E.E. DeMoss, Merla Tool Corp.
The gas lift system of artificial lift is basically a four component system. The components are designed to fit individual well requirements, but more important is that the design of each component is compatible with the remaining components of the total system. Too often this is overlooked. With a good understanding of the four components, their dependence on each other, their variations as dictated by the well data, and their effect on the total system; the engineer is equipped to design a very efficient lift system. With this same understanding, the operator is equipped to get maximum production from the system with minimum operating expense. The purpose of this paper is to fully describe each component in the light of its effect on the other components, and to keep in mind the efficiency of the total lift system as seen by the designer and operator.