2001 ASME/API Gas-Lift Workshop

Testing and Modeling Gas-Lift Valves

by

Cleon Dunham, Oilfield Automation Consulting

Ken Decker, Decker Technology

November 12, 2001 2001 Fall ASME/API Gas-Lift Workshop 1

Testing and Modeling

Gas-Lift Valves

Outline
• Gas-
Gas-lift valves are important
• API Recommended Practice 11V2
• Gas-
Gas-lift Valve Performance Clearinghouse (VPC)
• VPC members
• Valves tested by VPC
• Typical VPC results
• How member companies use VPC results
• Future plans

November 12, 2001 2001 Fall ASME/API Gas-Lift Workshop 2

1
 Gas-Lift Valves
Are Important

Gas-lift valves are needed to:

• Allow gas-
gas-lift wells to unload (work down) to the
desired operating depth
• Remain open and transmit enough gas to allow
transfer to the next valve
• Remain in good condition during unloading
– Not be eroded by completion fluid
• Close and remain closed when lifting from deeper
– Not leak
– Not allow well fluids to back flow into the annulus
• Re-
Re-open when needed for re-
re-start (kick off)
November 12, 2001 2001 Fall ASME/API Gas-Lift Workshop 3

API Recommended
Practice 11V2

Prior to API RP 11V2:

• Gas-
Gas-lift valve open/close calculations based on
steady state force/balance equation
• Gas passage based on Thornhill-
Thornhill-Craver
– These didn't represent real performance in dynamic
operation
– Gas-
Gas-lift designers were forced to use rules of thumb
• API RP 11V2 published in January, 1995
– Provided standards for gas-
gas-lift valve testing & modeling
– But offered no specific process to implement these
standards on a routine basis

November 12, 2001 2001 Fall ASME/API Gas-Lift Workshop 4

2
 Gas-Lift Valve Performance
Clearinghouse (VPC)

VPC formed in 1996 as JIP (joint industry

project) to test & model valves
• VPC tests a gas-
gas-lift valve to determine:
– When it will open/re-
open/re-open under dynamic conditions
– How far it will open under various upstream &
downstream pressure conditions
– How much gas it will transmit at each opening
– When it will close under dynamic conditions
• If a valve does not open, move, or close correctly,
this is detected
• Typically, one example valve of each type or
model is tested
November 12, 2001 2001 Fall ASME/API Gas-Lift Workshop 5

Gas-Lift Valve Performance

Clearinghouse (VPC)

Based on these tests, the VPC develops

accurate gas-lift valve performance models
• To develop these models, the VPC determines:
– Accurate opening pressure, at operating temperature
– Accurate closing pressure, at operating conditions
– Flow characteristic (Cv) of valve
– Load rate of bellows and/or spring
– Maximum effective stem travel
• These models can be used for:
– Gas-
Gas-lift design
– Gas-
Gas-lift performance analysis
– Comparing actual vs. theoretical performance
November 12, 2001 2001 Fall ASME/API Gas-Lift Workshop 6

3
 Original and Current Members
of the VPC

VPC Member Companies

Initial Members 2001 Members

Chevron Chevron
Edinburgh Petroleum Services Exxon/Mobil
Exxon Shell International
Shell International Weatherford
Weatherford

November 12, 2001 2001 Fall ASME/API Gas-Lift Workshop 7

Gas-Lift Valves Tested

and Modeled by the VPC
Gas-
Gas-Lift Valves and Orifices Tested/Modelled by the VPC Through 2000

1" IPO Gas-

Gas-Lift Valves
Altec AT1-
AT1-CF, Camco BK, Weatherford R-
R-1, Weatherford R-
R-1BL, Camco/Merla NM-
NM-16R,
McMurry Macco R-R-1D, McMurry Macco JR-
JR-STDN,
STDN, McMurry Macco C-
C-1

1" PPO Gas-

Gas-Lift Valves
Camco BKF-
BKF-6, Camco BKR-
BKR-5, Camco SRF-
SRF-10, Camco BKF-
BKF-12, McMurry Macco RF-
RF-1,
Weatherford RF-
RF-1BL, Weatherford RFX-
RFX-1BL

1" Alternative Operation Gas-

Gas-Lift Valves
Altec AT1-
AT1-VL,
VL, Weatherford RPDV-
RPDV-2, Camco/Merla LNM-
LNM-31R, Camco/Merla WFM-
WFM-14R

1.5" IPO Gas-

Gas-Lift Valves
Camco R-
R-20, Weatherford R-
R-2, Camco/Merla N-
N-17R, McMurry Macco C2

1" Gas-
Gas-Lift Orifices
Altec AT1-
AT1-0, Camco NOVA, Camco DCR-
DCR-DK
November 12, 2001 2001 Fall ASME/API Gas-Lift Workshop 8

4
 Typical VPC Gas-Lift Valve
Performance Plot
Typical VPC Gas-
Gas-Lift Valve Performance Plot

1500
Camco BK. 1" IPO
VPC Performance Model
Various Port Sizes Camco BK with
12/64ths VPC
Flowrate - (Mscf/d) No Choke PvoT= 964 Pcf=
1000 920 Temp=150

Camco BK with
20/64" 16/64ths VPC
PvoT= 964 Pcf=
920 Temp=150
500
16/64"
Camco BK with
20/64ths VPC
12/64" PvoT= 964 Pcf=
920 Temp=150
0
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Downstream Pressure - (psig)
November 12, 2001 2001 Fall ASME/API Gas-Lift Workshop 9

How Member Companies

Use VPC Results

For example, in at least one member company:

• Only gas-
gas-lift valves that have been tested and
modeled by the VPC are recommended for use
– Any valve found to be inadequate is not recommended
for use
• VPC gas-
gas-lift valve models have been
implemented in WinGLUE
– They are used in gas-
gas-lift design & performance analysis
• In some cases, valves that have been found to be
inadequate have been redesigned or replace by
the manufacturer
– This is clearly a win/win for all concerned
November 12, 2001 2001 Fall ASME/API Gas-Lift Workshop 10

5
 Future Plans of the VPC

In 2001 and beyond, the VPC members have

agreed to:
• Continue gas-
gas-lift valve testing and modeling
– Valves/orifices nominated by users
– Selected new valves
– Several valves of a type/model to check for consistency
• Conduct appropriate evaluations
– Potential for erosion during unloading
– Effect of chokes on erosion potential
– Potential life cycle of bellows
– Impact of various metallurgies

November 12, 2001 2001 Fall ASME/API Gas-Lift Workshop 11

Other Companies are

Welcome to Join the VPC

The VPC is a "joint industry project."

• It is funded and controlled by its members
– It is not a profit making organization
– Its purpose is to advance gas-
gas-lift performance through
improved gas-
gas-lift valve understanding
– Any gas-
gas-lift operator or service company is welcome
– The VPC meets annually, usually in February or
October, to agree on the budget and plan for the next
year
• Member companies have found great value in:
– Having accurate, reliable information on their valves
– Having accurate performance models of their valves
– Being able to screen out valves that are not satisfactory
November 12, 2001 2001 Fall ASME/API Gas-Lift Workshop 12

6
 Testing and Modeling
Gas-Lift Valves

Conclusions
• Most gas-
gas-lift wells require gas-
gas-lift valves to lift
effectively
• Valves do not perform as previously assumed
– The steady state force balance equation is not sufficient
– Thornhill-
Thornhill-Craver can not accurately predict gas passage
• To effectively design and analyze gas-gas-lift wells,
we must understand gas-
gas- lift valve performance
– API RP 11V2 provides the needed standards
– The VPC provides the mechanism to implement these
standards for the industry

November 12, 2001 2001 Fall ASME/API Gas-Lift Workshop 13