Brian Edward Smith
Engineering at Rue Chinon, Mandeville, LA
License number
Louisiana PE.0022217
Issued Date
Feb 25, 1986
Expiration Date
Sep 30, 2013
Category
Civil Engineer
Type
Mechanical Engineer
Address
Address
1040 Rue Chinon, Mandeville, LA 70471
Professional information
Determining An Optimum Gas Injection Rate For A Gas-Lift Well
US Patent:
5871048, Feb 16, 1999
Filed:
Mar 26, 1997
Appl. No.:
8/824606
Inventors:
Timothy J. Tokar - The Woodlands TX
Brian E. Smith - Mandeville LA
Brian E. Smith - Mandeville LA
Assignee:
Chevron U.S.A. Inc. - San Francisco CA
International Classification:
E21B 4300
US Classification:
166263
Abstract:
A method is provided for automatically determining an optimum gas injection rate for a gas-lifted oil well. The optimum gas-lift slope for the oil well is initially provided and stored in the memory of a programmable logic controller. A lift gas is injected into the well at an initial gas injection rate to displace a liquid at an initial liquid production rate from the well. The initial liquid production rate and initial gas injection rate are stored in the memory. Thereafter, the lift gas is injected into the well at a first incremental gas injection rate differing from the initial gas injection rate by a first incremental value. Additional liquid is displaced from the well at a first incremental liquid production rate and the first incremental liquid production rate and first incremental gas injection rate are stored in the memory. The first incremental slope is determined from the stored data points and compared to the optimum gas-lift slope. The procedure is repeated for a second incremental gas injection rate, wherein the second incremental value is selected as either positive or negative in response to the comparison of the first incremental slope and the optimum gas-lift slope.