System and method for optimizing production in an artificially lifted well

Abstract

A system and method is provided for optimizing production from a well. A plurality of sensors are positioned to sense a variety of production related parameters in a well having a gas lift system. The sensed parameters are used in creating measured data that can be applied against a well model. Discrepancies between the well model and the measured data are used to determine factors contributing to sub-optimal well performance.

1 . A method of optimizing production in a well, comprising: 
 operating a gas lift system in a wellbore;    gathering a plurality of production related parameters;    matching a well model with measured data obtained from the production related parameters to determine discrepancies; and    redesigning the gas lift system based on the discrepancies.    
   
   
       2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein gathering comprises measuring the gas injection rate.  
   
   
       3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein gathering comprises measuring the fluid production rate.  
   
   
       4 . The method recited in  claim 1 , wherein gathering comprises obtaining a flowing gradient survey.  
   
   
       5 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein gathering comprises obtaining temperature data.  
   
   
       6 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein gathering comprises obtaining temperature data.  
   
   
       7 . The method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the temperature data is obtained via a distributed temperature sensing system.  
   
   
       8 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein gathering comprises obtaining surface parameter measurements.  
   
   
       9 . The method recited in  claim 1 , wherein gathering comprises obtaining downhole parameter measurements.  
   
   
       10 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein gathering comprises obtaining episodic measurements.  
   
   
       11 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein gathering comprises measuring a tubing pressure.  
   
   
       12 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein gathering comprises measuring a tubing temperature.  
   
   
       13 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein gathering comprises measuring an injection pressure.  
   
   
       14 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein gathering comprises measuring an injection temperature.  
   
   
       15 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein gathering comprises utilizing a multiphase flow meter.  
   
   
       16 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein gathering comprises measuring a tubing pressure below a gas lift orifice.  
   
   
       17 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein gathering comprises measuring a casing pressure below a gas lift orifice.  
   
   
       18 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein gathering comprises measuring temperature via a slickline deployed distributed temperature sensing system.  
   
   
       19 . The method recited in  claim 1 , further comprising initially selecting a candidate well by obtaining well test data.  
   
   
       20 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising initially selecting a candidate well by obtaining gas lift monitoring data.  
   
   
       21 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising initially selecting a candidate well by obtaining well history data.  
   
   
       22 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising initially selecting a candidate well by obtaining completion specific data.  
   
   
       23 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising validating any improvements in production following redesign of the gas lift system.  
   
   
       24 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein matching comprises analyzing inflow factors.  
   
   
       25 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein matching comprises analyzing outflow factors.  
   
   
       26 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein matching comprises analyzing surface factors.  
   
   
       27 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein redesigning comprises adjusting a temperature setting.  
   
   
       28 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein redesigning comprises adjusting a gas injection rate.  
   
   
       29 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein redesigning comprises changing a component of the gas lift system.  
   
   
       30 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein redesigning comprises correcting an inlet related limitation.  
   
   
       31 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein redesigning comprises correcting an outlet related limitation.  
   
   
       32 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein redesigning comprises correcting a downhole related limitation.  
   
   
       33 . A system for optimizing production in a well, comprising: 
 a gas lift system positioned in the well;    a sensor system to sense a plurality of well related parameters; and    a well modeling module able to automatically compare a calculated model of the well to measured data based on the plurality of well related parameters to determine factors detrimentally affecting optimization of production from the well.    
   
   
       34 . The system as recited in  claim 33 , wherein the sensor system monitors data in real-time.  
   
   
       35 . The system as recited in  claim 33 , wherein the sensor system comprises a remote processor system.  
   
   
       36 . The system as recited in  claim 33 , wherein the sensor system is configured to sense a quantity of injected gas.  
   
   
       37 . The system as recited in  claim 33 , wherein the sensor system comprises a tubing pressure sensor and tubing temperature sensor.  
   
   
       38 . The system as recited in  claim 33 , wherein the sensor system comprises an injection pressure sensor and an injection temperature sensor.  
   
   
       39 . The system as recited in  claim 33 , further comprising a multiphase flow data sensor.  
   
   
       40 . The system as recited in  claim 33 , further comprising an episodic sensor system.  
   
   
       41 . The system as recited in  claim 40 , wherein the episodic sensor system is configured to obtain a flowing gradient survey.  
   
   
       42 . The system as recited in  claim 40 , wherein the episodic sensor system is configured to obtain a distributed temperature profile.  
   
   
       43 . A method of optimizing production from a gas lift system disposed in a well, comprising: 
 flowing a gas through the gas lift system;    obtaining measured data from a plurality of sensors positioned to sense production related parameters;    graphically plotting a gradient based on the measured data;    graphically plotting a model gradient; and    comparing the gradient and the model gradient to determine whether production can be optimized.    
   
   
       44 . The method as recited in  claim 43 , further comprising optimizing production performance of the gas lift system.  
   
   
       45 . The method as recited in  claim 44 , further comprising adjusting the gas lift system to optimize performance.  
   
   
       46 . The method as recited in  claim 45 , wherein adjusting comprises correcting an inlet related limitation on production.  
   
   
       47 . The method as recited in  claim 45 , wherein adjusting comprises correcting an outlet related limitation on production.  
   
   
       48 . The method as recited in  claim 45 , wherein adjusting comprises correcting a downhole related limitation on production.  
   
   
       49 . The method as recited in  claim 45 , wherein adjusting comprises adjusting a temperature setting.  
   
   
       50 . The method as recited in  claim 45 , wherein adjusting comprises adjusting a gas injection rate.  
   
   
       51 . The method as recited in  claim 45 , wherein adjusting comprises changing a component of the gas lift system.  
   
   
       52 . The method as recited in  claim 45 , wherein adjusting comprises adjusting a choke size.  
   
   
       53 . The method as recited in  claim 45 , wherein adjusting comprises adjusting a casing pressure.  
   
   
       54 . The method as recited in  claim 45 , wherein adjusting comprises adjusting a separator operating pressure.  
   
   
       55 . The method as recited in  claim 45 , wherein adjusting comprises removing a valve restriction.  
   
   
       56 . The method as recited in  claim 45 , wherein adjusting comprises fixing a tubing hole.  
   
   
       57 . The method as recited in  claim 45 , wherein adjusting comprises changing a valve spacing.