Gas Lift Design and Optimisation

Overview

Gas lift is the most widely used artificial lift method in the Gulf and offshore fields, because it handles high rates, sand and deviated wells well and has few moving parts downhole. But many gas lift wells run far from their optimum: injecting too much or too little gas, lifting from the wrong valve or suffering from instability that cuts production and wastes compression. This course covers gas lift from design to daily optimisation. Participants learn multiphase flow and inflow performance, how unloading valves and orifices work, and how to design a continuous gas lift installation step by step. The course then focuses on surveillance and troubleshooting: interpreting flowing gradient surveys and well tests, diagnosing multipointing and heading, allocating limited lift gas across a field, and using nodal analysis and model-based optimisation to increase oil production with the gas available.

Objectives

• Explain the principles of continuous and intermittent gas lift
• Apply inflow performance and multiphase flow to gas lift wells
• Describe the operation of unloading valves and orifices
• Design a continuous gas lift installation
• Interpret flowing gradient surveys and diagnose well problems
• Optimise lift gas allocation across a field
• Use nodal analysis to evaluate gas lift performance
• Plan surveillance and well intervention for gas lift wells

Who should attend

Training methodology

Participants carry out a complete gas lift design by hand, from inflow performance and gradient curves to valve spacing and setting pressures, then repeat it with nodal analysis software. Real flowing gradient surveys and casing pressure charts are interpreted in groups to diagnose problems. A field optimisation exercise asks teams to allocate limited lift gas among several wells to maximise oil. Valve hardware and wireline tools are shown with photographs and videos, and a written assessment closes the course.

Programme outline

Dates and fees

Certificate

Frequently asked questions