Gas-Lift Design and Performance Analysis in the North West Hutton Field

Abstract

Experience at the North West Hutton field has emphasized the importance of properly understanding gas-lift valve behavior. In conjunction with regular downhole pressure and temperature surveys, this has helped maximize production from gas-lifted wells. This paper emphasizes the importance of the downhole temperature survey and of simultaneous well testing with downhole survey work. The paper shows how this kind of performance analysis can reveal such classic problems as leaking valves and such fundamental problems as mandrel spacing that does not match well performance. These analysis techniques also can predict the consequences of increasing available surface injection pressure and have led naturally to the development of more flexible design procedures that optimize production from wells whose performance may be either unpredictable or unlikely to permit a deep point of injection. Field application of these design procedures also is discussed.