scholarly journals Gas lift optimization in the oil and gas production process: a review of production challenges and optimization strategies

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 61
Author(s):  
Ikenna Tobechukwu Okorocha ◽  
Chuka Emmanuel Chinwuko ◽  
Chika Edith Mgbemena ◽  
Chinedum Ogonna Mgbemena

Gas Lift operation involves the injection of compressed gas into a low producing or non-performing well to maximize oil production. The oil produced from a gas lift well is a function of the gas injection rate. The optimal gas injection rate is achieved by optimization. However, the gas lift, which is an artificial lift process, has some drawbacks such as the deterioration of the oil well, incorrect production metering, instability of the gas compressor, and over injection of gas. This paper discusses the various optimization techniques for the gas lift in the Oil and Gas production process. A systematic literature search was conducted on four databases, namely Google Scholar, Scopus, IEE Explore and DOAJ, to identify papers that focused on Gas lift optimizations. The materials for this review were collected primarily via database searches. The major challenges associated with gas lift were identified, and the different optimization strategies available in the literature reviewed. The strategies reviewed were found to be based on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). The implementation of any of the optimization strategies for the gas lift will enhance profitability, reduce operational cost, and extend the life of the wells.

Author(s):  
Rainer Kurz ◽  
Klaus Brun

The upstream and midstream sectors of the oil and gas business require compression for a number of distinctly different applications, such as transmission, storage, gas gathering, gas lift, gas export, gas injection, flash gas compression, and refrigeration. This paper explains the purpose of and requirements for these applications within the context of oil and gas production and the transport of natural gas to the consumer. Typical operating requirements for the gas compressors, and typical solutions to meet these requirements are introduced.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Yadav ◽  
Sumit Kumar ◽  
P. N. Yadav

Acidization is an oil reservoir stimulation technique for increasing oil well productivity. Hydrochloric acid is used in oil and gas production to stimulate the formation. The acid treatment occurs through N80 steel tubes. The process requires a high degree of corrosion inhibition of tubing material (N80 steel). In the present investigation effect of synthesized amino acid compounds, namely, acetamidoleucine (AAL) and benzamidoleucine (BAL) as corrosion inhibitors for N80 steel in 15% HCl solution was studied by polarization, AC impedance (EIS), and weight loss measurements. It was found that both the inhibitors were effective inhibitors and their inhibition efficiency was significantly increased with increasing concentration of inhibitors. Polarization curves revealed that the studied inhibitors represent mixed type inhibitors. AC impedance studies revealed that charge transfer resistance increases and double layer capacitance decreases in presence of inhibitors. Adsorption of inhibitors at the surface of N80 steel was found to obey Langmuir isotherm.


2021 ◽  
Vol 325 ◽  
pp. 47-52
Author(s):  
Fedor L. Kapustin ◽  
N.N. Bashkatov ◽  
Rudolf Hela

When constructing deep wells for oil and gas production in difficult geological conditions, special lightweight oil-well cements are used. To reduce the density and water separation of the cement slurry as well as to increase the strength, corrosion resistance of cement stone and the quality of well cementing, opal-containing rocks, fly ash, microsphere and other lightening additives are introduced into the cement composition. The influence of sedimentary rocks, such as opoka, tripoli, and diatomite containing from 43 to 81% amorphous silica on the grindability, rheological and physical-mechanical properties of lightweight oil-well Portland cement has been studied. The twelve cement compositions with different content of additives (from 30 to 45%) that meet the requirements of the standard for density, spreadability, water separation, thickening time and flexural strength were selected. The introduction of 45% diatomite or tripoli significantly reduces the duration of cement grinding, provides the cement slurry with water-cement ratio of 0.9 with better density and flexural strength, respectively, 1480 kg/m3 and 1.1–1.5 MPa.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ameria Eviany ◽  
Ifani Ramadhani ◽  
Cio Mario ◽  
Anang Nugrahanto ◽  
Harris Pramana ◽  
...  

Abstract The two most common challenges on the oil and gas production today are the flowing production under natural pressure depletion and the surface facility capacity limitation. Ujung Pangkah field is no exception regarding finding a method to overcome this problem. It compelled to embolden many strategies to ensure the continuity of oil and gas production. Production enhancement initiatives were delivered through both Subsurface and Surface sides. SAKA Energi Indonesia, as the operator of Pangkah PSC, proved that Surface Modification approach increased the oil and gas production. Historically, gas lift injection dependency in all production wells force a continuous operation of Gas Lift Compressor (GLC) unit to supply gas lift. However, GLC as a production backbone is no longer sustainable, it has reached its maximum limit and unable to fulfil the gas lift rate requirement for all wells. Furthermore, the changing flowing conditions – low gas feeding - from wells are relatable to most of the critical surface equipment. Considering all the challenges faced in Ujung Pangkah field, SAKA developed initiatives on MP Compressor and GLC configuration by performing compressors restaging. The equipment modifications started out with restaging the MP Compressor (MPC) that led to MP Separator operating pressure reduction – from 22 barg down to 16 barg. Pressure changes on MP Separator also directly affected the GLC system since it works on the same pipeline header. Technical assessment analysis for other corresponding equipment were performed to verify if each of the equipment's operating boundary could accommodate lower pressure at the facility. Compressor restaging has direct and indirect impacts. The direct impacts are decrease in suction pressure, increase in gas lift rates, and decrease in flowing of suction pressure due to the pressure at wellhead. The indirect impact is production gain from wells by lowering the wellhead pressure. Particularly in the pressure depletion case, this initiative could extend the lifetime of the wells. Production gain was quantified after compressor restaging and pressure system lower to 16 barg. The gain from this method was 3 MMscfd and ~400 BOPD.


Author(s):  
Gabriel A. Alarcón ◽  
Carlos F. Torres-Monzón ◽  
Nellyana Gonzalo ◽  
Luis E. Gómez

Abstract Continuous flow gas lift is one of the most common artificial lift method in the oil industry and is widely used in the world. A continuous volume of gas is injected at high pressure into the bottom of the tubing, to gasify the oil column and thus facilitate the extraction. If there is no restriction in the amount of injection gas available, sufficient gas can be injected into each oil well to reach maximum production. However, the injection gas available is generally insufficient. An inefficient gas allocation in a field with limited gas supply also reduces the revenues, since excessive gas injection is expensive due to the high gas prices and compressing costs. Therefore, it is necessary to assign the injection gas into each well in optimal form to obtain the field maximum oil production rate. The gas allocation optimization can be considered as a maximization of a nonlinear function, which models the total oil production rate for a group of wells. The variables or unknowns for this function are the gas injection rates for each well, which are subject to physical restrictions. In this work a MATLAB™ nonlinear optimization technique with constraints was implemented to find the optimal gas injection rates. A new mathematical fit to the “Gas-Lift Performance Curve” is presented and the numeric results of the optimization are given and compared with results of other methods published in the specialized literature. The optimization technique proved fast convergence and broad application.


2021 ◽  
Vol 73 (05) ◽  
pp. 21-27
Author(s):  
Stephen Rassenfoss

Gas lift is one of the most popular ways to increase oil-well production, and it is no secret that it is an underperformer. Back in 2014, ExxonMobil reported that by creating a team of roving gas-lift experts it was able to add an average of 22% more output on several hundred wells where the gas injection had been optimized. Gains were expected because “wells do not remain the same over time; they change,” said Rodney Bane, global artificial-lift manager at ExxonMobil, in this JPT story covering the 2014 SPE Artificial Lift Conference and Exhibition (https://jpt.spe.org/paying-close-attention-gas-lift-system-can-be-rewarding). The problem with gas injection is that change is hard. Injection adjustment or repairs require either pulling the tubing to reach the injection mandrels or a wireline run. Those with good- producing wells, particularly offshore, need to weigh the possible gain against the cost and lost production during the job. Those managing more and more wells live with iffy data, injection systems prone to malfunction, horizontal wells prone to irregular flows, and a time-consuming process for calculating the proper injection rates. New approaches addressing those negatives have led a few big operators to try new systems designed to allow constant adjustments based on downhole data with electric control systems designed to be more reliable. Programmable digital controls raise an obvious question: How do you take advantage of that capability? Constantly updated injection data based on traditional evaluation methods is the first step. And new capabilities are inspiring new thinking about how injected gas lifts production and how to make it work more efficiently. Optimizing the process has not been a priority in gas lift. “It was a fairly imprecise thing. But the beauty of gas lift is it works even where it’s broken. It’s not a pump; it’s flow assurance,” said Brent Vangolen, surface and base management technology manager with Occidental. Occidental is among the early adopters of new gas-lift methods along with companies including Chevron, Shell, ExxonMobil, Petronas, and ADNOC. Vangolen expects the industry will follow. “Gas lift is going through the same transformation as rod pumps went through in the 60s and 70s,” he said. Back then, rod pump engineers began tracking changes in the load on the rod through each pump stroke by using dynamometer cards. That data was used to better program pump controls. “You went from egg timers on pumping units to full-blown optimization pumpoff controllers, variable speed drives … this huge infant technology that changed the rod pump space,” he said. Papers at last year’s SPE artificial lift conference covered the continuing digitization in rod lift and that gas lift was finally moving in that direction.


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