Gas Lifting: Design & Implementation

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

Course Overview

This course covers the principles, design, installation, and implementation of gas lift systems for oil production. Participants will learn gas lift fundamentals, valve selection and placement, system optimization, surface facility considerations, and troubleshooting to improve well performance and efficiency.

Day-by-Day Outline

Day 1 – Fundamentals of Gas Lift

- Principles of gas lift operation
- Types of gas lift: continuous and intermittent
- Reservoir and well conditions suitable for gas lift
- Components: gas lift valves, mandrels, injection lines
- Exercise: Identify gas lift system components and functions

Day 2 – Gas Lift Design Essentials

- Data gathering: fluid properties, reservoir pressure, well geometry
- Calculating injection gas requirements
- Determining depth of injection and valve spacing
- Unloading sequence planning
- Workshop: Perform a complete gas lift design for a vertical well

Day 3 – Valve Selection & Placement

- Types of gas lift valves: orifice, pilot, combination
- Valve mechanics, set pressure calculations, and response
- Selecting valve types for specific well conditions
- Valve placement in mandrels and spacing optimization
- Exercise: Calculate valve set pressures and placement for a given well

Day 4 – Surface Facilities & System Integration

- Gas supply systems: compressors, separators, injection lines
- Designing gas lift manifolds and surface control systems
- Monitoring and controlling injection rates
- Integrating gas lift with production monitoring systems
- Workshop: Develop a gas lift surface system layout

Day 5 – Implementation, Optimization & Troubleshooting

- Running and commissioning gas lift equipment
- Monitoring well performance and gas injection efficiency
- Common problems: gas channeling, liquid fallback, valve failure
- Optimization strategies for changing reservoir and well conditions
- Capstone Project: Develop a comprehensive gas lift implementation and optimization plan for a mature field

Expected Learning Outcomes

Design and implement gas lift systems for various well and reservoir conditions
Calculate gas injection requirements and valve spacing
Select appropriate gas lift valves and set pressures
Integrate gas lift systems with surface facilities and production operations
Troubleshoot and optimize gas lift performance to maximize production

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.