ARTIFICIAL LIFT

GAS LIFT

Material prepared by
Mark Johnson
Mike Johnson

There are many forms of

Artificial Lift

Hoist structure with pulley Man power to lift oil

and rope bucket to surface

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 Artificial Lift Methods

Lift method is manpower Oil reaches the surface

intensive

Artificial Lift Methods

Oil flows to gathering Oil is moved to market

system

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 OBJECTIVES:
FLOW AND LIFT PROCESSES

◆ Describe THE SIX FORMS OF ARTIFICIAL

LIFT FREQUENTLY USED IN OIL
PRODUCTION
◆ Identify THE BASIC COMPONENTS OF
EACH SYSTEM
◆ Match LIFT TYPES TO RESERVOIR AND
PRODUCING CONDITIONS

ARTIFICIAL LIFT

◆ INCREASES THE GAS-LIQUID RATIO TO

MAINTAIN NATURAL FLOW (Gas Lift)

◆ TRANSFER ENERGY DOWNHOLE TO THE

PUMP, INCREASE THE DRAWDOWN AND
LIFT FLUID TO SURFACE

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 Artificial Lift Methods
Electronic
Controller
Lubricator Drive
Head

Control Catcher
Armored Equipment w/ Arrival
Sucker
Cable Sensor
Gas-Lift Rod

Rod Pump Pump Valve

Plunger
Floater/
Packer Bumper
Tubing Pump Electric Stator
Anchor Standing Spring
Motor Valve Tubing
(Optional) Stop
Rod Pump Submersible
Electric
Hydraulic Pump Gas Lift Plunger Lift Progressive-
Pump Cavity Pump

Which method is best for my well?

Artificial Lift Methods

ExxonMobil (2000)
Total Oil Wells
= 12,800
Rod
pump
Gas Lift
71%
11%

Flowing
9%
PCP
3% ESP
6%

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 Artificial Lift Methods
ExxonMobil (2000)
Rod Pump Wells -- 9113 Gas Lift Wells -- 1437
US E
Malay
IOL 23%
12%
43% IOL
7%
Aust
US W
US W 12%
41%
MOCAN 51%
W
6%

Artificial Lift Methods

ExxonMobil (2000)
PCP Wells -- 327 ESP Wells -- 718

IOL
MOCAN 38%
W
68% MOCAN
Venez
W
27% 8%
US W
46%
France
US W 8%
1% IOL
4%

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 LIFT MECHANISM
◆ GAS LIFT
• HIGH PRESSURE GAS
◆ PLUNGER LIFT
• INTERFACE BETWEEN GAS AND FLUID
◆ SUCKER ROD PUMP
• RECIPROCATING MECHANICAL RODS
◆ ELECTRIC SUBMERSIBLE PUMP
• ELECTRIC POWER CABLE
◆ HYDRAULIC PUMP
• HIGH PRESSURE LIQUID
◆ PROGRESSIVE CAVITY PUMP
• ROTATING MECHANICAL RODS

GAS LIFT
GAS LIFT IS A PROCESS WHERE GAS IS
INJECTED INTO THE TUBING TO REDUCE
FLOWING FLUID MIXTURE DENSITY

◆ IMPROVES THE GAS-LIQUID RATIO

◆ MOST LIKE NATURAL FLOW
◆ INCREASES THE MIXTURE VELOCITY OF
FLOWING WELLBORE FLUID
◆ CHANGES THE VAPOR-LIQUID
DISTRIBUTION (FLOW PATTERN)
◆ REDUCED WELLHEAD BACK-PRESSURE
AIDS GAS EXPANSION

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 GAS LIFT
BEST APPLIED WHEN
◆ A HIGH GAS CONTENT IN RESERVOIR
FLUID
◆ GOOD RESERVOIR PRODUCTIVITY
◆ RESERVOIR PRESSURE CAN BE
MAINTAINED
◆ SOLIDS IN FLUID (PUMPS CANNOT
HANDLE SOLIDS)
◆ WORKOVER COST HIGH (FEW
WORKOVERS WITH GAS LIFT)

GAS LIFT SYSTEM

◆ HIGH PRESSURE Glycol dehydrator
COMPRESSOR AND Surplus gas
to sales ft
r gas li Compression Gas / Oil
PIPELINE Gas fo station separator
e
To pipelin
DISTRIBUTION Oil Storage

◆ INJECTION GAS IN
THE TUBING-
Production
CASING ANNULUS manifold
Tubing /

◆ MANDREL ON THE Casing

pressure
prod
uctio
n
recorder Well
TUBING TO HOLD Meterin
g
Injection
Control gas
VALVE Injection gas manifold

◆ GAS LIFT VALVE

ASSEMBLY
Reservoir fluids

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 INJECTION PRESSURE
OPERATED GAS LIFT VALVE
◆ NITROGEN IN THE
BELLOWS Pbt
◆ GAS PRESSURE
OUTSIDE THE
BELLOWS Pg
◆ FLUID PRODUCTION
PRESSURE BELOW
STEM SEAT Pf
◆ TEST RACK
OPENING PRESSURE
Pvo OR TRO SET IN
SHOP

WELLBORE SCHEMATIC
and GAS LIFT GRADIENT
◆ UPPER VALVES FOR
UNLOADING KILL
FLUID
◆ DEEPER VALVE IS THE
OPERATING VALVE
◆ FLUID BELOW LIFT
POINT IS RESERVOIR
FLUID
◆ FLUID ABOVE LIFT
POINT IS NEW
COMPOSITION WITH
INCREASED
GAS-LIQUID RATIO

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 GAS LIFT WELL
◆ GAS INJECTION LINE ON
LEFT
◆ GAS CHOKE CONTROLS
GAS RATE
◆ GAS GOES INTO ANNULUS
◆ FLUID RETURNS ON
TUBING
◆ LOW PRESSURE ON
WELLHEAD AIDS GAS LIFT
◆ GAS LIFT ENGINEER AND
TECH ANALYZING WELL

GAS LIFT WELL

◆ GAS INJECTION LINE
CONNECTED TO
ANNULUS
◆ FLUID RETURNS ON
TUBING
◆ LARGE DIAMETER
FLOWLINES NEEDED
FOR HIGH RATE,
HIGH PI WELLS
◆ HIGH INJECTION
PRESSURE
DESIRABLE

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◆ View Gas Lift Movie

PLUNGER LIFT

◆ USED IN HIGH GLR WELLS

◆ FLUID VELOCITIES ARE TOO LOW TO
CARRY FLUID UP THE WELLBORE
◆ SEPARATION TAKES PLACE IN THE
TUBING - WELL DIES

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 Plunger Lift
Main Components
Plunger Lift Cycle

Best operated with an automatic

Time/Cycle Controller

◆ View Plunger Lift Movie

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 PUMPING
◆ ENERGY TRANSFERRED
TO THE PUMP
◆ PUMP RAISES PRESSURE
TO DRIVE FLUID TO
SURFACE FACILITY
◆ RESERVOIR DRIVES
MORE FLUID INTO
WELLBORE AND TO THE
PUMP SUCTION
◆ RESERVOIR PRESSURE
CAN BE MUCH LOWER

PUMPING
BEST APPLIED WHEN
◆ A LOW GAS CONTENT IN RESERVOIR
FLUID
◆ RESERVOIR PRESSURE DECLINES
BUT GAS DOES NOT INCREASE
◆ NO SOLIDS IN FLUID (PUMPS
CANNOT HANDLE SOLIDS)
◆ WORKOVER COST LOW (MORE
WORKOVERS WITH PUMPS)

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 ENERGY TRANSFER
◆ ELECTRIC SUBMERSIBLE PUMP
• ELECTRIC POWER CABLE

◆ SUCKER ROD PUMP

• RECIPROCATING MECHANICAL RODS

◆ HYDRAULIC JET PUMP AND

RECIPROCATING PUMP
• HIGH PRESSURE LIQUID

◆ PROGRESSIVE CAVITY PUMP

• ROTATING MECHANICAL RODS

ELECTRIC SUBMERSIBLE
PUMPS (ESP)
◆ GENERATORS OR
POWER SYSTEM
◆ POWER DISTRIBUTION
HIGH LINES OR CABLE
◆ POWER CABLE IN
ANNULUS
◆ SUBMERSIBLE MOTOR
◆ MOTOR PROTECTOR
◆ CENTRIFUGAL
MULTISTAGE PUMP

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 WELLHEADS OF ELECTRIC
SUBMERSIBLE PUMPS (ESP)
◆ POWER CABLE TO
WELLHEAD
◆ PENETRATOR TO
CONDUCT POWER
THROUGH WELLHEAD
◆ CABLE BANDED TO
TUBING
◆ MOTOR CONNECTED
TO CABLE

◆ View ESP movie

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SUCKER ROD
PUMP
COMPONENTS
◆ GENERATORS OR
POWER SYSTEM
◆ POWER DISTRIBUTION
HIGH LINES OR CABLE
◆ ALTERNATE IS
ENGINE DRIVER
◆ BEAM PUMPING UNIT
◆ SUCKER ROD STRING
◆ DOWNHOLE PUMP

BEAM PUMP (PUMP JACK)

◆ CONVENTIONAL
BEAM PUMPING UNIT
◆ MOTOR DRIVE
◆ GEARBOX TORQUE
◆ BEAM RATING
◆ STROKE LENGTH
◆ OTHER GEOMETRY
• MARK II
• LONG STROKE

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SUCKER
ROD
TUBING
PUMP

◆ View Sucker Rod Pump Movie

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 HYDRAULIC
RECIPROCATING
PUMP
◆ HIGH PRESSURE PUMPS
AT SURFACE FACILITY
◆ PIPELINE DISTRIBUTION
SYSTEM
◆ INJECTION TUBING
◆ PRODUCTION TUBING OR
USE TBG-CSG ANNULUS
◆ DOWNHOLE PUMP
ASSEMBLY
◆ DOWNHOLE PISTON OR
JET PUMP

HYDRAULIC
JET PUMP
◆ HIGH PRESSURE POWER
FLUID AT NOZZLE
◆ BIG ∆P = HIGH VELOCITY
◆ LOW PRESSURE IN GAP
BETWEEN NOZZLE AND
THROAT INSPIRATES
RESERVOIR FLUID
◆ PRESSURE RECOVERY IN
DIFFUSER
◆ COMBINED FLUID
RETURN ON ANNULUS

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HYDRAULIC
PUMP
WELLHEAD
◆ HIGH PRESSURE
POWER FLUID
INJECTION LINE
◆ COMBINED FLUID
RETURN LINE
◆ DISPLACE PISTON OR
JET PUMP TO
BOTTOMHOLE
ASSEMBLY
◆ PUMP OUT WHEN
REPAIR NEEDED

◆ View Hydraulic Pump Movie

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PROGRESSIVE
CAVITY
PUMP
◆ GENERATORS OR
POWER SYSTEM
◆ POWER DISTRIBUTION
HIGH LINES OR CABLE
◆ MOTOR DRIVER
◆ ROTATING SUCKER
ROD STRING
◆ DOWNHOLE PUMP IS
HELIX INSIDE CAVITY

PROGRESSIVE
CAVITY PUMP MOTOR DRIVE

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 ◆ View PC Pump movie

ARTIFICIAL LIFT ALTERNATIVES

Rod Lift Progressing Gas Lift Plunger Hydraulic Hydraulic Electric
Cavity Lift Piston Jet Submersible
Operating 100’ - 2,000’ - 5,000’ - 8,000’ - 7,500’ - 5,000’ - 1,000’-
Depth 16,000’ TVD 6,000’ TVD 15,000’ TVD 19,000’ TVD 17,000’ TVD 15,000’ TVD 15,000’ TVD
Operating 5 - 5000 5 - 4,500 200 - 30,000 50 - 4,000 300 - >15,000 200 - 30,000
Volume (Typical) 1 - 5 BPD
BPD BPD BPD BPD BPD BPD
Operating 100° - 100° - 120° - 100° - 100° - 100° -
Temperature 75°-250° F
550° F 400° F 500º F 500° F 500° F 400° F
Corrosion Good to Good to
Handling Fair Excellent Good Excellent Good
Excellent Excellent
Gas Fair to Poor to
Handling Good Excellent Excellent Fair Good
Good Fair
Solids Fair to Poor to Poor
Handling Excellent Good Poor Good
Good Fair to Fair
Fluid GLR Required -
>8° API <35° API >15° API 300 SCF/BBL/ >8° API >8° API >10° API
Gravity 1000’ Depth
Servicing Workover or Workover or Wireline or Wellhead Hydraulic or Hydraulic or Workover or
Pulling Rig Pulling Rig Workover Rig Catcher or Wireline Wireline Wireline Pulling Rig
Prime Mover Gas or Gas or Wells’ Natural Multicylinder Multicylinder Electric
Compressor
Electric Electric Energy or Electric or Electric Motor
Offshore
Limited Good Excellent N/A Good Excellent Excellent
Application
Overall System
45% - 60% 40% - 70% 10% - 30% N/A 45% - 55% 10% - 30% 35% - 60%
Efficiency

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 Artificial Lift Tech Set Software

Rodstar and Roddiag (Rod pump design)

GLIFT (Gas lift design)

SUBPUMP (ESP design)

PC-PUMP (PCP design)

NODAL, PROSPER, WEM (Wellbore flow modeling)

GOAL, GAP, PIPEPHASE (Gathering and gas lift system

modeling/optimization)

Artificial Lift References

• URC Artificial Lift (Gas Lift) Training Manual

• The Technology of Artificial Lift Methods, Volumes 2a and 2b by Kermit E.
Brown (available from PennWell Book, Tulsa Oklahoma)
• Modern Sucker-Rod Pumping by Gabor Takacs (available from PennWell Books)
• Rod Pump Optimization (available from Theta Enterprises Artificial lift Training)
• Progressing Cavity Pumping Systems: Design, Operation and Performance
Optimization (available from CFER Technologies, Edmonton, Alberta)
• Trico Hydraulic Pumping Systems Training Manual
• ExxonMobil Well Work system Manual (Production Operations Best Practices):
reference Appendix (: Artificial Lift Optimization [available on Intranet site:
Central Technology – Subsurface Eng.]
• EPR Artificial Lift Manuals (Volume 1 and 2)
• ExxonMobil Gas Lift Best Practices [available on Intranet – Central Technology
– Subsurface Eng.]
• SPE Paper No. 24834 – “Recommendations and Comparisons for selecting
Artificial Lift Methods” by Clegg, Bucanon, Heir
• Petex Artificial Lift Manual
• Artificial Lift Failure Analysis Manual (Exxon Houston Production Organization)
• Centrilift Submersible Pump Handbook

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Artificial Lift Contacts: (Sept. 2001)
Location Gas Lift Rod Pump ESP PCPs Plunger Lift Jet Pumps
Clint Allen Pat Underwood
US West Ignacio Gil Dave Medlin Dave Medlin Jesse Sendejo Clint Allen

US East Bruce Johnson

Russ Bacon
Imperial Conv. Eric Smith Russ Bacon
Cold Lake Ron Powder Al Cheyne Eric Smith Blair Temple

MOCAN Chris Sieben Matt McNaughton Matt McNaughton Greg Corbeil Stevan Malagajski
Pat Harris
Carlos Romero
Venezuala Daniel Mendez
Tim Hart
Australia Tom Martin

Malaysia Sies Hussain

Norway Edson Dos Santo

U.K. Jon Furniss Mirick Cox

Nigeria Patrick Akunna

Celine Gindrey
France Sylvie Fenerol
Mark Johnson
Cen. Eng. Mike Johnson Mark Johnson Mark Johnson Tomas Paez Mike Johnson Mike Johnson

Chad J. P. Castan Manual Jiminez

Review
GAS LIFT IS PREFERRED FOR
◆ OFFSHORE WELL WITH HIGH COST OF
WORKOVERS
◆ WELLS THAT PRODUCE SAND OR
OTHER SOLIDS
◆ HIGH
• PRODUCTION RATE
• RESERVOIR PRODUCTIVITY
• RESERVOIR PRESSURE
• GOR (GAS-OIL RATIO)

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 Review
PUMPING IS PREFERRED FOR
◆ ONSHORE WELL WITH LOW COST OF
WORKOVERS
◆ WELLS THAT PRODUCE CLEAN FLUIDS
◆ LOW GOR (GAS-OIL RATIO)
◆ SUBMERSIBLE PUMPS FOR
• HIGH PRODUCTION RATE, RESERVOIR
PRODUCTIVITY, AND RESERVOIR PRESSURE
◆ BEAM OR HYDRAULIC PUMPS FOR
• LOW PRODUCTION RATE, RESERVOIR
PRODUCTIVITY, AND RESERVOIR PRESSURE

SUMMARY
FLOW and LIFT PROCESSES
◆ GAS LIFT IS AN EXTENSION OF
NATURAL FLOW
◆ PUMPING USES ENERGY
DOWNHOLE TO RAISE FLUID
PRESSURE
◆ CHOICE BASED ON RATE AND
RESERVOIR CONDITIONS

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