Paper: USING FORMERS TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF LIQUID LOADING GAS WELLS

Continuous increase in worldwide brown-field activity and overall depletion of current gas fields has renewed focus on maximizing gas production from existing wells. In most gas wells, water and/or condensate is produced along with gas. As gas wells mature, decreasing formation pressure and gas velocities gradually impair the well resulting in production declines due to the inability to lift these fluids. Current operational strategies use plunger lift, ESP, additional compressors, or intermittent production techniques to build reservoir pressure and produce fluids from these wells. An alternative method used to deliquify loaded wells is through the application of chemical additives commonly referred to as "foamers". This paper will present some case histories of successful usage of foamers: both water soluble and condensate foamers.