SPE Projects, Facilities & Construction
Volume 5, Number 1, March 2010, pp. 38-45

SPE-124515-PA

Plunger-Lift Modeling Toward Efficient Liquid Unloading in Gas Wells

View full textPDF ( 486 KB )

DOI  More information 10.2118/124515-PA http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/124515-PA

Citation

  • Chava, G., Falcone, G., and Teodoriu, C. 2010. Plunger-Lift Modeling Toward Efficient Liquid Unloading in Gas Wells. SPE Proj, Fac & Const  5 (1): 38-45. SPE-124515-PA. doi: 10.2118/124515-PA.

Discipline Categories

  • 5.2.5 Plunger Lift
  • 5.6 Multiphase Flow in Wells
  • 3.6 Research and Development Programs
  • 5.1.2 Downhole Tools and Equipment

Keywords

  • plunger lift, liquid loading, artificial lift

Summary

This paper is a follow-up to Chava et al. (2008), which introduced a preliminary plunger-lift model built around the availability of smart-plunger (PCS 2005) data. The latter devices are equipped with internal gauges to record pressure and temperature with time, which can be downloaded whenever the plunger is at surface.

We present an updated model that accounts for pressure drop caused only by gravitation but satisfactorily reproduces the dynamics of a field installation in east Texas.

We also present a comparison of the predictions from the new model with the corresponding results from some earlier plunger-lift models available in the public domain.

© 2010. Society of Petroleum Engineers

View full textPDF ( 486 KB )

History

  • Original manuscript received: 22 July 2009
  • Meeting paper published: 5 October 2009
  • Manuscript approved: 9 October 2009
  • Published online: 18 March 2010
  • Version of record: 18 March 2010