Unloading Sequence

(of continuous gas lift)

• Fluid level in tubing •and#1

casing is at
the surface

• No gas injected – no fluid produced

• All gas lift valves are open

• Pressure to open valves is provided by

the weight of the fluid in the casing
and tubing

©2009 Production Control Services. All content is confidential to PCS and its respective partners.
Unloading… continued
• Gas injection into the casing has
begun

• Fluid is U-tubed through

g all the open
p
valves

• No formation fluids being produced –

pressure is greater in the wellbore at
perfs than reservoir pressure

• All produced fluids are from the tubing

and annulus

• Important to unload at a reasonable

rate to avoid fluid damage to valves

©2009 Production Control Services. All content is confidential to PCS and its respective partners.
Unloading… continued

• The fluid has been unloaded to the top

(#5) gas lift valve

• The fluid is aerated above this point in

the tubing and fluid density decreased

• Pressure is reduced at top valve as

well as all lower valves

• Unloading continues through lower

valves

©2009 Production Control Services. All content is confidential to PCS and its respective partners.
Unloading… continued
• Fluid level is now below valve #4
(second from top)

• Injection
j transfers to valve #4 and
pressure is lowered

• Casing pressure drops and valve #5

closes

• Unloading continues through lower

valves

©2009 Production Control Services. All content is confidential to PCS and its respective partners.
Unloading… continued

• All gas is being injected through valve

#4

• Lower valves remain open

• A reduction in casing pressure causes

upper valves to close in sequence

©2009 Production Control Services. All content is confidential to PCS and its respective partners.
Unloading… continued

• All gas is being injected through valve

#3

• Lower valves remain open

• A reduction in casing pressure causes

upper valves to close in sequence

©2009 Production Control Services. All content is confidential to PCS and its respective partners.
Unloading… continued

• Valve #2 open – Point of Injection:

ability of reservoir to produce fluid
matches the ability of the tubing to
remove fluids

• Casing pressure is dictated by

operating valve set pressure

• Upper valves are closed

• Valve #1 remains submerged unless

operating conditions change in the
reservoir (i.e. formation drawdown)

©2009 Production Control Services. All content is confidential to PCS and its respective partners.