Hybrid gas lift system
AssigneeSilverwell Technology Limited
InventorJoel David Shaw
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Liquid is unloaded from a well with a hybrid gas lift system that includes a lift gas source and valves for injecting lift gas into production tubing. The types of valves include pressure production operated (“PPO”) valves and a surface operated valve. Pressure inside the production tubing is measured to monitor operation of the PPO valves, and identify if the PPO valves are experiencing and anomaly, such as multi-pointing or chattering. The surface operated valve is selectively actuated to correct anomalous operation of the PPO valves.
Claims19
A method of lifting liquid from a well comprising:
- injecting lift gas into production tubing through production pressure operated (“PPO”) valves that are in selective communication with a string of production tubing in the well;
- monitoring conditions in the production tubing;
- identifying a condition in the production tubing indicating one or more of the PPO valves is experiencing an anomaly;
- and
- correcting the anomaly by altering a characteristic of fluid in the production tubing by directing a signal from surface to a surface controlled valve to adjust the amount of lift gas being injected into the production tubing.
A method of well operations comprising:
- providing lift gas into a well comprising production tubing, production pressure operated (“PPO”) valves on the production tubing, casing that lines the well, and an annulus defined between the producing tubing and the well, the PPO valves are selectively changed between an open configuration to define a path for a portion of the flow of the lift gas to enter into the production tubing from the annulus, and a closed configuration to block the flow of the lift gas to enter into the production tubing from the annulus;
- directing the lift gas into the annulus;
- maintaining a flow of the lift gas at a substantially constant rate into the annulus;
- determining an anomalous operation of the PPO valves by monitoring conditions in the well;
- and
- correcting the anomalous operation of the PPO valves by adding lift gas into the production tubing through a valve that is controlled from surface.
A system for use in well operations comprising:
- a source of lift gas having a line in communication with an annulus in the well that is defined between production tubing and casing that lines the well;
- production pressure operated (“PPO”) valves provided at different depths along the production tubing that are selectively changed between an open configuration that forms a path through a sidewall of the production tubing and provides communication between the annulus and inside of the production tubing, and a closed configuration that forms a barrier in the path;
- a surface actuated valve that is changeable between an open configuration that forms a path through a sidewall of the production tubing and provides communication between the annulus and inside of the production tubing, and a closed configuration that forms a barrier in the path;
- and
- a controller that identifies an anomalous operation of the PPO valves, and corrects the anomalous operation of the PPO valves by selectively configuring the surface actuated valve into the open configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.