Systems and methods for optimization of wellbore operations of producing wells

A method of performing a gas lift operation to increase production of production fluid through a production tubing in a wellbore from a subterranean formation, the method comprising:

• flowing production fluid, including reservoir fluid from a reservoir in the subterranean formation, through the production tubing;
• detecting bubbles in the production fluid per unit volume of production fluid using an optical bubble sensor;
• automatically, using a controller comprising a processor, converting the detected bubbles per unit volume into a gas/liquid saturation index (GLSI) using a transformation function;
• automatically, using the controller, executing, at designated intervals, a decision function based on the GLSI to either pump or not pump gas into the wellbore;
• automatically, using the controller, controlling a pump and a valve to pump gas into an annulus in the wellbore outside the production tubing when indicated by the decision function;
• and
• combining the pumped gas in the annulus with reservoir fluid downhole in the production tubing to decrease a density of the production fluid and increase the flow of reservoir fluid from the subterranean formation through the production tubing.

A computer-readable medium storing instructions which when processed by at least one processor perform a method of performing a gas lift operation using gas to increase production of production fluid through a production tubing in a wellbore from a subterranean formation, comprising:

• determining bubbles in the production fluid per unit volume of production fluid based on detection data from an optical bubble sensor;
• automatically converting the bubbles per unit volume into a gas/liquid saturation index (GLSI) using a transformation function;
• automatically executing, at designated intervals, a decision function based on the GLSI to either pump or not pump gas into the wellbore;
• and
• automatically controlling a pump and a valve to pump gas into an annulus in the wellbore outside the production tubing when indicated by the decision function.