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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...

This paper proposes an approach to diagnose pump-off condition versus gas interference condition utilizing a patented overlay of real time plunger velocity on top of the real time downhole card via pump-off controller interface. Field results showing the impact of this methodology are presented.

METHODS, PROCEDURES, PROCESS Traditionally, the industry only looks at the surface and downhole card...

As operators draw down a well, massive quantities of gas are released into the wellbore which results in shut-downs and lost production. Using appropriate bottom hole assembly (BHA) best practices can help the operator pump through these gas slugs to maximize production and return on investment. Additionally, solid separation is an ongoing issue. Using a gas separator minimizes abrasion and...

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.

Methods...

In many industries, technology improvements in high end devices eventually improves performance in lower cost like devices. The same is true in that gas lift equipment development for deepwater gas lift applications can help improve gas lift equipment designs used in land based gas lift wells. Today’s standards and client specifications for deepwater gas lift equipment requires extraordinary...

Rod lift applications in deep unconventional wells have created a wide range of new challenges for all components of the RL system. In the case of the sucker rod, the increased compressive loads, especially in the deeper tapers, combined with the deviation of the wells result in very high contact forces between rod and tubing as well as effective stresses on the rods that range from very high to...

In gas slugging conditions, conventional gas separators struggle to process and deliver liquid to the pump due to extremely high concentrations of gas within the separator. A prototype slug mitigation system replaced a conventional, high flow, tandem gas separator system in a slugging well. The initial field trial results are discussed in this paper.

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...

Traditional simulation-based approach for Gas-Lift Optimization depends heavily on the quality of reservoir and fluid data. Excessive OPEX and man-hours are needed to maintain data integrity and to ensure the models are suitably calibrated. Even then, pseudo-steady-state models do not consider losses due to multi-pointing condition and slugging behavior; and for dynamic multiphase flow simulation...

Surface controlled gas lift has several obvious and predictable benefits, such as increased production due to deeper injection and continuous optimization. Installations over recent years have not only proven the validity of these benefits, but they have also offered some surprising and unanticipated advantages. 

Rather than focusing on the anticipated benefits of surface controlled gas lift...

Employing water injection is a widely utilized method to sustain continual oil recovery from reservoirs. This involves maintaining reservoir pressure, managing the oil rim, and facilitating the movement of oil from injection wells to production wells. Given that many water injection facilities still heavily depend on manual operation, automating the injection process emerges as a crucial strategy...

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...

Plunger lift, gas lift, (GAPL)(PAGL), and sucker rod pumping are a few common forms of artificial lift that are heavily reliant on valves to maintain a seal in the system to extract fluids efficiently from the wellbore. 

This paper will outline the increase in well production performance when using a horizontal check valve on wells with Gas Liquid Ratios (GLR’s) conducive to plunger lift systems...

Nodal analysis is an approach for modeling a system of components to determine the impact of changes to any component in that system. It is a tool typically employed to ensure production is maximized in individual producing wells. However, this tool can also be used to analyze pipeline systems to study the impact of changes in deliverability.

This case study reviews the process used and the...

Methane emissions measurement technologies are evolving rapidly and becoming increasingly efficient over the last few years. The purpose of this paper is to introduce recent technological advancements that have helped operators in the US with more in-depth methane leak insights, improving the performance of emissions mitigation programs, ensuring proper management of associated risks, and...

Jet lift is often seen as a short-term solution or last case lift by many users. In this paper we will give an example of how jet lift is used as a long-term form of lift and highlight the benefits of using a downhole jet pump in horizontal wells with high decline rates. Please note that the term jet lift is used to describe the whole lift system while jet pump is used to describe the downhole...

The purpose of this paper is to present a solution to the adverse impact of fallback sand and debris on ESPs (Electrical Submersible Pumps). When these solids accumulate on an ESP during operational shutdowns, it poses a significant risk of damage and subsequent failures upon restarting the system. The problem arises when the friction force that the motor is required to overcome exceeds the...

Using simple salt water, (NaCl or K2CO3), and electrolysis, produces a more cost effective, environmentally benign biocide, HOCl (hypochlorous acid), and/or an environmentally benign alkaline ( KOH) , production enhancing, super water wetting, well treatment solution. The production enhancement from using small 1000–3000-gallon alkaline (KOH) Catholyte treatments on two new wells in the S.E...

This paper presents a novel design of a gas lift check valve featuring an integrated pressure isolation mechanism, aimed at optimizing gas lift operations in oil wells. Operators utilizing High Pressure Gas Lift, or Single Point Gas Lift systems are often converting to conventional gas lift or other Artificial Lift methods once the production has declined. However, this conversion requires a...

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...

Solids in rod pumped wells are a significant cause of failures and higher operating costs. Most solids cause continuing abrasion problems that are commonly misdiagnosed in typical failure analysis programs. This paper investigates the sources and nature of these solids, the impact on failures and technologies to reduce the adverse impacts of solids on equipment. These technologies will include a...

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...

In less than 9 years, High Pressure/Single Point Gas Lift has grown from 0 to about 3000 applications in unconventional wells and its use continues to expand with trailer mounted units to unload frac hits and applications later in the well life.

This paper presents examples of these expanding applications including case histories on unloading frac hits and shows how/why this very simple "new"...

Sucker rod pumping commonly requires the tubing string to be secured to the casing downhole near the pump to prevent tubing movement. Tubing movement can undesirably reduce downhole pump efficiency and/or damage the tubing and casing. Downhole tubing anchors are used for this purpose, but they can bring about risks that can increase operating expense and limit production. For example, production...

Sucker rods are an essential component for rod pumping or rod lifting of oil and gas wells, but they have been limited by the use of metals and thermoset based non-metal composites (i.e., existing fiberglass sucker rods). Steel (metal) sucker rods have been limited by a low corrosion resistance, a low strength to weight ratio (i.e., too heavy), a low fatigue endurance limit and a relatively poor...