Determining an optimum gas injection rate for a gas-lift well
US5871048A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 26, 1997 |
| Grant date | Feb 16, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 26, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T137/2934
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method is provided for automatically determining an optimum gas injection rate for a gas-lifted oil well. The optimum gas-lift slope for the oil well is initially provided and stored in the memory of a programmable logic controller. A lift gas is injected into the well at an initial gas injection rate to displace a liquid at an initial liquid production rate from the well. The initial liquid production rate and initial gas injection rate are stored in the memory. Thereafter, the lift gas is injected into the well at a first incremental gas injection rate differing from the initial gas injection rate by a first incremental value. Additional liquid is displaced from the well at a first incremental liquid production rate and the first incremental liquid production rate and first incremental gas injection rate are stored in the memory. The first incremental slope is determined from the stored data points and compared to the optimum gas-lift slope. The procedure is repeated for a second incremental gas injection rate, wherein the second incremental value is selected as either positive or negative in response to the comparison of the first incremental slope and the optimum gas-lift slo…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.