AUTOMATED METHOD FOR PERFORMING GAS LIFT OPERATIONS Russian patent published in 2024 - IPC E21B43/12 E21B21/08 E21B34/02 E21B41/00 E21B47/08 E21B47/06 

FIELD: gas lift operations.

SUBSTANCE: group of inventions is related to a method for controlling a compressor system during gas lift operations. The compressor system is operated at an initial gas flow rate during injection sufficient to lift all liquids from the well. The compressor system is operated during the first incremental period of time at the first incremental gas flow rate during injection. The first incremental gas flow rate during injection is either greater than the initial gas flow rate during injection, or less than the initial gas flow rate during injection. The production of fluids from the well is continued during the first incremental period and at the same time the pressure in the well is monitored during production. The average production pressure over an incremental period is determined. Moreover, when the first incremental gas flow rate during injection is greater than the initial gas flow rate during injection, the compressor system is operated during the second incremental period of time at the second incremental gas flow rate during injection, where the second incremental gas flow rate during injection is greater than the first incremental gas flow rate during injection. Or, when the second incremental injection gas flow rate is less than the first incremental injection gas flow rate, the compressor system is operated for a second incremental period of time at the second incremental injection gas flow rate during injection, where the second incremental injection gas flow rate during injection is less than the first incremental flow rate gas during injection. The production of fluids from the well is continued during the second incremental period and at the same time the pressure in the well is monitored during production. The average pressure during production is determined during the second incremental period. When the first incremental injection gas flow rate is greater than the initial injection gas flow rate during injection, the compressor system is operated for a third incremental time period at the third incremental injection gas flow rat during injection. The third incremental gas flow rate during injection is greater than the second incremental gas flow rate during injection. Or, when the first incremental injection gas flow rate is less than the initial injection gas flow rate, the compressor system is operated for a third incremental time period at the third incremental injection gas flow rate. The third incremental gas flow rate during injection is less than the second incremental gas flow rate during injection. The production of fluids from the well is continued during the third incremental period and at the same time the pressure in the well is monitored during production. The average pressure during production is determined during the third incremental period. The incremental gas injection rate at which the lowest production pressure is generated while all fluids are being discharged from the well is identified. The identified incremental gas flow rate during injection is set as the working gas flow rate during injection for the compressor system, and the compressor system operates to produce all fluids from the well.

EFFECT: increase of efficiency of regulating the operation of the compressor system, increasing the efficiency of liquid production from the well.

22 cl, 13 dwg