1. 2003 ASME/API GAS-LIFT WORKSHOP Gas Lift Optimization Process
MALAYSIA
2003 ASME/API GAS-LIFT WORKSHOP
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Gas Lift Optimization Process By
Zaidah Ibrahim
Operations Manager
ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Malaysia Inc.

2. Million Barrels Per Day Oil Equivalent
Major Effort Required to Meet Global Energy Demand 40 80
120
160
Oil and Gas
Demand
New
Production
Million Barrels Per Day Oil Equivalent
( MBOE )
Existing
Production
Our long-term energy outlook tells us that global oil and gas demand is expected to continue to grow -- oil at about 2% per year and gas at about 3% per year.
Supplying these energy sources in ever-increasing amounts is clearly a formidable challenge. But the challenge is even greater because the production from our energy resource base is subject to natural decline through depletion.
If you assume worldwide average depletion rate of 4 to 5% per year, then the real production growth rate needed to meet projected demand will approach 7%. That means we will must add some 80 million oil-equivalent barrels per day of new production by Another way to say this is that half of the oil and gas supplies required by 2010 is not yet on production.
Industry estimates put the cost of adding these 80 million oil-equivalent barrels per day of new production at over one trillion dollars, or about $100 billion a year: substantially more than the industry’s annual spending today.
Often petroleum is found in areas of the world where the operating environment is difficult and the technological and logistical demands imposing, such as deepwater, remote locations. Equally important are the political and financial issues that can sometimes make reaching mutually beneficial agreements so elusive.
So what can we do to meet the challenge ahead?
Key message: Bringing on ever increasing new production to meet projected future energy demand will require a major effort.
Half of required 2010 supply not yet on-stream
estimated industry investment exceeds $1 trillion
Continued focus to enhance production from existing
facilities is just as important

3. Focus on Gas Lift
Gas Lift has been and will continue to be a large part of our business
The majority of our artificially lifted production is gas lifted
Current production requires routine surveillance and analysis to hold the gains made from optimization
Future projects require gas lift as a means of artificial lift . Processes must be transferred to new Production Teams
Industry demographics and turnover require ongoing gas lift training to sustain awareness and competency
New gas lift technologies must be sought and leveraged where appropriate

4. ExxonMobil Gas Lift Production
2002 EM Gross Operated Oil Production
Gas Lift
27%
Rod Pump
11%
Other
21%
Progressive
Cavity Pump 6%
Naturally
Electric
Other
Flowing
Submersible 2%
52%
Pump 2%
27% of EM gross operated oil production is gas lifted

5. Optimization is a Continuous Process Production Monitoring
GL Gas
Quality
Surface/
Subsurface
Equipment
GLV Design
and
Installation
OPTIMUM
GAS LIFT
PRODUCTION
Analysis / Redesign
Production Monitoring
Surveillance
Troubleshooting
Metering
system
Competent
Operators
Optimization

6. Gas Lift Best Practices
Optimization efforts typically result in 5% or more increases in field production.
Typically, the gains went away after a period of time. There is a need for sustained focus on gas lift surveillance and optimization to hold the gains
EM developed Gas Lift Best Practices from worldwide experiences
Optimization
Training
Organization
Gas Lift Best Practices
Surveillance
Design
Equipment

7. Gas Lift Key Performance Indicators
Integrated effort to maximize asset performance . . .
Backlog of new GLV installations
Backlog of GLV change- outs
Idle
Capacity
Compressor availability/ capacity
Water handling capacity
Well downtime
Volumetric Downtime
Number of Active Completions
Gas Lift Oil and Liquid Production
Total Gas Liquid Ratio
Gas Lift Consumed
Well Test compliance
Actual Production

8. Continuous Monitoring ---> Ensure Optimum Production
Gas Lift Monitoring / Metering System (GLMS) - Real time data acquisition for Gas Lift surveillance
Constant Gas Lift Gas
Constant and high Gas
Lift Gas Supply
Constant Casing
Pressure
Low and Constant
Tubing Pressure

9. ExxonMobil’s Gas Lift Forward Plan
Continue to improve Gas Lift Best Practices - document proven examples that others can leverage from
Network and promote interactions to improve each Production Unit’s gas lift efficiencies
Seek out and transfer new technology, and where applicable, use it to improve gas lift processes and performance