Publications

High angle wells are compulsory in offshore fields. These types of wells require better understanding on flow assurance dynamics and better planning on well intervention to ensure their operational efficiency. It is important to note that several wells have been experiencing severe production decline even though the current reservoir pressure is still high. In order to have a comprehensive understanding on liquid fallback, a transient fluid flow approach has been employed to investigate multiphase flow during gas lift operations. The simulation presents a 3-dimensional, time-based output that can simulate liquid fallback or severe slugging in pipe as a function of pipe diameter, gas lift valve placement, injected gas rate, and reservoir pressure that can address the flow assurance dynamics. The results from this research can be developed as an additional technical consideration before designing a gas lift system in highly deviated wells. Consideration on the placement of gas lift valves are also paramount in these cases, mainly avoiding places with flow instability or regions with sudden velocity changes. Results from the study, combined with well based performance are then compiled as a general guidance for the contractor to design a gas lift system on the basis of reservoir parameters such as Productivity Index, liquid viscosity and density, well deviation and trajectory, and gas supply to ensure operational and design excellence on gas lift design for deviated wells. Transient based simulation improved completion and gas lift design modification in the Lima Field, where higher and stable liquid production from daily production monitoring resulted in less well intervention from these wells.