift in primarily a high-rate method and can be # finaltift method in wells tapping sivong water-drive reservalra, a0 Llustratea by experience in some Louisiana fleides ean have urefal applications when allotted rates are materially fnalter thon inflow capacities, Use of gas ae & means of liguid If Is always attended ‘by imposition of some beckprceure agsinet the formation, even when packers are aa dtuad oven When sundlag valves amd concentric oF excentric induction tubes are lined) but it must sleo be observed that formation back-prestures are often unavoidable Witnine oer forme of lt and expecially when gaa sccompantes the oll produced, For This reason geeslft can be expected to find applications where the bore of the well (s ito small es to prevent effective gar-anchor action. It {» alvo applicable when pth Tonite the relative capacities of other metho a9 Flowing and Gas-Lit Well Performane Baper No. 601-301 ‘To eatimate the maximam-rate gaa-il posetbiltien of a well with a IPR at a given tubing pressure it ie only necearazy to plot the intake preewure for exch of s sevice of ate start on the optimum gradient (the one gradient ia Seck'graph marked wit an arroe) at the given tubing presvure, measure down from {hte point the depth of the well and read the intake pressure. At shown in Figure 19, the tesilfing curve, A, outlines the higheat- vec tubing protauce and depth, and the Ineracction of this curve with the IPR gives the highest rate an (eeinthte under the given conditions im the Dperciculer well, By ploting the CLR for Poh gradient, an ettimate, By of the re~ (guired total GLI ie obtained from which the Sells GLR se subtracted to obtain the net GLE needed, Use of « higher or lower {PIN See Sia ttcnee te proseore cette smi Te ge petition te Boh Renccnsie Risin at eve tke io Pigs, 9 not RRSLRE MEER og Ln ptiman gan soto cores ike fhe one shown tn the fipure, may be con Sldered to be straight tines on loglog Shown in Figure 20.” ‘This observation Tht hold for other gradionte and thetr ation, and, of course, any extrapolation St empirical dats must be made advisedly. Opn ab ey aa RP Figure 21 Ulusteates some of the many gawiift and flow alternatives adaptable 20. Flowing Aut Well Performance Paper No, 601-308 toa given well, and is introduced as an illustration of the type of graphicel analysis ‘hich may be sed, Such a well with a fall otring of 2, 875-inch tubing would be Inesring the end of its flowing Ife, n= indicated by the tmaller of the two tubing Presture curves in graph,C., It would flow strongly with use of a fll string of Teb-inch tubing weing = compressor for starting. Ite maximum-rate gael formance with » full string af wach of then sizea is leo ehown tn graph © and Esreeeponding ges requirement are shown in graph D. "The input casing pressure for guaiits from 5,000 feet would be between the Intake pressure and the static ga Gradient pressure shown, The well's maximum-rate gas-ift performance with & ‘Yoo, 2060, 2000, or 4000-Loot rering of 1. 66-inch tubing Inside 2, 675-inch tubing ls shown in graph B. Graph A shows 2,075-inch gradtemte for 0.4 mei/b. Solution of well problems uring combination strings can be made by adding gradients, wring the same ratio (or natural flow or gav-ft through the Gidferent sizer, and using the same pressure at the depth at which a juncture between tines taker place, 0 paper, ‘Flow velvoe have contributed gresty to the practical willy of gardift, ‘They are indiepencebte for starting against the high well pressures and for automatic Fesvarting. Inermitter types with standing valver have beon weed for maintaining Iigher rates of flow than those possibile with straight gaat in particular welle, ‘The predictability of geeift with How valves ls not solely the responsibility of the Valve manufacturer, but depends greatly upon the defer ence the operator has pald te cicrmining well data of the type indicated in Figure 2, page 4. However, av better [Fradient data become svailatle, improvements may be made In valve spacing, and ‘oth instalation coute and the Proportion of total horsepower necded for starting, cen be reduced, Incidentally, it sezme likely that with vee of improved gradient date, « Semand wili develop for accurate determination of pres gure losees through flow valves Of the different types, and the exemplary data provided by one manufacturer for flow St gas through surface beans de not necessarily apply without modification o other fypee of orifices used in a tubing string. tm order to compare gas-lift with other methods of lift in particular cases the oit-country engineer stands in need of 8 ready means of estimating horsepower re~ Guirersente, Pousibly 8 formaia ofthe type given in Figure 22 (see Page 22) can be apeed to thie purpore, While manufacturere may regard this suggestion as en Svercaimplification, they also may be inclined fo agree that come simplification Mould nerve to promote compressor saler for gaa. in competition with other iting means. Tha tempazaiare of power gaa, due to {te low apscilic heats ie _Ainually controlled by well temperafies at points of application, and wally he gae rate requirement is Nat standard condiio CONCLUSION ‘The matertat-presented here is offered a2 an {aterim report on a pha of production operations deserving wider attention than it has been accorded in the SR its derived to thank the Shel Oil Company for making the presentation powsibl Rha particularly since this outline waa completed during the writer's stay in their California area. ae Flowing and Gas-Litt Well Performa ‘The gae horseponer required by the geelift veer te sere -] Taking K = 1.25 for wot gee, this formule nay be written yhore M = Wor/a ot 1.7 pat. Te to here suggested. that ERS fot Roraspote oon wnfon Guotat sere shots ee Dasea sith the given 1) pressure ratio, 2) anpue g Pomporeture end") input’ oreaoure, and nay be from 20 tolke'percent lone than monutectuter"s brake nopsopower Fatings depending upon the deviation fron Boyle's, Lew, the auriiieries woed, wnt tae overall plant efftstency, oe EQURED WEEGAS HORSEPOWER PER HCY PR OAT = 128), [CHART SUGGESTED FOR ESTIMATING GAS HORSEPOWER REOUREMENTS FOR GASLFING Flowing and Gas-Uift Well Performance Paper No, 601-308 BIBLICORAPHY <3. Veroiuye of the WV. de Bataafeche Petnateim wi 3.: Natnenaitea1 Developnent of the Theory of Flowing Wolis: Trangactions AINE Bevroieun Development ana Technology 950)"152- D. Wilde of the Humble O11 and Rertning Ganpany: Experinentel Meegurenente. of. Siippags in Plow through Voreiecl Pipes: Trangaceions AlMfe Peeroleun Developrent tana Technology (1951) 296 2. TeV. Moore and J. Baory Kesler snd Q.A. Poole of the Gulf 012 Corporation: "A preliminary investigation of Plowing elie: Abl Drilling and Production Practice anual (1936) thd. ys Gal. ay and As Leted of ‘the Anglo-Pereinn 012 Coapany: ‘the Efficiency of Plowing Wella. Fours, tnate Pets Teens $0, (4954) 21h. 5s Gude May: —-“fFLetenoy of Plowing Wells: Trancactions aie 41 (1955) 99+ 6. Prod. Hi. Poettnnn and Paul a. Carpenter of the Phillipe "Petroleum Company? fhe iMuLsiphase Plow of Gan, O12, and Water thrdugh Vartical Flow Sirings with Application to the Design of Gaclife Enstaiietions. APL Drilling and Production Practice Annual (1952) 257+ 7. 8.2, She, Consulting Enginsor: caslitt Principles and Practicea, ult Publishing Company, Houston, fexae (1939) 8,-8.0. Babson of the Union O12 Company: The Range of Apgateasion.of Onelite lothedee AST SEELIISG tue’ Froguotion Practice sonval "€1335) 236: 9. Rods Gulliven of the Garter O11 Company: Gag-011 Ratio Gontrol in Flowing Nelle. APT Drilling ‘and Produgtion Practice Annual (1957) 103+

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