1. 41st Gas-Lift Workshop Houston, Texas, USA June 3 - 7, 2019
Single Point High Pressure Gas Lift Replaces ESP in Permian Basin Pilot Test
Branden Pronk, Sr. Production Engineer, SM Energy
2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

2. Contents Introduction The Problem with ESPs Conventional GL vs. SPHPGL
Pilot Test Details
ESP Performance vs. SPHPGL
Conclusions
2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

3. Introduction Background
SPE , Single Point High Pressure Gas Lift Replaces ESP in Permian Basin Pilot Test
Adoption of new technology by the oil industry is often a challenge
Single Point Gas Lift is old news offshore
Injection pressure above the customary ~1,200 psi not common
2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

4. The Problem with ESPs Unconventional Well Characteristics
Sand and solids production
Wellbore Deviation
Increasing GOR
Poor electrical infrastructure
High initial production rates
Steep production declines
2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

5. The Problem with ESPs FIX THIS! 2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

6. Conventional GL vs. SPHPGL
To maximizing gas lift production:
Minimizing the forces working against you
Maximizing the forces working for you
2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

7. Conventional GL vs. SPHPGL
Flowline Pressure
Conventional Gas Lift
Low max injection pressure (~1,200 psi)
Tbg friction creates
Back pressure on reservoir
Unloading Valve at depth
For max compressor injection
Pressure
Hydraulic Head
Pressure on
Reservoir
BHP higher than
Max injection Pressure
PIP
2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

8. Conventional GL vs. SPHPGL
High Injection Pressure (4,000 psi max)
Single Point High Pressure Gas Lift (SPHPGL)
Flowline Pressure
Use compressor HP to
overcome tbg friction
Low annular friction pressure for
Reservoir pressure to overcome
BHP lower than
Max injection Pressure
Lift from bottom Day 1
PIP
2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

9. Conventional GL vs. SPHPGL
Flow Area Calculations
2.88X flow area!
2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

10. Pilot Test Details 8 wells in the same formation on adjoining pads
7 wells on ESP
1 Well on SPHPGL
Well Completion Information
5-1/2”, 20#, P-110 csg
8,150’ TVD
10,000 ft treated lateral length
Wells NOT FLOWING (normally pressured ~0.433 psi/ft)
2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

11. Pilot Test Details Downhole Wellbore Diagram With Equipment Detail
5-1/2” 20# casing
2-3/8” 4.6# L80 Tubing
Perforated 65 deg incl
NO PACKER
2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

12. Pilot Test Details Wellhead Configuration
Gas injection down tubing, production up casing
Tubing Head upgraded to accommodate 3-1/16” casing valves from the usual 1-13/16” to increase flow area and reduce pressure loss.
Flow cross with ability to easily swap between annular and tubing flow
Wellhead safety valve relocated downstream of the first casing outlet valve
2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

13. Pilot Test Details: Wellhead
2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

14. Pilot Test Details: Wellhead
Annular Flow
2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

15. Pilot Test Details: Wellhead
Tubing Flow
2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

16. Pilot Test Details: Process Flow Diagram
Facility Pad
Well Pad 8 2 6 1 7 5 4 3
2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

17. Pilot Test Details Booster Compressors 2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

18. ESP Performance vs. SPHPGL: Pilot
2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

19. ESP Performance vs. SPHPGL: Pilot
2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

20. ESP Performance vs. SPHPGL: Pilot
2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

21. ESP Performance vs. SPHPGL: Pilot
2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

22. ESP Performance vs. SPHPGL: Pilot
2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

23. ESP Performance vs. SPHPGL: Pilot
2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

24. ESP Performance vs. SPHPGL: Pilot
2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

25. ESP Performance vs. SPHPGL: Pilot
2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

26. ESP Performance vs. SPHPGL: Pilot
2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

27. ESP Performance vs. SPHPGL: Pilot
2-7/8” Conventional Gas Lift
1MMSCFD Injection
@ 100 psi flowline
2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

28. ESP Performance vs. SPHPGL: Pilot
Pilot Test Learning
FLOWLINE PRESSURE MATTERS!
Improvements
Modeled flowlines in PIPESIM
Target 250 psi or less flowline pressure on IP
Any flowlines over 1,500’ long built with twined 4” flowlines.
2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

29. ESP Performance vs. SPHPGL: Improvement
5,600 BFPD
2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

30. ESP Performance vs. SPHPGL: Improvement
6,100 BFPD
2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

31. ESP Performance vs. SPHPGL: Improvement
6,500 BFPD
2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

32. ESP Performance vs. SPHPGL: Improvement
7,200 BFPD
2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

33. ESP Performance vs. SPHPGL: Improvement
8,050 BFPD
2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

34. ESP Performance vs. SPHPGL
Next Steps
Install 2-7/8”
Annular flow from ~5,000+ BFPD down to ~1,000 BFP
At ~1,000 BFPD, reverse flow to produce up tubing
Below 500 BFPD, drop plunger and GAPL/PAGL
GAPL/PAGL down to abandonment (below 50 BFPD)
No well interventions or workovers needed
2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

35. Conclusions Conclusions SPHPGL can match or exceed ESP production.
SPHPGL performance is impacted by flowline pressure more than are ESPs. Flowline pressure needs to be minimized for maximum SPHPGL performance.
SPHPGL setup can take production from 5,000+ BFP down to under 50 BFPD with no workovers.
2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

36. Conclusions
QUESTIONS?
2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

37. Copyright
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2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019

38. Disclaimer
The following disclaimer shall be included as the last page of a Technical Presentation or Continuing Education Course. A similar disclaimer is included on the front page of the Gas-Lift Workshop Web Site.
The Artificial Lift Research and Development Council and its officers and trustees, and the Gas-Lift Workshop Steering Committee members, and their supporting organizations and companies (here-in-after referred to as the Sponsoring Organizations), and the author(s) of this Technical Presentation or Continuing Education Training Course and their company(ies), provide this presentation and/or training material at the Gas-Lift Workshop "as is" without any warranty of any kind, express or implied, as to the accuracy of the information or the products or services referred to by any presenter (in so far as such warranties may be excluded under any relevant law) and these members and their companies will not be liable for unlawful actions and any losses or damage that may result from use of any presentation as a consequence of any inaccuracies in, or any omission from, the information which therein may be contained.
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2019 Gas-Lift Workshop
June 3 - 7, 2019