Assessing Gas Lift Capability To Support Asset Design

Abstract

Summary Qatar Petroleum (QP) produces hydrocarbons from the onshore Dukhan field and two offshore oil fields (Bul Hanine and Maydan Mahzam). After producing through natural flow for an extended period, pressure depletion and water influx have led to the use of artificial lift. The lift method of choice in QP-operated oil fields is continuous-flow gas lift, for both technical and economic reasons. The time of transition from natural flow to artificial lift for an oil field presents significant challenges and also great opportunity. A number of aspects of the operation need to be updated to suit the new conditions imposed by artificial-lift requirements. Successful adaptation to the new requirements delivers great benefit. Similarly, failure to determine and adapt to the new requirements can lead to early abandonment of a field. The task of determining the requirements for the organization, people, systems, and hardware is facilitated by a structured multidisciplinary approach to achieve the best results. In order to evaluate the existing capabilities in the field of gas lift, a team of technical specialists conducts a series of interviews with selected staff. The goal of these interviews is first to establish the current perceived capability in gas lift across the stakeholder directorates. After establishing this current state perception, those interviewed are then asked to articulate their vision of where the organization should be in the future to achieve maximum recovery/benefit from the producing assets. This methodology has been applied successfully for other initiatives in the recent past. After reconciling the differences between perceived "As-Is" and actual state, and reconciling perceived "To-Be" with technically feasible targets, a "road map" is developed. The road map outlines the path to development of capability related to organization, people, systems, and hardware to deliver the vision for long-term gas lift production of the assets. The combined road-map elements define specific functionality that is incorporated into the design of the facilities. This integrated, multidisciplinary approach facilitates communication between organizational segments and supports the inclusion of critical components in the design and operational practices of the new infrastructure to support gas lift operations. Facilities designed with consideration for the long-term goals of the business will serve to reduce operating costs; reduce health, safety, and environmental (HSE) exposure; and improve ultimate recovery.