Mark Harmon, Mike Husband, and Gabino Tarango Jr., PPCO
A pipeline efficiency value of 90% is routinely used as a "rule of thumb" to estimate the production costs associated with gas-gathering systems. The 90% efficiency is appropriate for the development of new gas fields. However, conditions in mature or developing gas fields can dramatically reduce pipeline efficiency and gas-gathering system capacity. These conditions are often overlooked until a significant reduction in daily production has occurred. In order to understand the problem, field conditions that reduce the pipeline efficiency of a gas-gathering system are reviewed with respect to changes in gas production. A field study was performed to identify and correct conditions that reduce gas-gathering system efficiency. The impact of field conditions on line efficiency is examined through computer simulation. Finally, the field study is reviewed in order to show how an increase in line efficiency impacts production and reserves.