Plunger lift and velocity strings are two common methods of attacking liquid loading problems in gas wells. This paper shows how to compare the calculated performance of both methods at downhole producing conditions on one plot.

Issue Section:
Technical Papers
Topics:
String, Natural gas wells
1.
Beeson, C. M., Knox, D. G., and Stoddard, J. H., 1956, “Part 1: The Plunger Lift Method of Oil Production,” “Part 2: Constructing Nomographs to Simplify Calculations,” “Part 3: How to Use Nomographs to Estimate Performance,” “Part 4: Examples Demonstrate Use of Nomographs,” and “Part 5: Well Selection and Applications,” Petroleum Engineer.
2.
Christian, J., Lea, J. F., and Bishop, R., 1995, “Replacing Beam Pumping Units with Plunger Lift,” Southwestern Petroleum Short Course, Lubbock, TX, April 19–20.
3.
Coleman, S. B., Clay, H. B., McCurdy, D. G., and Norris, H. L., 1991, “A New Look at Predicting Gas-Well Load Up,” Journal of Petroleum Technology, Mar.
4.
Ferguson, P. L., and Beauregard, E., 1985, “How to Tell if Plunger Lift Will Work in Your Well,” World, Oil, August 1, pp. 33–36.
5.
Fetkovich, M. J., 1973, “The Isochronal Testing of Oil Wells,” SPE Paper No. 4529, 48th Annual Fall Meeting of SPE, Las Vegas, NV, September 30–October 3.
6.
Foss, D. L., and Gaul, R. B., 1965, “Plunger-Lift Performance Criteria with Operating Experience—Ventura Field,” Drilling and Production Practice, APL, pp. 124–140.
7.
Hacksma, J. D., 1972, “Users Guide to Predict Plunger Lift Performance,” Southwestern Petroleum Short Course, Lubbock, TX.
8.
Gray, H. E., 1974, “Vertical Flow Correlation in Gas Wells,” API User’s Manual for AI 14B, “Subsurface Controlled Subsurface Safety Valve Sizing Computer Program,” App. B, June.
9.
Lea, J. F., 1982, “Dynamic Analysis of Plunger Lift Operations,” Tech. Paper SPE 10253, Nov., pp. 2617–2629.
10.
Lea, J. F., 1998, “Nodal Analysis of Plunger Lift Operations,” Southwestern Petroleum Short Course, Lubbock, TX.
11.
Phillips, D., and Listiak, S., 1997, “Training/Trouble Shooting Guide for Plunger Systems,” Southwestern Petroleum Short Course, Lubbock, TX.
12.
Rosina, L., 1983, “A Study of Plunger Lift Dynamics,” Master’s thesis, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK.
13.
Turner, R. G., Hubbard, M. G., and Dukler, A. E., 1969, “Analysis and Prediction of Minimum Flow Rate for the Continuous Removal of Liquids from Gas Wells,” Journal of Petroleum Technology, Nov., pp. 1475–1482.
14.
White, G. W., 1981, “Combining the Technologies of Plunger Lift and Intermittent Gas Lift,” presented at the Annual American Institute Pacific Coast Joint Chapter Meeting Costa Mesa, CA, October 22.
15.
Wiggins, M., and Gasbarri, S., 1997, “A Dynamic Plunger Lift Model for Gas Wells,” SPE, 37422, presented at the Oklahoma City Production Operations Symposium.
This content is only available via PDF.
Copyright © 1999
 by The American Society of Mechanical Engineers
You do not currently have access to this content.