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How It Works

Continuous Injection Intermittent Injection

Continuous injection is the most common method of gas lift. High
pressure gas is injected continuously down the annulus, through a gas
lift valve, and into the tubing, creating a lightened fluid gradient,
reduction of wellbore pressure on the formation, which results in
drawdown between the wellbore and formation. This drawdown
allows the formation to produce desired fluids.
Intermittent injection is a method of gas lift (typically combined with
plunger lift ALS) where gas is intermittently injected, allowing the
formation to build pressure while injection is diverted to another well
or circulated. Fluids build up in the tubing, well bore pressure builds,
and a diversion of gas back to the well lifts the fluid slug to surface.
The well is shut-in and process is then repeated.
 Step 1

After a well has been completed/worked over, in the case of a new well fluid
is most often at or near the surface in both the casing and tubing. Due to the
hydrostatic pressure of wellbore fluids often times it is too much for the
formation to produce hydrocarbons. When gas lift valves are installed, the
combination of hydrostatic pressure in the casing and tubing is enough to
overcome the opening pressure of all downhole valves. When high pressure
gas is injected down the annulus, the fluid in the annulus is pushed through
the top valves until the top valve (valve #5) is uncovered.

(https://epiclift.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/STEP-1-HOW-
IT-WORKS.png)
Step 2

Once valve #5 has been uncovered, injection gas u-tubes into the tubing
through that valve, lightens the fluid gradient, and lifts fluid to the surface.
While gas is flowing through valve #5, fluid is continuing to be pushed
through valve #4 (if tubing pressure permits.)

(https://epiclift.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/STEP-2-HOW-
IT-WORKS.png)
 Step 3

Tubing pressure has dropped enough to allow fluid to flow through valve #4
to the point where gas injection has been obtained. Injection gas is shared
between valve #4 and #5 briefly while casing pressure begins to drop due to
the increase in flow area shared between the two top valves.

(https://epiclift.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/STEP-3-HOW-
IT-WORKS.png)
Step 4

Casing pressure has now dropped enough to fall below the closing pressure
of valve #5, closing it off and terminating the communication between the
casing and tubing. Valve #4 is now the single point of gas injection. All lower
valves still remain open due to the combination of hydrostatic pressure and
injection pressure.

(https://epiclift.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/STEP-4-HOW-
IT-WORKS.png)
 Step 5

Valve #3 has now been uncovered, and the process will continue until
the deepest point of injection is obtained. In the figure on the right, the
deepest point of injection is valve #2 which we call the ‘operating
valve.’ Valve #1 is at a depth/pressure situation where Tp>Cp resulting
in the check valve being in a closed position. Valve #1 is open due to
the combination of hydrostatic pressure and injection pressure, but
injection gas is not able to pass due to the sealed check. Once well
conditions change enough such that TP is less than CP, fluid will begin
and continue to unload from the backside and gas injection through
the deepest point possible (valve #1) will be obtained. Flow rate
increases may force the operating valve to ‘check off’, preventing
(https://epiclift.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/How-It-Works31.png) injection gas from entering the tubing at that depth resulting in a
casing pressure increase. As casing pressure increases, upper valves
begin to open.
 Epic Lift Systems Specializes in Enhanced Plunger Lift Systems!
We personally design, engineer, and machine our own products which allows us to oversee and ensure quality as well
as provide fast, turnkey solutions for even the most unusual or custom applications.

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