Measurement and Calculation of Key Events During the Plunger Lift Cycle

Abstract

Abstract As a normal gas well's production rate declines below a critical limit, produced liquids begin to collect in the tubing or flow passage, and the gas flow is further reduced or stopped by additional liquid pressure on the formation. Many authors describe the time when liquid begins to collect in the well as the gas flow has decreased below the critical flow rate, although perhaps more reliably, the production rate will begin to drop below the original decline curve. Popular lift methods for dealing with liquid loading caused by gas rates below critical are: compression, velocity strings, beam pumps and other pumps, surfactant injection, and plunger lift. Plunger lift is a popular method for dewatering gas wells due to the low initial installation cost and due to low operation cost by using the well's stored energy to dewater the well. Plunger lift is one of the primary artificial lift methods used to overcome liquid loading problems in gas wells. A few simple rules-of-thumb are frequently used in the initial configuration of the plunger lift installation. These rules-of-thumb have been translated into mathematical algorithms to allow the operator to estimate the rise velocity of the plunger, the liquid slug size per cycle and time period intervals for the plunger cycle. Algorithms are used in this paper to calculate timings for events during the plunger lift cycle, and the times are compared to key events determined from measurements acquired at the well. For example, the minimum shut-in time calculated from one algorithm is compared to the precise time measured for the plunger to fall from the surface to the bottom of the well. Using the measured tubing and casing pressures and plunger location during the cycle along with other well parameters, the operator can verify the plunger lift system is operating as desired. Both measured plunger lift performance data and calculations from the algorithms guide the operator to effectively analyze, adjust and optimize the plunger lift installation. Acquired data from various plunger lifted wells are used to validate the algorithms presented. Information presented in this paper will assist the operator of gas wells who is suffering from gas flow rates below critical and is using plunger lift to alleviate the corresponding liquid loading problem.