(30) Optimizing Well Performance by Minimizing the Effects of Gas Slugs in Horizontal Wells: Surge Valve

 Horizontal wells have a tendency to have surges of fluid and gas when producing. Especially in the case of gas, we tend to see gas production flowing in slugs, resulting in intermittent production of liquid and gas. This unpredictability of gas slugs and surges leads to free gas entering the pump more frequently and being harder to control than in a vertical well. This can lead to decreased production, efficiency, and pump fillage. To deal with the issues that surging in horizontal wells can lead too, Odessa Separator has developed the surge valve. The surge valve was designed to help capture the surge above a packer by not allowing the surge fluid to fall back into the horizontal section. Doing this allows for each stroke of the pump to pull more gas free liquid, therefore increasing the pump fillage and the production of the well. This paper presents a case study of a well with high gas production where the surge valve was run in conjunction with a packer type gas separator to help deal with the gas. After the installation of the Packer Type Gas Separator with the Surge Valve, the production and pump fillage both increased by nearly double while also decreasing the GLR.