Adaptive Gas Lift

Available systems for artificial lifting using gas require long and thorough planning. Such systems are highly dependent on accurate assumptions about how the well will behave in the future. Any unforeseen events, deviations or changes from the calculated response will result in lower production / recovery. In the worst case, it can force costly and risky work to change the layout of the well in the form of cable operations or full overhaul of well completion. This project aims to develop and qualify prototypes for an adaptive electrically activated gas lift system. The system will use already tested conventional gas lifting equipment from PTC as well as conventional electric downhole meters and instruments from Emerson. These will be combined in an autonomous system that enables continuous control of gas lift pressure / rates from control rooms. Furthermore, the system will also provide direct feedback on actual injection as the situation is in the well itself based on real-time measurements from the system. This will result in an adjustable and adaptable system that can be operated optimally under a significantly wider range of criteria than current systems are capable of. The project will use the know-how and current products from Emerson(monitoring & control) and PTC (gas lift hardware) to develop a durable system with features suitable to achieve the most cost effective way to extract maximum hydrocarbons from target fields. Regular steering meetings are planned to ensure all parties needs are considered. The majority of 2021 was spent successfully demonstrating the actuation and power transfer concept through, modelling, simulation and prototyping. The results proved that the techniques and technology identified can be integrated within the overall system boundaries. Through 2022 and 2023 the project shall work to develop full scale prototype and begin testing and qualification activities.

The project is currently in the process of prototyping the final product with the goal of qualifying the product to relevant industry standards by end 2023. Commercial interest in the product has been high with a pilot well being targeting for January/February 2024. Pending a successful pilot Emerson expects several more pilot wells within 2024 for at least two Norwegian operators. A successful development will result in the following benefits -Significantly increased productivity in the NCS -Increased safety in the NCS through real time well integrity monitoring -Environmental savings as accelerated/gained production will lower rig time and reduce CO2 emissions. -Maximum reservoir recovery through increased well control and monitoring

Adaptive Artificial Lift Roxar Flow Measurement and PTC in conjunction with Aker BP propose to pilot an electrically activated gas lift valve. The proposed electrical system would use the standard in well monitoring system to enable control signals to be sent to the gas lift valves to instruct the valves to open or close. This project will result in a new range of gas lift valves that can be installed onto a downhole electrical cable. The following operational challenges shall be addressed -Simplify installation as electrically operated valve operation is independent of annulus pressure and reduces the need for upfront calculation and opening/closing pressure setting -Dynamic control allows multiple or single valves to open in any sequence simplifying well unloading and reducing well planning and start-up complexity -Ability to fine tune gas lift operation for changes in well parameters throughout the well life cycle -Significantly increased well reservoir recovery through gas lift valve control optimization throughout well lifetime -Real time barrier verification enhances well integrity and ultimately well safety -Minimize rig time during barrier verification as a cost reducing initiative -Reduced rig downtime resulting in reduced CO2 footprint per produced barrel.