Page 17 - Artificial Lift Methods
P. 17
Production Optmization
Petroleum Extension-The University of Texas at Austin
Production
Optimization
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In this chapter:
• Maximizing production throughout the life of a well
• Addressing factors that can hinder production
• How systems collect and transmit well data
• Key elements of a production-optimization system
he previous sections of this book all deal with selecting, designing,
Tand effectively applying lift technologies based on assumptions
about how the reservoir will deliver fluids. In reality, production always
varies somewhat from what was expected because well conditions,
inflow volumes, and fluid phases change over time.
The artificial-lift system should be adjusted as needed to match
the inflow rates from the reservoir. As fluid production declines, the
lift system pumping rate must be similarly reduced or the well might
become pumped dry of fluids, causing damage to the lift systems and
potentially to the reservoir. In other situations, improved reservoir
management techniques can increase reservoir deliverability, but
production might then be constrained by lift system performance.
Until the lift system is adjusted to produce at the new deliverability
rates, the lift system can cause an undetected bottleneck. Damage
to lift systems and lost potential production from suboptimum lift
performance are easily prevented but are often overlooked by manual
surveillance practices.
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