Title: Evaluation and optimisation of oil wells on plunger lift in the main Soldado field offshore the Southwest Coast of Trinidad - a theoretical approach

Authors: Raffie Hosein; Shazim Mohammed

Addresses: Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of the West Indies, Block 13, Max Richards Building, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago ' Exploration and Development, Petrotrin-Trinmar Operations, Point Fortin, Trinidad and Tobago

Abstract: Plunger lift is an artificial lift technique that utilises reservoir energy stored in the gas phase to lift oil from the bottom of the well to surface. In this study, plunger lift systems on two wells in the main Soldado field offshore the Southwest Coast of Trinidad were evaluated to determine well performance using the Vogel model and to optimise oil production rates using the Foss and Gaul model. The mode of operation with the current setting is representative of intermittent lift with the assistance of a plunger rather than gas assisted plunger lift operation. The results obtained from the new settings showed that 61% less gas is required to obtain 89% more oil at optimum production rate. The evaluation described in this study can be used to effectively optimise gas assisted plunger lift systems for oil wells producing from this field.

Keywords: artificial lift; gas assisted plunger lift; well performance; optimise oil production; Vogel; Foss and Gaul; Trinidad.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPE.2017.089000

International Journal of Petroleum Engineering, 2017 Vol.3 No.1, pp.67 - 82

Received: 06 Apr 2017
Accepted: 05 Sep 2017
Published online: 03 Jan 2018 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article