Design equation for oil well gas-lift pumps
Accepted 2-phase flow theory is used to develop a design equation which predicts the height to which an oil well with gas injection, operating in the slug flow regime, can lift a given volumetric flow rate of oil, given the gas injection rate and pressure in the well. The widely used drift-flux model for the prediction of gas void fraction is combined with a relationship to predict pressure loss, and substituted into the total pressure differential. The resulting differential equation is integrated to generate a relationship for the calculation of lift. The new model provides for more rapid, accurate design and optimization of gas-lifts in oil wells, and offers significant advantages over current design techniques, which rely on empirical formulas, graphic correlations, or incremental analysis. 16 references.
- OSTI ID:
- 6167276
- Journal Information:
- Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States), Vol. SPE-12820
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
OIL WELLS
WELL RECOVERY EQUIPMENT
DESIGN
OPTIMIZATION
ANALYTICAL SOLUTION
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
FLOW MODELS
FLOW RATE
PETROLEUM
TWO-PHASE FLOW
WELL PRESSURE
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUATIONS
EQUIPMENT
FIELD PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT
FLUID FLOW
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
RESERVOIR PRESSURE
WELLS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production