Colin McKay Miller, Alan Miller, and Richard C. Haas
Vortex Tools
Vortex Tools addresses the challenges of managing/optimizing hydrocarbon liquids recovery from horizontal wells with long laterals, thereby increasing their economic value. A 2014 five-well case study with a regional independent found that deploying Vortex downhole DX-I tubing tools (in conjunction with gas lift and plunger) saw beneficial increases in oil & gas production, along with a significant increase in water removal, in horizontal and deviated wells. Injection gas rates were also reduced after Vortex was added, but saw increased gas to sales, as well as lower/smoother tubing and casing pressures. Vortex was deployed at the end of tubing, in the horizontal/lateral portion of the well (~80° of deviation). With Vortex tools installed, oil production increased significantly. In one reported case, the oil production increased from 80 barrels to over 400 barrels per day. A two-year lookback on these wells also showed a beneficial decline curve in all cases.