Gas Lift Operation & Troubleshooting Design, Optimization & Diagnostics

Duration: 5 Days
Target Audience: Production Engineers, Artificial Lift Specialists, Field Engineers, Well Intervention Engineers, Operations Supervisors
Delivery Mode: Classroom / Virtual with Design Exercises, Diagnostic Techniques, and Case Studies
Level: Intermediate to Advanced

Course Overview

This course covers the design, operation, optimization, and troubleshooting of gas lift systems used to enhance oil production. Participants will learn gas lift principles, system design, valve performance, operating practices, failure diagnostics, and practical approaches to resolve common problems.

Day-by-Day Outline

Day 1 – Fundamentals of Gas Lift Systems

- Principles of gas lift operation and artificial lift methods comparison
- Continuous and intermittent gas lift basics
- Components: gas lift mandrels, valves, orifices, and surface facilities
- Introduction to gas lift performance curves
- Exercise: Identify gas lift system components in well schematics

Day 2 – Gas Lift Design & Valve Performance

- Depth of injection and unloading process
- Gas lift valve mechanics and pressure rating
- Valve spacing and design calculations
- Gas lift system capacity considerations
- Workshop: Calculate valve spacing and design a gas lift string

Day 3 – System Optimization & Operating Practices

- Monitoring and controlling injection rates
- Optimizing gas lift performance for maximum production
- Troubleshooting instability and liquid fallback issues
- Production logging tools for gas lift diagnostics
- Exercise: Analyze performance data to optimize a gas lift well

Day 4 – Failure Diagnosis & Troubleshooting Techniques

- Identifying common gas lift problems: valve malfunction, gas interference, fluid loading
- Use of acoustic surveys, temperature logs, and pressure surveys
- Surface and downhole equipment inspection methods
- Corrective actions for typical gas lift failures
- Workshop: Develop troubleshooting procedures for problematic wells

Day 5 – Case Studies & Integrated Gas Lift Management

- Reviewing real-world gas lift success and failure case studies
- Integrating gas lift with reservoir management and field-wide optimization
- Economic considerations and selection of artificial lift systems
- Best practices for gas lift system design and maintenance
- Capstone Project: Create a comprehensive gas lift operation and troubleshooting plan for a multi-well field

Expected Learning Outcomes

Design and optimize gas lift systems for various well conditions
Calculate valve spacing and unloading sequences
Identify and diagnose common gas lift problems using field data
Develop practical troubleshooting and maintenance strategies
Integrate gas lift with overall production and reservoir management plans

Training Methods

- Classroom instruction and interactive discussions
- Case studies and exercises with real-world data
- Excel-based economic models and production forecasts
- Software demonstrations

Customization for Regional Needs

- Examples from regional onshore/offshore fields
- English delivery option available
- Integration with national regulatory frameworks

Trainer Profile

- Multidisciplinary instructors (reservoir, production, drilling)
- Regional NOC/IOC engineering advisors
- Guest speakers from petroleum economics and HSE backgrounds

Certification

Certificate of Completion and individual assessment report provided.