Main Objective
Understand the theoretical foundations of the intermittent Gas Lift and the interrelation of all the stages and components of this system
Specific Objetives
- Understand the advantages and limitations of the IGL system, its application window for the proper selection of wells.
- Understand the components of the IGL system and their functions.
- Understand how reservoir conditions (inflow, % water, Oil gas ratio, PVT properties, viscosity, etc.) and the well trajectory-completion impose restrictions for the design and optimization of an IGL system.
- Understand the stages of an IGL cycle and their transient phenomenon that require different software and concepts from those used in continuous GL.
- Understand the difference between intermittent GL and conventional plunger
- Understand the accumulation process for the proper cycle time calculation
- Understand how the Productivity Index is calculated in an intermittent GL well considering that the bottom hole flowing pressure is not constant
- Understand the liquid slug displacement process and the corresponding gas requirements
- Understand the operational variables that affect the performance of the Intermittent GL.
- Learn the step-by-step design process (selection, configuration and equipment sizing) of an intermittent GL system
- Learn the difference between design and analysis-optimization of an intermittent GL well
- Learn the Monitoring variables and the basic diagnosis of an IGL well
Who shoul attend
- Petroleum Engineers
- Production Engineers
- Optimization Engineers
- Oilfield Operation Engineers or Technicians
CONTENT
- Evaluation at the beginning of the course.
- Comparison with other artificial lift methods:
- Intermittent Gas Lift
- Advantages and Limitations
- Generic application window
- Components of the IGL system
- Stages of an IGL cycle
- Application window adjusted to each well.
- Variants of IGL
- Plunger assisted IGL
- Accumulation Chambers
- Gas Chambers
- Conventional Plunger
- Understanding the complexity of intermittent GL
- How to determine the accumulation time from column buildup data
- Process and objective of an intermittent GL design
- The fallback concept in intermittent GL. Variables that affect fallback
- Liquid Colum accumulation equation for Darcy and Vogel inflow
- Calculation of the Productivity Index in an intermittent GL well
- The reason why the nodal analysis cannot be used in intermittent GL
- How the Productivity Index and the reservoir pressure affect the design and operation of the intermittent GL
- Typical magnitudes of reference in intermittent GL
- Understanding the difference between instantaneous flow and average flow per day
- Special considerations of very high instantaneous flow rates for a few seconds in IGL wells.
- Pilot Valves. Force balance equation
- Spacing of mandrels in intermittent GL. Variables that affect spacing.
- Understand the process of displacement of the cap and its gas requirements
- Gas balance inside the tubing
- Gas balance in the casing
- Pilot Valve Selection Criteria
- Surface controllers
- Optional in the gas line in GL intermittent wells
- Indispensable in the flow line in wells with Conventional Plunger
- Evaluation / analysis of intermittent GL systems
- Analysis of unproper practices used in IGL
- Intermittent GL well performance curve
- Basic diagnosis of intermittent GL systems
- Monitoring of intermittent GL systems
- Evaluation at the end of the course.
Added Value of the knowledge acquired and in the course
- Understand what an Intermittent GL system is, how it works and where it should be used
- Understand the implications of an IGL system due to a unproper design or an unproper operation
- Understand the information required and how an IGL design or optimization is done regardless of the software used for this purpose
- Learn / expand / correct essential concepts and phenomena for proper design and optimization of IGL systems
- Understand and deduce best practices for the design, analysis, optimization and monitoring of IGL systems.
Instructor:
Sergio Caicedo, Mr. Caicedo holds a BSc Physics & BSc Computer Engineer from Simón Bolívar University Venezuela, as well as a MSc in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, USA. With 26 years of experience as a specialist in artificial lift and well productivity and software development applied to oil production. He has worked as an instructor teaching courses in the area of oil production where he has trained 700+ engineers in the companies where he has worked. Mr. Caicedo has developed innovative projects working in multidisciplinary teams. He has developed calculation tools to assist field engineers in the Productivity of Wells with Cyclic Steam Injection including calculations of injection heat losses, heating radii, Hot Productivity Index and Artificial Lift cooling model. He has also worked on the calculations of the Effects of Resistive Heating in Well Bottom with BCP / BM. Mr. Caicedo has developed uncertainty methods for the production area, such as the calculation of volumes of Gels for Water Control. He has also studied the Feasibility of Ultrasound for Stimulation of Wells, and has published multiple articles on Production Optimization. Mr. Caicedo has worked as a specialist in artificial lifting in Venezuela, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.
Mr. Caicedo was awarded with the SPE Middle East Production and Operations Award 2015 for his technical contributions in artificial lifting for the production of hydrocarbons.