1. Remote Operation of
Gas-lifted Wells
John Stewart
Shell Technology

2. Gasmer Prototype Laboratory
Smart Electronic Gas Lift
Cable-less Downhole Monitoring and Flow Control for Remote Operation of Gas-lifted Wells:
Gasmer Prototype Laboratory
The Conch Works

3. Downhole control of lift gas injection using Shell’s cable-less technology~
Power and comms via tubing; current return via casing (Pseudo-wire).
Well head is isolated by means of electrical choke.
Lift gas injection sub contains:
Electrically operated gas lift valve
Casing and tubing pressure gauge
Gas flow meter.
Gas lift valve (SepTAR/Masterflo development):
Unloading valves are remotely controllable
Non-conducting centralisers

4. Electrical Choke: Attenuation of power signal;
Voltage difference across choke drives P&C module
P&C module: electronics housing
and gauges
Electric gas lift valve: Masterflo
miniature choke
Check valve

5. Valve body, including motor, gearbox and choke
Gas inlet ports
Check valve

6. Electronics and
sensor module
Electrical Choke
Electric gas lift valve

7. Value aspects of WirelessWell technology

8. Remote monitoring and control.
Value Aspects
Remote monitoring and control.
On-line data availability allows instant well optimisation.
Permanent downhole p&T gauges included.
Possibility to automate process on field-wide basis.
Lift point no longer restricted by wireline capabilities.
Downhole control of lift gas injection.
Reduced lift gas surface infrastructure.
Reduction in completion running time.
Modular design.
Cable-less: no cables and clamps to be installed.
Dual Completions and Auto Gas Lift.

9. OTHER APPLICATIONS
GAS LIFT FROM DUAL COMPLETIONS
Optimise and monitor both strings individually.
Status:
Equipment design finalised.
Construction and testing awaiting release of funds.

10. OTHER APPLICATIONS
CABLE-LESS AUTO GAS LIFT
Use gas from gas cap or gas reservoir to lift oil.
No surface gas lift facilities required.
Significant cost savings on surface facilities.
Full, real-time control.
Ability to quickly respond to gas market demands by switching from oil to gas production.

11. Gas Flow & Bottom Hole Pressure vs Valve Position

12. Middle Eastern Deployment
-800
-700
-600
-500
-400
-300
-200
-100
-20 80
180
280
380
480
580
680
780
880
7” shoe
Open hole
150m
TVD
Controlled unloading
and monitoring
Controlled lift gas injection and monitoring
150 m deeper than conventional.
Conventional
gas lift mandrel

13. Wireless Power & Comms – Smart Wells
Wellbore as coaxial cable:
Tubing is center conductor & casing is ground return.
Electrical isolation Choke and insulating centralizers provide electrical separation.
Power is picked off using magnetic chokes (impedance).
Communication signals ride on power using digital multiplexed encoding.
Power available downhole to operate sophisticated electric gas lift valve.
Future work: Auto Lift, Dual String Common Annulus Gas Lift