Paper: Utilizing New Casing Plunger Design In Completions Equipped With 4.50 OD Casing And With Multiple Perforations

Carnegie Production Company operates wells in the Appalachian Basin throughout the states of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. A typical well is completed with 4.5" OD casing in multiple zones with multiple sets of perforations between 3000" to 6000". Liquid loading is a common problem in these wells due to insufficient flow rates to remove liquids. Liquid loading decreases production and occasionally will completely shut-off production. Frequent swabbing, rod pumps, siphon strings, tubing plungers are some methods used to remove these fluids. One cost effective method gaining increased use is a modified 4.5" nominal OD casing plunger utilizing a pressurized dome. This modified casing plunger eliminates the need for tubing, siphon strings, rods and downhole pumps. The modified casing plunger can remove liquids from a completion, be a solution to the liquid-loading dilemma, increase production, and extend the life of wells with very little investment. The modified casing plungers are designed primarily for wells that cannot operate, nor support the cost, of traditional pumping systems or frequent swabbing. The casing plungers are becoming an economic alternative to swabbing these lower volume, low pressure wells, particularly if these wells produce 1 to 10 barrels of liquid per day. A description of the modified casing plunger, a liquid unloading sequence, and field results from Carnegie are summarized in this paper.