Title: Activation of a non-eruptive well by using gas lift method and step-up of its productivity: sensitivity and economical analysis

Authors: Josephine Fleur Matateyou; Lionel Tapsia Karga; Madeleine Nitcheu; Ornella Gwladys Djouwa Kom; Luc Leroy Mambou Ngueyep; Sifeu Takougang Kingni

Addresses: Laboratory of Ore and Mineral Processing, Institute for Geology and Mining Research, P.O. Box 4110, Yaounde, Cameroon; Department of Petroleum and Gas Engineering, School of Geology and Mining Engineering, University of Ngaoundere, P.O. Box 115, Meiganga, Cameroon ' Department of Mechanical, Petroleum and Gas Engineering, National Advanced School of Mines and Petroleum Industries, University of Maroua, P.O. Box 46 Maroua, Cameroon ' Department of Basic Scientific Teaching, School of Geology and Mining Engineering, University of Ngaoundere, P.O. Box 115 Meiganga, Cameroon ' Department of Petroleum and Gas Engineering, School of Geology and Mining Engineering, University of Ngaoundere, P.O. Box 115, Meiganga, Cameroon ' Department of Mining Engineering, School of Geology and Mining Engineering, University of Ngaoundere, P.O. Box 115 Meiganga, Cameroon ' Department of Mechanical, Petroleum and Gas Engineering, National Advanced School of Mines and Petroleum Industries, University of Maroua, P.O. Box 46 Maroua, Cameroon

Abstract: This paper aims to design a gas lift that not only activates a non-eruptive well but also and above all, optimises the recovery of hydrocarbons at the surface while using a very less and limited gas quantity per day. The data are reservoir data, fluid data, well architecture properties, and also injection targets. To achieve the objective, it is necessary to carry out a nodal analysis of the non-eruptive well, and design the gas lift system by finding the gas injection pressure in the well, the number of valves, the optimal heights of injection, and the flow rates received by each valve. The evaluation of the system performance, as well as the sensitivity analysis, allows the selection of an optimal production rate. All the simulation operations and the well diagram are carried out with PIPESIM 2017.1. The results obtained show for the continuous injection of gas at 0.73 and 0.23 mmscf/d respectively. For valves 1 and 2 in the well, i.e., 1 mmscf/d for the two valves and using pressure at the head of the well of 100 psia, an optimal flow rate of 262.9 STB/d can be produced and the payback period is one year and two months.

Keywords: non-erupting well; gas lift; step-up; production; sensitivity analysis; payback period.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPE.2022.127212

International Journal of Petroleum Engineering, 2022 Vol.4 No.1, pp.65 - 79

Received: 22 Feb 2022
Accepted: 11 Apr 2022
Published online: 28 Nov 2022 *

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