GAS LIFT

BY JOE MACH AND KERMIT E. BROWN

I. INTRODUCTION
I.I Definition
Gas Lift is a Method of Lifting fluid where relatively high pressure (250 psi minimum)
gas is used as the lifting medium through a mechanical process. This is accomplished
by one of the two following methods:
1. In continuous flow continuous a volume of high pressure gas is introduced into the
eductor tube to aerate or lighten the fluid colomn until reduction of the bottom hole
pressure will allow a sufficient differential across the sand face, causing the well to
produce the desired rate of flow. To accomplish this, a flow valve is used that will
permit the deepest possible one point injection of avaible gas lift pressure in
conjunction with a valve that will act as a changing or variable orifice to regulate
gas injected at the surface depending upon tubing pressure. This method is used in
wells with a high productivity index and a reasonably high bottom hole pressure
relative to well depth
Continuouis flow is if high PI with low bottom hole pressure.
Gas lift is a means of lifting liquids from a vertical or inclined well by the injection
of gas into the well.

II. Gas Lift Valve Characteristic
II.I Introduction
Before a successful gas lift system can be designed, the designer must select a
gas lift valve with proper characterictic. An installation cannot be designed properly
or operated efficiently unless the gas lift valve is throughly understood. This chapter
shows how various types of commonly used gas lift valves operate under both static
and dynamic conditions.
II.2 Gas Lift Valve Nomenclature
Common oil field terminology has been adopted in which casing pressure (Pc)
refers to gas pressure and tubing Pressure (Pt) refers to flowing or static liquid
pressure, regardless of the complition configuration. For the purpose of this
chapter, this terminology will apply. This distinction is made since in annular flow
wells the gas is injected down the tubing and liquid is produced up the casing
tubing annulus. The valve mechanics principles are identical in both cases; only
the nomenclature changes.
The gas lift industry has categorized gas lift valves depending on which
pressure, Pc or Pt the valve is most sensitive to. Generally, they are classified by
which pressure has the greater effect on the opening of the valve on the opening of
the valve. This sensitivy is determined by mechanical construction of the gas lift
valve. The pressure which is exposed of the larges area in the valve is the
dominant pressure for the valve.Following is a list of the valves discussed in this
chapter:
1. Casing Pressure Operated valve
2. Throttling Pressure Valve
This valve is also calles a proportional valve or continous flow valve. It is
the same as the pressure valve in the closed position. How ever, once in the
open position this valve is tubing sensitive. It requires a build up in casing
pressure to open and a reduction in tubing pressure or casing pressure to
close.
3. Fluid operated valve
4. Combination valve
II.3 Design Consideration (Pertimbangan Desain)
II.3.1 Continous Flow
A valve used for continous flow application should be sensitive to tubing
pressure when in the open position. The valve should respond proportionately
to increase and decrease of tubing preassure. As the tubing pressure decrease,
the valve should begin to throttle open which will increase gas throughput








GAS LIFT CONTINOUS INSTALLATION
I. Introduction
Many factor must be considered in the design of gas lift installation. One of
the first is to determine whether the well should be placed on intermittent or continous
flow. Many installations must be must be designed without knowing wheter the
installation will do better on intermittent or continous flow. Such borderline wells
present a very difficult design problem.Gas lift valves ara available that are suitable
for both continous and intermittent flow, although many valves can be used only for
one or the other.
The purpose of gas lift valves is (1) to unload the fluids from the well so gas
may be injected at the optimum point in the tubing string, and (2) to control the flow
of injected gas under both unloading and operating conditions. As for all other types
of artificial lift, gas lift creates the required flowing BHP so the well can produce the
desired rate.
The location of valves in the flow configuration is influenced by (a) available
gas pressure for unloading, (b) fluid weight or gradient of the fluids in the well at time
of unloading, (c) well inflow performance during time of unloading, (d) surface back
pressure at the well head against which the well fluida must be unloaded and
produced, (e) fluid level in the casing and wheather or not the well has been loaded
with kill fluid, and (f) the BHP and well producing characteristics.
In most cases this information is available. However in many instances the
wells inflow performance is unknown. In this case a logical assumption based on the
operators knowledge of the well is made to arrive at a design production rate in
B/D of liquid. The selection of such a production rate does not mean that the
installation will actually produce the assumed or design quantity of fluid. It merely
serves as a criterion to ensure that the valve installation will unload the well is feeding
in fluids at the design rate.
Gas lift installation are flexible enough to adjust themselves to produce
practically any rate. If a high design rate is used, it will probably mean that one or two
extra valves have been used: but the installation should still perform satisfactory for
lower production rates. A logical design rate ensures that the number of valves used
and their location in the tubing string is consistent with existing well conditions.

GAS LIFT CONTINOUS DESIGN\
1. Introduction
The top four valves are used as unloading valves to reach the fifth valve, which is the
operating valve. One additional valve belonw the point of injection is added for safety
and/or changing well conditions. Since one valves is below the operating valve, the
casing kill fluid level seeks a point of balance between casing pressure and pressure in
the tubing. Without this valves in the well, the liquid level in the casing would remain
at the depth of valve 5 (operating valve). The four unloading valves remain
inoperative until it is necessary to unload the well again for some reason, such as after
shut-in. If the reserve checks are functioning properly, the liquid level should not
change in the casing after reaching stabilized conditions.

2. Factor to consider in the design of continous flow gas lift installation
a. Requirements of continous flow valves
b. Separator pressure and wellhead flowing pressure
c. Location of the top valve
d. Injection gas pressure and volume