Continuous-flow gas-lift installation design utilizing production-pressure-operated valve performance

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:372307

Winkler, H W ^[1]

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1. Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock, TX (United States)

The variable-gradient design-line method is a widely accepted procedure for spacing gas-lift valves (GLVs) in a continuous-flow gas-lift (GL) installation. Injection-pressure-operated (IPO) and production-pressure-operated (PPO) GLVs can be used in a variable gradient designed installation. The primary purpose of GLVs is to unload a well to the desired depth of gas injection. If the installation design is based on a constant surface injection-gas pressure (p{sub io}), the GLVs must be opened by an increase in the flowing-production pressure at valve depth (p{sub pfD}) rather than an increase in injection-gas pressure at valve depth (p{sub ioD}). PPO, also called fluid-operated, valves are opened and closed by changes in p{sub pfD}. This paper outlines in detail the calculations for a variable-gradient continuous-flow installation design procedure based on a constant p{sub io} for spacing the unloading PPO valves. The valve spacing and port size selection includes performance characteristics of PPO GLVs. A simplified method for calculating the injection daily volumetric gas rate (q{sub gsc}) throughput of an unbalanced bellows type of PPO valve on the basis of a change in p{sub pfD} and the valve bellows-assembly load rate (B{sub lr}) is given in the Appendix.

• OSTI ID: 372307
• Report Number(s): CONF-950433--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
03 NATURAL GAS
DESIGN
GAS LIFTS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OIL WELLS
POSITIONING
VALVES