What Does
Continuous Flow Gas Lift Mean?
Continuous flow gas lift is an artificial gas lift method in which the gas-lift system is operated continuously to sustain the production of liquid at an efficient rate.
It is a continuation of the natural flow from the reservoir but the lift gas from the surface is artificially injected into the flow conduit.
The gas is injected continuously into the casing or production string to aerate the producing fluids which in turn lower the bottom hole flow pressure (BHFP) causing the reservoir to respond with an increase in flow rate.
The continuous flow gas lift method is recommended for high-volume wells in which major pumping problems could occur with other artificial lift methods.
Trenchlesspedia Explains Continuous Flow Gas Lift
The continuous flow gas lift method helps extract the gas available in the reservoir to the maximum. It is considered to be more efficient and less expensive for wells that produce at high flow rates.
During gas lift operations, the oil production rate increases as the gas injection rate increases. As the injection rate of gas increases, the producing oil well will experience a decrease in gravitational pressure drop while experiencing an increase in frictional pressure drop.
A small volume of high-pressure gas is injected into the tubing to lighten the fluid column aiding in delivering liquid to the surface.
This method is used in wells with high or very high reservoir pressure compared to the depth of well.
Gaslift is a method that is reliable and simple and does not require the use of a downhole pump. Compressed air is injected into the lower section of the tubing to enhance the productivity of the well by mixing with the liquid column and reducing its density and viscosity, making it easier for the fluid to reach the surface.