(19) GAS LIFT IN A BEAM WORLD: GETTING YOU WELLS, FACILITIES AND PERSONNEL IN ORDER
This paper will discuss well applicability for gas lift installations, including identifying the best candidates for lift conversion, reasons for converting including benefits in a capital constrained environment. We’ll discuss GOR, deviated wells, solids handling, typical production rates, while comparing to other popular lift types’ efficiency and range.
While particular wells may be good candidates based on the aforementioned criteria, surface considerations also play a pivotal role in gas lift installations. We’ll discuss infrastructure impact of electric vs gas powered compressors, as operators seek to minimize grid impact of artificial lift. Field-wide opportunity costs of gas & electric supply, fluid processing considerations at CTBs, and permitting will also be discussed. Finally, this paper will cover operating considerations and installed equipment to enable successful operations (metering, control, protection, all-weather reliability, automation/surveillance, safety).
Operating practices, maintenance, training, and personnel costs are discussed in this final section, as gas lift is only successful with qualified operations personnel. We’ll compare and contrast gas lift operations to other lift types, and will feature differences in surveillance & troubleshooting.