1. Gas-Lift Breakout Sessions Fall 2003 Gas-Lift Workshop
Tuesday, October 21, 2003
Breakout Sessions
17:00 – 18:00
Choose one session
Results will be reported to entire group on Wednesday
Justifying Gas-Lift Automation Facilitator(s)
Function Room 9 Alan Broxson
eProduction Solutions
Gas-Lift Software Facilitator(s)
Function Room 10 Dr. Rick Lemanczyk, Edinburgh Petroleum Services
Dual Gas-Lift Facilitator(s)
Main Conference Room Mike Johnson, ExxonMobil
12/2/2018
Gas-Lift Surveillance Course

2. Gas-Lift Breakout Session Report Out Fall 2003 Gas-Lift Workshop
Wednesday, October 22, 2003
Breakout Sessions
Justifying Gas-Lift Automation Report Out By:
Alan Broxson
eProduction Solutions
Gas-Lift Software Report Out By:
Dr. Rick Lemanczyk, Edinburgh Petroleum Services
Dual Gas-Lift Report Out By:
Mike Johnson, ExxonMobil
12/2/2018
Gas-Lift Surveillance Course

3. Gas-Lift Breakout Session Report Out Fall 2003 Gas-Lift Workshop
Wednesday, October 22, 2003
Justifying Gas-Lift Automation --- Highlights
Practical realities
Competing for project budget $$’s
Economic models of PSC or financial partners may not be same
Marginal fields typically require more automation (for improved information)
“Greenfield” projects are easier to justify (automation is typically 5 – 8% of total CAPEX)
Increased funding on CAPEX can be justified with projected OPEX reductions
“Not invented here” paradigm can be obsolete
Production ceilings can negatively impact project justification
12/2/2018
Gas-Lift Surveillance Course

4. Gas-Lift Breakout Session Report Out Fall 2003 Gas-Lift Workshop
Wednesday, October 22, 2003
Justifying Gas-Lift Automation --- Highlights
Typical justifications/benefits
Improved production rates > +/- 5%
Accelerated production in declining or marginal fields
Reduced OPEX (transportation, demanning, etc.)
HSE considerations – company personnel and general population in inhabited areas (e.g. reduced liability)
Improved management financial information through export of data to corporate packages
Ability to prioritize wells for gas distribution during normal
Technology has been validated
Equating automation with optimization
Combination of reservoir, wellbore, and surface monitoring provides a powerful asset management tool
12/2/2018
Gas-Lift Surveillance Course

5. Gas-Lift Breakout Session Report Out Fall 2003 Gas-Lift Workshop
Wednesday, October 22, 2003
Gas-Lift Software --- Highlights
Application areas
Planning/forecasting
Design
Simulation
Surveillance
Optimization
Control
Integration of surface with reservoir models
Perform optimization on total system
Many “generic” applications available and adequate
Need to improve “work flow” and sense checks for non-expert users
12/2/2018
Gas-Lift Surveillance Course

6. Gas-Lift Breakout Session Report Out Fall 2003 Gas-Lift Workshop
Wednesday, October 22, 2003
Gas-Lift Software --- Highlights
Simulation
Design validation
Training
Today: high learning curve, time investment
Surveillance/monitoring
Should not be the same as design tools
Expert alarm systems – exception based
Simple Q&A
Complex pattern recognition
Data visualization + capture simplified
Integrate subsurface/facilities expertise with DCS & SCADA system suppliers
12/2/2018
Gas-Lift Surveillance Course

7. Gas-Lift Breakout Session Report Out Fall 2003 Gas-Lift Workshop
Wednesday, October 22, 2003
Gas-Lift Software --- Highlights
Optimization
Algorithms now increasingly applied to production systems
Upset response (< 1 day cycle)
Emergencies
Immediate actions
Direct link to operations
Intelligent operations
Allocation of lift gas
De-bottlenecking
Conceptual design
Integration with DCS/SCADA
12/2/2018
Gas-Lift Surveillance Course

8. Gas-Lift Breakout Session Report Out Fall 2003 Gas-Lift Workshop
Wednesday, October 22, 2003
Gas-Lift Software --- Highlights
Control
DCS functions now moving to SCADA type environment/platforms
Improved communications between DCS and PC-based optimization tools
Control now increasingly achievable at point of injection
12/2/2018
Gas-Lift Surveillance Course

9. Gas-Lift Breakout Session Report Out Fall 2003 Gas-Lift Workshop
Wednesday, October 22, 2003
Dual Gas-Lift --- Highlights
Information we’d like to see in API RP 11V9
Design method to produce both high and low PI wells (sides of a dual well) at same time
Ways to effectively model dual wells
Methods to unload – unload together or one at a time
Effects of temperature on unloading valve design
Some actual/potential dual gas-lift problems
Problems if use IPO valves on both sides of a dual
Lift from different depths in each side
Need good well data to design PPO valves
Problems with 1” nitrogen and spring charged PPO valves hanging open
Flow cutting of upstream choked valves
12/2/2018
Gas-Lift Surveillance Course

10. Gas-Lift Breakout Session Report Out Fall 2003 Gas-Lift Workshop
Wednesday, October 22, 2003
Dual Gas-Lift --- Highlights
Some actual/potential successes in dual gas-lift
Use PPO valves for unloading
Install IPO valves at operating depth
Install nozzle venturi in poor side to limit injection
Some say to not use a nozzle venturi on both sides
Some think it would be OK
Use same port size on both sides
Use of proportional response or constant flow valves better than IPO
Use IPO on one side, PPO on other
Unload IPO side first
Use operating casing pressure to design/unload other side
12/2/2018
Gas-Lift Surveillance Course