Artificial Lift

During intermittent gas lift, a low-density fluid (gas) is used to lift a high-density fluid (oil) from the bottom of the well to the surface. As a result of the oil having a higher density than the gas, some amount of the oil falls back in the form of droplets or in a film along the wall of the tubing to join the next slug of oil. However, there is still no method to accurately estimate the fallback factor in the presence of several variables in the process.

With heightened technological advances in the area of late well life development and further production possibilities, there has been an increase in attention to plunger lift and the decision-making process that backs the selection of plungers in these plunger lift wells. It has been noted by companies, like ConocoPhillips, that ‘with more than 200 plunger lift systems in the San Juan basin, the plunger operator is the single most important factor in keeping a plunger lift system operating efficiently.

The goal of a sucker rod is to convey the motion from the downhole pumping unit to lift fluid to the surface. When sucker rod lift is to be used on a well, it is necessary to choose the type of sucker rod that is optimal for the downhole conditions of the given well. Each sucker rod is designed to work in a specific environment, such as a corrosive or non-corrosive environment, and the loads encountered. The purpose of this paper is to report the findings on how to choose the optimal sucker rod for an application, based on a literature review.

The discovery of shale formations laden with hydrocarbons marked a significant turning point in the energy industry, especially because these formations exhibited minimal to no permeability. This inherent characteristic posed a substantial challenge for traditional extraction methods, leading to the advent of what is known as the unconventional play.

We are excited about the opportunity to present an in-depth overview of Oura™ (Optimization using real-time automation), an intelligent downhole electric valve designed for artificial lift and enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Oura™ brings cutting-edge capabilities to the forefront of the industry. Oura is also proving invaluable in various EOR methods such as Water, Polymer, CO2 Floods, and Injections.

Key Features of Oura™:

Objectives/Scope: 
A new methodology for automatic iteration on viscous damping enhanced with state-of-the-art pump fillage, fluid load lines and valve openings and closing calculation is presented. Field results showing the impact of the methodology in diagnosing downhole conditions, improving inferred production, fluid level, pump intake and horsepower calculations are shown.

Artificial Lift systems are crucial in optimizing production for horizontal oil and gas wells. As these wells face rapid reservoir pressure decline, increased gas and solids production, high deviation in well geometry, and unstable flow regimes selecting an appropriate artificial lift method becomes paramount. By implementing the right artificial lift system, operators can counter these challenges, maintain consistent flow rates, and maximize hydrocarbon recovery, ensuring sustained and efficient production throughout the well’s operational life. 

The installation of tubing in a well makes it susceptible to wall loss from corrosion and wear. This degradation is influenced by environmental conditions, such as temperature, pressure, corrosiveness, and flow rates, along with operating factors like the type of artificial lift and well deviation. Periodic evaluation of tubing condition throughout the well's operational life, using non-destructive testing (NDT) methods, is a recognized best practice.

OBJECTIVES/SCOPE: 
Cleaning out a lateral is a powerful tool for restoring production in mature wells, but sometimes the hydraulics will not allow circulation with fresh water. An interesting technique for cleaning out such laterals has been field tested in the Delaware Basin, and it has potential application in many basins. As laterals age, a proper cleanout using this new method can restore production after a frac hit, prepare it for a refrac or for spotting acid across the lateral, run casing patches, clean out the top of a fish, and numerous other applications.

After deep analysis of gas separation methods and understanding the nature of fluid and gas flow, a new design is developed to generate better downhole conditions and enhance gas separation efficiency. A study of legacy downhole gas separators using a substantial database of horizontals wells across the Delaware and Midland basins demonstrated a decrease in gas separation efficiency with an increase in GLRs and fluid rates. The development of this new methodology breaks the curve, not following the typical relationship of gas rates and gas separation efficiency.