Gas Lift Modeling: A Viable Option for Oil Production Optimization

Abstract

Gas lift optimization is very challenging even in the mist of availability of gas assets as this involves modeling reservoirs accurately. Non availability of good software hinders best results such as obtaining critical gas lift design parameters like appropriate absolute open flow (AOF), skin factor, formation productivity index and the skin factor or even the reservoir pressure. The aim of this work is to design a model to gas lift an oil well in the Niger Delta for improved oil optimization. In other to achieve this aim the following objectives are considered; determine the maximum production rate achievable using gas lift, determine the optimum lift gas injection rate and depth and design the operating and unloading valves. Integrated Production Management (IPM) software was used with data from an oil well in the Niger Delta. Results show that the AOF gave 18026.3STB/day, formation PI gave 10.56STB/day/psi while the skin factor gave a positive value of 2. Pipe correlation used is Beggs and Brill. The maximum and minimum gases available are both 15mmscf/day. Water cut is 80%. The use of gas lift is very appropriate when the gas cap is a major source of reservoir energy