Gas Lift Design Optimization

Sirine Trichili

Research output: ThesisMaster's Thesis

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the current gas lift design procedure used in OMV Gänserndorf and compare it to different design procedures (API and Petroleum Experts using PROSPER software). The aim is selecting the best design practice out of the investigated methods and developing a digital tool to simplify the design process. In order to achieve this goal, these design procedures were researched and the concepts are explained within this work. In addition to the theoretical background, these procedures were compared to each other by testing them on several wells varying in characteristics namely the depth, the production rate, the productivity index, etc. Out of the results, a best practice is drawn and a Microsoft Excel tool was developed which enables the user to design a gas lift system quicker and in a more efficient way. The differences between the investigated designs from an injection volumes and production rate point of view arise mainly if the well’s productivity index is high enough. The comparison of the different design procedures resulted in the fact that the current OMV procedure is the safest from a valves performance point of view. This means that the OMV design guarantees that the unloading valves would close and they could be opened selectively. When it comes to PROSPER, the safety factors are fixed, not allowing the injection depth to reach higher values. The API design allows reaching deeper injection points. However, the valves closing is not always guaranteed. To this end, the recommended best practice in this study is to continue with the current design used in OMV with incorporating safety factors for injection. The magnitude of the safety factors remains a function of the quality of the provided data as well as the well’s productivity.
Translated title of the contributionGas Lift Design Optimierung
Original languageEnglish
QualificationDipl.-Ing.
Supervisors/Advisors
  • Hofstätter, Herbert, Supervisor (internal)
Award date30 Jun 2017
Publication statusPublished - 2017

Bibliographical note

embargoed until 18-05-2022

Keywords

  • gas lift
  • artificial lift
  • design
  • method
  • production
  • optimization
  • PROSPER
  • Petroleum Experts
  • PETEX
  • well performance
  • IPR
  • VLP
  • geothermal recovery
  • economic evaluation
  • comparison
  • API

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