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Tubular flow through 2-inch tubing Tubular flow through 2 1/2-inch tubing Annular flow through 2 x 4 1/2- tubing-casing diameters Annular flow through 2 1/2 x 5 1/2-inch tubing-casing diameters
Figure 2
For each curve, a higher flow rate results in a higher bottomhole pressure, and the performance curves shift to the right with increases in the cross-sectional area available for flow. This means that for a given bottomhole pressure, there is a significant flow rate increase with increasing tubing diameter. The intersection of each tubing performance curve with the IPR curve specifies the maximum production rate for the given GLR and surface tubing pressure. (If the desired production rate is lower than this value, it is possible to use smaller production tubing with a performance curve that intersects the IPR curve at a higher bottomhole pressure.) In this example, the highest production rates would be attained through annular flow.
(2)
GLR2 = producing gas-liquid ratio above the point of gas injection, SCF/Bbl GLR1 = natural producing gas-liquid ratio (i.e., below the point of gas injection), SCF/Bbl qliquid = desired liquid production rate, B/D For example, assume that a well's IPR and pressure traverse relationships indicate that it can produce 850 B/D of fluid at a GLR of 1490 SCF/Bbl, and that the formation GLR is 452 SCF/Bbl. The required gas injection rate would be (qgas)inj = 0.001 x (1490 -452)850 = 882.3 MCF/D A preliminary step in any gas lift system design is to inventory current and anticipated future gas volumes. The injection gas will probably come from field production operations (usually from a high-pressure separator). Additional makeup gas may be available from local gathering systems or pipelines.
(3)
where (Pinj)valve is the injection pressure at the operating valve, (Pinj)surf is the minimum operating injection pressure at surface D is the valve depth We may obtain this gradient using the following equation, which is based on a mechanical energy balance and the real gas law (Economides et. al, 1994):
(4)
where
= gas gravity (air = 1) zavg = compressibility factor at average temperature and pressure Tavg = average temperature, R = F +460
Because the compressibility factor depends on pressure and temperature, we must use an iterative procedure to determine the unknown pressure. Where the casing pressure at the injection point is known, we may obtain (Pinj) surf by trial-and-error as follows: 1. 2. 3. Assume values for (Pinj) surf and zavg at an arithmetic average pressure. Use this value of zavg to calculate a new (Pinj) surf value from Equation 2. Repeat steps 1 and 2 until the values of (Pinj) surf and zavg remain consistent within an acceptable margin.
(This same procedure applies if (Pinj) valve is the unknown quantity and (Pinj) surf is known) Gilbert (1954) introduced a simple approximation for Equation 3, in which he assumed = 0.7, zavg = 0.9 and T = 600R, and then applied a a Taylor Series expansion:
(5)
An existing compressor, a high-pressure separator or gas from outside sources may provide sufficient pressure for gas injection. If not, then the system design will have to be based on the surface pressure that is available, or additional compression capabilities will have to be built into the system.
Depth: 5600 ft to midpoint of perforations (MPP) Average reservoir pressure = 1750 psi at MPP Target production rate = 600 B/D (32 API oil; 20% water cut) Formation (current) GLR = 180 SCF/Bbl Pwf required for target rate = 914 psi, based on IPR analysis Average reservoir temperature = 147 F Average surface temperature = 65 F Tubing size: 2 3/8 inch OD Required tubing head pressure: 100 psi Assume a pressure differential of 100 psi across the operating valve
DESIGN OBJECTIVE
We want to incorporate this well into an existing gas lift system. The injection line pressure is 800 psi, and the injection pressure available at the wellhead will be 750 psi. Our goal at this stage of the design is to determine (1) the depth of the operating valve and