Liquid Loading

  • Reservoir pressure decline reduces the hydrocarbon production
    • Reduced gas velocity Vsg cause flow pattern change
Flow pattern illustration
Flow regime map

Liquid Loading

  • Insufficient gas velocity
    • Vsg<Vsgcritical (Turner)
Critical gas velocity (Turner)

How to Avoid?

  • Artificial lift methods
    • Pumps
      • GLR limitations (ESP, Rod pump)
    • Reduce hydrostatic pressure
      • Plunger lift, gas lift, foam lift

Artificial Lift Method

  • Fluid properties ‘Heavy oil conditions more suitable for some methods’
  • High-GLR and deviation ‘Gas lock and deviated completions may reduce feasibility’
  • Limited application
    • Chemical composition
    • Works for short period
Artificial lift method diagram

Plunger and gas lift are suitable for

  • Unconventional plays
    • Typically after six months
  • Production increase
  • Paraffin remediation
  • Low-cost solution
    • Cut lift expenditure
Plunger lift and gas lift blocks
Snapshot 5
Snapshot 6
Snapshot 7
Snapshot 8
● Low CapEX
  • Wireline installation
  • Cost $2–10k
● Min OpEx
  • No chemical injection or hot oil treatments
  • Reduced injection
● Shale Plays
  • Suitable for unconventional reservoirs, high GLR
  • Many candidate wells

Increase Production

  • Reduce $/Mcfe up to 15%

Cut Cost

  • Lower LOE
    • Gas lift
      • Reduce gas injection
      • Remove compressor ($/month)
    • Chemical injection ($/month)

Extend life of the well

  • Substantial cumulative production increase
  • Postpone plugging

Stabilize production

  • No venting
  • Limit workovers