Analysis of crude oil production with gas lift methods

Abstract

Some wells in the Niger Delta area are in their late production life. Water production increases with and reservoir pressure decreases to the point that the natural energy cannot sustain the production of hydrocarbon to the surface. The severity of this impact has been observed in the Niger Delta oil fields over the past years that has caused the abandonment of wells with a significant volume of hydrocarbon unrecovered. To increase production and extend the life of these wells, a gas lift project is considered. This study aimed to analyze oil production between continuous and intermittent gas lift systems based on real data obtained from two oil wells in a Niger Delta oilfield and to choose the system best suited to increase the production of the wells. To achieve this aim, a simulation study on continuous and intermittent gas lift methods was conducted using GAP and PROSPER software. The results obtained indicated that a continuous gas lift system will be suitable for a well that has a high flow rate and high GOR (well 1). For Well 2, the results indicated that an intermittent gas lift system will be suitable for a well that has lower reservoir pressure and low productivity.