SPE Production & Operations
Volume 26, Number 4, November 2011, pp. 343-356

SPE-134483-PA

New Perspective on Gas-Well Liquid Loading and Unloading

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DOI  More information 10.2118/134483-PA http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/134483-PA

Citation

  • Veeken, C.A.M. and Belfroid, S.P.C. 2011. New Perspective on Gas-Well Liquid Loading and Unloading. SPE Prod & Oper  26 (4): 343-356. SPE-134483-PA. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/134483-PA.

Discipline Categories

  • 5.1.1 Tubing and Casing Design
  • 5.6 Multiphase Flow in Wells
  • 6.7.2 Recovery Factors
  • 5.5.1 Asphaltenes, Hydrates, Precipitates, Scale, Waxes (Inhibition and Remediation)
  • 5.2 Artificial Lift Systems
  • 5.1.2 Downhole Tools and Equipment

Keywords

  • liquid loading, liquid unloading, hydrophobic coating

Summary

This paper discusses the multiphase-flow mechanism responsible for gas-well liquid loading. It shows that the conventional idea of droplet-flow reversal (Turner et al. 1969) does not fully describe reality and that liquid-loading observations appear more compatible with film-flow reversal. This paper subsequently explores how film-flow reversal changed views on existing gas-well liquid-unloading techniques such as continuous foam injection, and it discusses new methods of gas-well deliquefication that specifically aim to delay film-flow reversal. The benefits of different types of tubing-wall modification have been evaluated through small-scale laboratory testing. Most promising, hydrophobic coating of tubing reduces the gas rate below which liquid loading occurs by approximately 50%. The benefits of hydrophobic coating are translated to representative field conditions.

© 2011. Society of Petroleum Engineers

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History

  • Original manuscript received: 26 October 2010
  • Meeting paper published: 20 September 2010
  • Revised manuscript received: 12 February 2011
  • Manuscript approved: 5 May 2011
  • Published online: 30 June 2011
  • Version of record: 22 November 2011