Investigation of New Tool to Unload Liquids from Gas Wells VortexFlowllc.com Cal Whibbs Premier Production

DEMAND FOR NATURAL GAS Rise in demand due to,  Low cost per unit of energy  Cleaner burning properties Increased useage,  Residential heating  Automobile usage  Power generation plants

GAS PRODUCTION Production accompanied by,  Water / brine  Condensate Resulting in,  Back-pressure on formation  Reducing gas deliverability

LIQUID UNLOADING  Conventional unloading methods  Soap sticks  Plungers  Rod pumps  Swabbing  These methods require additional capital and operating expenditures.

CHANGING THE FLOW MECHANISM Mingaleeva in his paper “On the Mechanism of a Helical Motion of Fluids in Regions of Sharp Path Bending” determined that, Mingaleeva in his paper “On the Mechanism of a Helical Motion of Fluids in Regions of Sharp Path Bending” determined that, “ The path of least resistance for liquid and gases is determined to be of a helical trajectory, and that the slope of the helix varies within o from the horizontal. The helical path was more favorable from an energy utilization viewpoint, as the power spent to overcome the hydraulic drag for raising an air column, as compared to the motion and rising of equivalent air mass at the same velocities by a straight column is significantly lower.”

FLOW MODIFYING TOOLS  Technology used in the coal and potash industries for almost a decade.  In 2001 VortexFlow, LLC acquired rights to use this technology in the Oil and Gas Industry.  Installed over 200 surface units.  Contributed to 5% - 40% increase in gas production.  Consistently shifting decline curves when compared to wells’ prior experience.

FLOW LOOP 1. Positive Displacement Pump 10. Vortex Unit 2. Gas Choke 11. Ball Valve 3. Variable Speed PD Pump 12. Check Valve 3.Wellbore 13. Flow Indicator 5. Liquid/Gas Separating Vessel 13. Pressure Indicator 6. 4” Clear PVC Return Line 15. Liquid Gauge 7. Y-Bend 16. Water Reservoir 8. 2” Clear PVC Tubing String 17. Wellhead Choke 9. 2” Union

FLOW LOOP 1. Positive Displacement Pump 10. Vortex Unit 2. Gas Choke 11. Ball Valve 3. Variable Speed PD Pump 12. Check Valve 3.Wellbore 13. Flow Indicator 5. Liquid/Gas Separating Vessel 13. Pressure Indicator 6. 4” Clear PVC Return Line 15. Liquid Gauge 7. Y-Bend 16. Water Reservoir 8. 2” Clear PVC Tubing String 17. Wellhead Choke 9. 2” Union

FLOW MODIFYING TOOLS

WELLBORE FLOW STABILITY

FLOW STABILITY LOW LIQUID / HIGH GAS RATES WITH VX TOOL WITHOUT VX TOOL

FLOW VISULATIZATION HIGH LIQUID / LOW GAS RATES WITHOUT VX TOOL WITH VX TOOL

OPERATIONAL ENVELOPE

PRESSURE DROP

SLUG STABILITY WITH VX TOOL WITHOUT VX TOOL

SLUG STABILITY

CRITICAL VELOCITY

VTVTVTVT= Terminal gas velocity, ft/s = Surface tension, dyne/cm LLLL= Liquid density, lb m /ft 3 GGGG= Gas density, lb m /ft 3 Turner et. Al Coleman Li

CRITICAL VELOCITY

Turner’s Model Li’s Model Critical Velocity Formula Shape of Drop SphericalFlat Discharge Coefficient ‘C d ’ ≈ 0.44 ≈ 1.0

BACKPRESSURE ANALYSIS

CONCLUSIONS VX tools sucessfully reduces liquid loading, VX tools sucessfully reduces liquid loading,  Consistent results at varying pressures  The tool lowered critical velocity Testing program allowed improvements in tool design to be evaluated. Testing program allowed improvements in tool design to be evaluated. Potential use in, Potential use in,  Avoiding liquid-loading in flowing wells  Replacing marginal pump jacks  Replacing plunger systems  Improving flow in horizontal wells  Reducing power consumption of ESPs  Being A slug stabilizer by reducing slug sizes  Reducing gas requirements in artificial gas lift

FUTURE WORK  BETA VX TOOL INSTALLED  5 TOOLS IN WYOMING COAL (1,200 FT) FOR MARATHON OIL  4 TOOLS IN SAN JUAN BASIN FAIRWAY COAL IN COLORADO (3,000 FT) FOR BP  1 TOOL IN SAN JUAN CONVENTIONAL IN NEW MEXICO (1,200 FT) FOR BP  5 TOOLS IN HUGOTON BASIN IN TEXAS (???? FT) FOR BP  1 TOOL IN WYOMING DEEP GAS (12,000 FT)  MID-HOLE TOOL UNDER DEVELOPMENT  PRODUCTION TOOL WILL BE READY FOR SALE LATER THIS YEAR

THANK YOU! Vortex Flow Corporate Offices 8591 Prairie Trail Dr. Suite 500 Englewood, Co

QUESTIONS ?

Why does the amount of liquid that can be removed continuously decrease as the gas rate is increased ?

OPERATIONAL ENVELOPE

PRESSURE COMPONENTS WELLBORE PRESSURE = PRESSURE OF A GAS + HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE DUE TO LIQUID

PRESSURE COMPONENTS WELLBORE PRESSURE = PRESSURE OF A GAS + HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE DUE TO LIQUID AT LOW GAS RATES

PRESSURE COMPONENTS WELLBORE PRESSURE = PRESSURE OF A GAS + HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE DUE TO LIQUID AT HIGH GAS RATES

NO-SLIP LIQUID HOLDUP

QUESTIONS ?

FLOW LOOP 1. Positive Displacement Pump 10. Vortex Unit 2. Gas Choke 11. Ball Valve 3. Variable Speed PD Pump 12. Check Valve 3.Wellbore 13. Flow Indicator 5. Liquid/Gas Separating Vessel 13. Pressure Indicator 6. 4” Clear PVC Return Line 15. Liquid Gauge 7. Y-Bend 16. Water Reservoir 8. 2” Clear PVC Tubing String 17. Wellhead Choke 9. 2” Union

FLOW LOOP 1. Positive Displacement Pump 10. Vortex Unit 2. Gas Choke 11. Ball Valve 3. Variable Speed PD Pump 12. Check Valve 3.Wellbore 13. Flow Indicator 5. Liquid/Gas Separating Vessel 13. Pressure Indicator 6. 4” Clear PVC Return Line 15. Liquid Gauge 7. Y-Bend 16. Water Reservoir 8. 2” Clear PVC Tubing String 17. Wellhead Choke 9. 2” Union

FLOW LOOP 1. Positive Displacement Pump 10. Vortex Unit 2. Gas Choke 11. Ball Valve 3. Variable Speed PD Pump 12. Check Valve 3.Wellbore 13. Flow Indicator 5. Liquid/Gas Separating Vessel 13. Pressure Indicator 6. 4” Clear PVC Return Line 15. Liquid Gauge 7. Y-Bend 16. Water Reservoir 8. 2” Clear PVC Tubing String 17. Wellhead Choke 9. 2” Union

FLOW LOOP 1. Positive Displacement Pump 10. Vortex Unit 2. Gas Choke 11. Ball Valve 3. Variable Speed PD Pump 12. Check Valve 3.Wellbore 13. Flow Indicator 5. Liquid/Gas Separating Vessel 13. Pressure Indicator 6. 4” Clear PVC Return Line 15. Liquid Gauge 7. Y-Bend 16. Water Reservoir 8. 2” Clear PVC Tubing String 17. Wellhead Choke 9. 2” Union

FLOW LOOP 1. Positive Displacement Pump 10. Vortex Unit 2. Gas Choke 11. Ball Valve 3. Variable Speed PD Pump 12. Check Valve 3.Wellbore 13. Flow Indicator 5. Liquid/Gas Separating Vessel 13. Pressure Indicator 6. 4” Clear PVC Return Line 15. Liquid Gauge 7. Y-Bend 16. Water Reservoir 8. 2” Clear PVC Tubing String 17. Wellhead Choke 9. 2” Union