1. 41st Gas-Lift Workshop Houston, Texas, USA June 3 - 7, 2019
Advanced Utilization of Downhole Gauge for Gas Lift Operations
Matt Young
Flowco Production Solutions
2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

2. Permanent Gauge Installation:
The Downhole gauge is mounted to a carrier sub or mandrel which threads into the tubing string, for permanent mounting to the tubing string. The “TEC” cable is then banded or clamped to the outside of the tubing string and deployed with the work-over rig for installation.

3. Semi-Permanent Gauge Installation:
The Downhole gauge is installed inside the tubing string and can be landed at a predetermined depth. The gauge is attached to the “TEC” Cable and stays in the flow path providing readings to surface. The gauge can be pulled from the well without the use of a work-over rig, and can be transferred from one well to another for short-term monitoring.

4. Downhole Gauge Installation
The gauge is installed on a carrier sub in the tubing string or run internally in the tubing string and uses an electric instrument line “TEC Cable” to communicate the pressure and temperature signals to the surface.

5. TEC Cable to Surface 18 AWG Tin Coated Copper Insulation
Solid Filler
316L Armor
18 AWG Tin Coated Copper
Encapsulation (Optional)

6. Data Collection
Pressure and temperature data is of primary importance in understanding the performance of a reservoir, the well, and the artificial lift system.
By monitoring the pressure and temperature data, the system can control the well’s drawn-down, maximize production, and improve efficiency of the artificial lift system.

7. Historical Gas Lift Monitoring and Data Collection
Gas Lift has benefited from a relatively inexpensive subsurface equipment installation and requires minimum repairs and maintenance expense
Gas lift optimization and troubleshooting has previously been performed by modeling based on registered surface pressure and production data.
This typically leads to lag in true optimization or incorrect diagnostics and recommended repairs, which leads to under or over injection, or premature work-over of the well

8. Historical Gas Lift Monitoring and Data Collection
Information needed to monitor a gas lift system prior to Live Downhole Gauge Monitoring
Production Data – Liquid Production, Water Cut, Formation Gas Rate
Injection Gas Volumes
Flowing Tubing Pressure
Injection Casing Pressure

9. Historical Gas Lift Monitoring and Data Collection
Tools needed to monitor a gas lift system prior to Live Downhole Gauge Monitoring
Fluid Level acquisition
Flowing Pressure/Temperature Surveys
Well Tracers

10. Historical Gas Lift Monitoring and Data Collection
The historical monitoring approach has resulted in a lag time in response to optimizing gas lift wells
This can be based on the frequency of data collection
Well tests
Tubing/Casing Pressure data
Injection Gas Volumes
This approach can result in improper diagnosis of the gas lift system
Resulting in
Premature work-overs
Incorrect adjustments of injection volume
Wasted costs associated with wireline or fluid level acquisitions

11. Utilizing the Downhole Gauge for Optimization
The real-time pressure and temperature reading that are portrayed to surface allow for continual monitoring of operations and well performance
The downhole data enables for a more accurate model of future well performance using nodal analysis
The downhole data allows for real-time adjustments to the systems injection rate to fine tune production and reduce injection costs

12. Utilizing Downhole Gauge for Optimization
Implementation of Downhole Pressure Temperature Gauge for Gas Lift Optimization
Monitor Downhole Pressure Data to identify
Optimization Opportunities
Increase/Decrease Injection Rate
Reduce wellhead back pressure
Identify slugging
Unloading or Kick-off of a new well
Troubleshooting
Hole in the Tubing
Leaking or Failed Gas Lift Valve
Unexpected Surface shut-in or compressor turned off

13. Downhole Gauge Usage Production Life Cycle
2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

14. Surveillance - Well Unloading

15. Surveillance – Shut-In For Off-Set Frac Interference

16. Optimization–Injection Adjustment
Under-Injection of Gas Lift System, Recommendations to increase injection volume

17. Well model showed a reduction in FBHP when injection gas rate was increased.
Adjustment in injection gas rate modeled based on installed design and DHG Information.

18. Troubleshooting – Feed-In Issues
Gas Lift System Initiated
Well Shut-In

19. Troubleshooting – Feed-In Issues
Feed-In Issue Corrected

20. Troubleshooting – Wellhead Pressure Reduction
Increase in Flowing WHP resulted in increase in FBHP
Wellhead pressure was reduced
Reduction in FBHP

21. Outcome and Lessons Learned
By fully utilizing the downhole gauge data we can quickly diagnose issues/performance.
Longevity of gauge data allows for further reservoir analysis including feed in issues, effects of offset frac hits, and reservoir decline.
During gas lift operation we can mitigate some production losses by catching issues before we see them at surface
Additional downhole gauge data from a broader selection of wells will allow us to further refine the techniques.

22. Copyright
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Place it on the web site, with access to the site to be as directed by the Workshop Steering Committee.
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Other uses of this presentation are prohibited without the expressed written permission of the company(ies) and/or author(s) who own it and the Workshop Steering Committee.
2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

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The Artificial Lift Research and Development Council and its officers and trustees, and the Gas-Lift Workshop Steering Committee members, and their supporting organizations and companies (here-in- after referred to as the Sponsoring Organizations), and the author(s) of this Technical Presentation or Continuing Education Training Course and their company(ies), provide this presentation and/or training material at the Gas-Lift Workshop "as is" without any warranty of any kind, express or implied, as to the accuracy of the information or the products or services referred to by any presenter (in so far as such warranties may be excluded under any relevant law) and these members and their companies will not be liable for unlawful actions and any losses or damage that may result from use of any presentation as a consequence of any inaccuracies in, or any omission from, the information which therein may be contained.
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2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019