Gas Lift

Production Technology
Lecture 12b: Gas Lift - Section 5
Mandrel Spacing Design
Recommended R d dT Text: t A Artificial tifi i l Lift Methods, M th d Kermit E. Brown, Volume 2a PennWell Publishing Co, Tulsa, OK, 1980
Akim Kabir Senior Lecturer Department of Petroleum Engineering Curtin University of Technology

Aug 2008
Section 5 - Mandrel Spacing Design

Slide 1

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Mandrel Spacing p g in Continuous Flow Wells

Purpose of Spacing
Reach R h th the operating ti gas lift valve l (GLV), (GLV) normally ll an orifice ifi valve l (GLOV) Maintain single point injection at that point Design to be flexible to accommodate future change in well parameters

Purpose of GLV Design

For a continuous flow design, the basic objectives are: - To inject gas as deep as possible - To conserve as much casing operating pressure as possible - To T ensure the th well ll can be b unloaded l d d successfully f ll + Ensure all upper valves closure after the final point of injection is established - To T be b able bl to t open a valve l with ith kick-off ki k ff pressure regardless dl of f th the tubing t bi fluid level in the tubing

Section 5 - Mandrel Spacing Design

Slide 2

Gas Lift

Design g Mandrel Spacing p g Universal Method

(Pwh + 0.2 Pso)
0 0 500

PRESSURE (PSI)

1000

On the graph paper

Draw the injection j operating p g pressure p gradient (from Pso)

500

Determine flowing tubing head pressure and plot it on the graph paper Determine point of gas injection (assume operating differential Pdiff = 100 psi) and calculate / trace operating flowing pressure traverse Calculate surface pressure for design tbg. line Pwh + 0.2 Pso or Pwh+ 200 (whichever is greater)
100 psi

DEPTH H (FT TVD)

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

T P Top Packer k
Mid Perforation

To determine the design tubing pressure, draw the line starting from the calculated surface pressure to intersect the expected flowing gradient line at the p point of gas g injection j

3500

Section 5 - Mandrel Spacing Design

Slide 3

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Design Depth for First Mandrel (Universal)

0 0 500

PRESSURE (PSI)

1000

On the g graph paper

50 psig

500

DEPTH H (FT TVD)

1000

Starting from FTHP draw the static gradient line for the completion fluid (unloading gradient) to intersect Pko line Place the first mandrel at the point where the differential pressure between the kick-off and a du unloading oad g g gradient ad e t is s 50 psig

1500

2000

2500

3000

T P Top Packer k
Mid Perforation

3500

Section 5 - Mandrel Spacing Design

Slide 4

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Setting g Depth p for Second & Deeper p Mandrels ( (Universal) )

0 0 500

PRESSURE (PSI)

1000

On the graph paper U Using i th the static t ti gradient di t li line of f the completion fluid, draw a parallel line from the intersection point of the 1st mandrel depth and the tubing design line to intersect the available casing pressure line i i.e. e injection operating pressure line.

500

DEPT TH (FT TVD)

1000

1500

2000

2500

Inj Point

Place the second mandrel at that point i t Repeat the above steps until reaching the point of injection or below

3000

Top Packer
Mid Perforation

3500

Section 5 - Mandrel Spacing Design

Slide 5

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Pdiff and Mandrel Spacing Around Inj. Depth

PRESSURE (PSI)
0 1000

Pdiff = Operating Differential It is the difference between operating ti gas inj. i j press. at t depth d th (Pc) and established flowing tubing pressure at depth (Pt) GLVs in the vicinity of the point of injection should be close enough to ensure a maximum allowable differential of 100 psi

500

DEPT TH (FT TVD)

1000

1500

2000

Pdiff (Inj Point)

100 psi

Valve spacing has to be at certain interval (minimum) to assure a maximum Pdiff Pdiff = GfDv Gf= Flowing grad. below inj point Dv = distance between valves Example, Pdiff = 100 psi Gf = 0.4 psi/ft => Dv = 100/0.4 100/0 4 = 250 ft

2500

3000

Top Packer
Mid Perforation

3500

Section 5 - Mandrel Spacing Design

Slide 6

Gas Lift

Pdiff and Mandrel Spacing p g Around Inj. j Depth p

PRESSURE (PSI)
0 1000

500

DEPTH H (FT TVD)

1000

For larger g spacing p g max Pdiff is higher; therefore, everything else remaining the same, have to inject j at shallower depth p i.e. lower lifting efficiency / lower Qliq If only valves 1 and 3 were present, max. operating differential could be as high as 200 psi, before transfer to the next lower valve occurs On the other hand, too close spacing will cause multi point injection, since upper valve will not see sufficient pressure reduction to close

1500

2000

Pdiff (Inj Point)

200 psi Valve #1 Valve #2 Valve #3 250 250

2500

100 psi

3000

T Packer Top P k
Mid Perforation

3500

Section 5 - Mandrel Spacing Design

Slide 7

Gas Lift

Design g the Deepest p Mandrel ( (Universal) )

0 0 500

PRESSURE (PSI)

1000

On the Graph Paper Bracket the valve spacing to permit a valve to be located at the point of gas injection and with at least one valve below this point. i t S Several l more valves l may be placed below this (above packer) depending on expected f t re well future ell parameters If the last few valves are too close, space them at an interval somewhat less than max valve spacing derived from design Pdiff (but > ~100)

500

DEPT TH (FT TVD)

1000

1500

2000

2500

Inj Point

3000

Top Packer
Mid Perforation

3500

Section 5 - Mandrel Spacing Design

Slide 8

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Example of Mandrel Design for PPO Valves

0 0 500

PRESSURE (PSI)

1000

500

DEPTH (FT TVD)

1000

1500

2000

2500
100 psig

3000

Top p Packer
Mid Perforation

3500

Section 5 - Mandrel Spacing Design

Slide 9

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Example p of Mandrel Design g for IPO Valves

0 0 PRESSURE (PSI) 500 1000

On the graph paper Methodology remains the same except the followings:
To determine the next deeper mandrel f from th 1st mandrel the d l downward, d d the th starting point is the intersection point of the expected flowing gradient and the mandrel line Casing pressure will have to be lowered approximately 20 psig for each valve to assure closure of upper valves once the lower valve is passing gas
100

500

1000

DEPTH (FT T TVD)

1500

PPO IPO

2000

2500

3000

3500

Top Packer Mid Perforation

Section 5 - Mandrel Spacing Design

Slide 10

3 0 0 2 , 3 1 y a M : = a i s p 0 5 4 , 1 == b t d s a / / f i b c s t %s p s 0 013 05 0 9 7 4 , 1 6 1 1 K B 1 K B e g n a h C o N V L G 3 6 4 1 O P I V L G

g a P k 4 0 9 , 9

d / 3 m k 3 4 = d / f c s M M 5 . 1 i s p / d / B T S 0 1 0 2 0 2 1 K B w e n y m m u D O P I V L G

y a d / g L a K P mk 55 0 6 2 4 , 6

r e e n i g n E e e n g c n a a h l C i e e v r v u l rS a e V e r t n n f i i S g l s n 9 a E M G sP r e o , c f r i i e v b m l r a i e a F K r s . g l l H o e e r . W W A P :::: T C E M J B OCU OF R CS T

A i g g n i T : N O I T A C O L

T : . O N L L E W

# M L G

8 2 A G

H 5 B TK . PR 6 5 Et 2 Df 2

tn k i P Me1 Lz GS HB TK 8 . PR 7 E8 Dm6

1 1 1 1 1 . 4 4 6 1 0 . 4 9 3 5 2 . 9 4 2 2 2 . 9 7 3 7 4 . 7 5 4 2 3 . 2 6 0 8 3 . 6 5 6 2 9 . 4 1 7 8

d e t c e t e d g n i k a e l s e v l v y m m u D 1 2 3 4 5 * e t o N

Section 5 - Mandrel Spacing Design

N O I T A L L A T S N I S E V L A V T F I L S A G M R O F T S E U Q E R
Oga Ri / Tsn Pp e S z U S V TL tAG r T S P Tl N e Ed Ro RM U C

E T A D

e r u s s e r dp e f t f o c e k p c x i E K n g i s e d I P

e t a r t f i l s a G n g i s e D g ei n t t a a r r qp e t i l u o c n R r g e i O Pa t s C G e WF D P a a 5 9 / / n 6 n 1

g i s p 0 d 7 P F1 1 0 S 6 C E @ P O g SR 0 i 7 s 3 STp EP 1 V L A e V S z V L 6 WG t1 E r NlP 1 De Ed K So B OM P O R O P P eI Vp L Gy T V L G 3 2 1 1 0 4 3 1 0 0 8 0 6 4 1 3 2 1 1 n e k o r b h c t a l

Gas Lift

- - 0 0 2 2 1 K 1 K - - B B

y em Vp L m y GT u D

* y m m u D

* y m m u D

O P I V L G

O P I V L G

Slide 11

# M L G

HB5 T K . P 6 R 5 E 2 t D f 2

0 . 4 9 3 5

2 . 9 7 3 7

3 . 2 6 0 8

9 . 4 1 7 8 1 2 3 4 5

Section 5 - Mandrel Spacing Design

g n i e s k o r 3 b dp0 3 2 2 7 P F 1 1 1 h 1 1 1 c 0 t a l S 6 C @ E P O g S 0 0 0 R i 0 4 7 6 s 0 T 3 3 4 p SP 8 1 1 1 E V L A e V Vz S 6 0 6 0 WL r t1 1 2 2 EG P N l 1 1 1 1 e Dd K K K K E o B B B B S M O P e g O w n R a e O O O P h VeP P n P C I I I p L o y y G T N m V V V L L L m V G G G u L D G

Slide 12

Gas Lift

Gas Lift

Information Required q for Design g

As much of the following information as possible should be obtained: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7 7. 8. 9. 10. 0 11. 12. 13. 14 14. 15. 16. Tubing and casing Mid-perf. Depth Oil API Formation gas-oil ratio (GOR) Injection gas and formation gas specific gravity Expected daily gross production W t Water-cut t Water specific gravity Flowing well tubing head pressure Available a ab e cas casing g head ead p pressure essu e Available lift gas injection rate Productivity index or IPR Curve Reservoir Pressure B tt h l temperature Bottomhole t t Flowing tubing head temperature Type of reservoir with expected depletion performance

Section 5 - Mandrel Spacing Design

Slide 13

Gas Lift

Class Exercise #3 Mandrel Spacing Design

Given the following well data:
Tubing Size (ID) = Casing Size (ID) = FTHP = FTHT = Gross Production = Water-cut = GOR = Oil API = Formation/Lift Gas S.G = Avail. Csg Head (Kickoff) = Assume Pso = Top p packer p depth p = Reservoir Press. = Temp. = Depth = Productivity Index Completion fluid gradient= Geothermal gradient = Gas Compr. Factor Zavg = 3 in. 8.681 in. 100 psig 120 F 4000 b/d 0 % 200 scf/bbl 35 0.65 1300 psig 1200 psig 6500 TVD ( (ft) ) 2900 psig 160 F 8000 TVD (ft) = 5 b/d/psi (assume st. line IPR) 0.5 psi/ft 1.4 F/100ft 0.88 @ Avg Temp

Find the following:

1) 2) 3) 4) Location of the op. valve Location of other valves Gas volume needed Valve port size

Section 5 - Mandrel Spacing Design

Slide 14