41st Gas-Lift Workshop Houston, Texas, USA June 3 - 7, 2019 Breakout Session: Single Point High Pressure Gas Lift Branden Pronk SM Energy Bill Elmer, P.E. Encline Artificial Lift Technologies 2019 Gas-Lift Workshop June 3 - 7, 2019
Initial Observations About 30 Attendees 90% were 35 years old or younger Industry veterans not interested in this technology transfer / adoption? 2019 Gas-Lift Workshop June 3 - 7, 2019
General benefits of Gas Lift over ESP Spend less money implementing gas lift Handles solds Flexible flowrates Less electric infrastructure needed Compatible with increasing GOR Reliable (less downhole failures) 2019 Gas-Lift Workshop June 3 - 7, 2019
Disadvantages of Conventional Gas Lift Gas Lift valve problems no obvious / hard to diagnose Lower IP’s compared to ESP’s with tubing flow Adequate gas volumes needed to implement Requires matching surface facilities for miminal back pressure on well 2019 Gas-Lift Workshop June 3 - 7, 2019
Major Conclusions Single Point Gas Lift at High Pressures (above 3000 psi) is not new to industry Commonly done offshore by operators here today Few industry veterans supportive of this technology (??) Gas lift valves are not needed when high pressure compression equipment is utilized What is new: Availability of High Pressure compression equipment 2019 Gas-Lift Workshop June 3 - 7, 2019