Midfield Supply Ferguson Beauregard

1. Plunger Lift Systems Midfield Supply Ferguson Beauregard

2. Basics of Plunger Lift

3. PLUNGER-LIFT OVERVIEW A typical system is comprised of a: Plunger Bumper Spring Lubricator / Catcher Controller/ Motor Valve

4. PLUNGER-LIFT OVERVIEW Plunger-lift works on the principle of providing a mechanical interface between the produced liquids and the formation gas.

5. PLUNGER-LIFT OVERVIEW Plunger travel is normally provided by formation gas stored in the casing annulus during a shut in period. As the well is opened and tubing pressure decreases, the stored gas pushes the plunger to the surface. This cycle is repeated several times a day.

6. Applications For Plunger Lift • Gas Wells with Liquid Loading Problems • Hydrate Control • High Gas/Oil Ratio Wells • Paraffin Control • Gas Assisted Plunger Lift • Plunger Enhanced Chamber Lift

7. What is Liquid loading • Gas velocity in the tubing has dropped below the minimum required ( Critical rate) to move liquids up and out of the wellbore. • Liquids are settling in the bottom of the well tubing • Gas flow is in heads (slug flow) or bubble flow (gas bubbles through liquids) • Loads up during flow

8. Recognizing Liquid Loading • Noticeable decrease in production. • Wells being swabbed, blown down, etc. • Change in production decline curve. • Increased pressure difference between casing & tubing. • Spiking production and casing pressures • Wells that need to be soaped or use soap sticks

9. Normal production decline

10. Erratic daily fluid production Indications of loading in the field • Erratic gas flow on the production chart (slugging)

11. Plunger Lift Requirements • 1.75e3m3/m3 /per 1000m of well depth. • 400 scf / BBL/ 1000ft of well depth. • Rule of thumb - max line pressure X 1.5 = minimum shut in pressure required to run a plunger • Velocity requirements of 3m/s or better are required for continuous flow plungers • Favorable completion for Plunger installation • Operators are well trained and knowledgeable

12. Plunger Lift Evaluation • Data Collection and Data Sheets • Plunger Calculator • Nodal Analysis • Wellbore Diagram • Good Operator Knowledge

13. Well Data Sheets • Tubing and Casing pressures • Tubing and casing size and depths • Wellbore diagram • Gas and fluid flow rates current and expected • Perforation and zone information

14. Establishing a decline curve Decline Curve

15. Plunger Lift Calculator

16. FBHP vs Velocity Loaded 100m Fluid Head Critical Velocity

17. FBHP vs Velocity Unloaded Critical Velocity

18. IPR Development Current flow rate Expected rate

19. Tubing Performance vs IPR

20. Plunger Lift • Plunger lift Terminology • The plunger lift market today has a multitude of plunger lift control platforms; they can be a simple on/off time based stand alone control box to the very advanced RTU/scada devices and controls. Regardless of the type of system used to control the plunger lift there are typically four(4) cycles or terms used to define which part of the cycle the plunger is currently in, they are;

21. Plunger Lift Off time / Closed Cycle:is used to allow the plunger to fall to the bottom-hole spring assembly. This is also the time that is given to the well to build up pressure in order to be able to lift the plunger to surface. On time / Open Cycle:is the maximum time the controller will wait for the plunger to arrive at surface. A good rule of thumb to start with is 3 x “Target Travel time” or plunger travel time.

22. Plunger Lift After-flow / Delay Time:this is the time the well will flow after the plunger has arrived at surface. By adjusting this time you can affect your plunger travel speeds. Non-arrival/Recovery time:is a secondary closed cycle that the controller will go to if the plunger does not arrive during the open cycle. Typically this time is set longer than closed time to allow the well to build extra pressure to over come a high line pressure or liquid load that has cause the plunger to stall or stop in the tubing. A good rule of thumb is (closed time x 2.5)

23. Plunger Lift • Rule of Thumb For Plunger lift Fall Times • Fall time or minimum closed time: • The fall time is the amount of time the plunger will require to travel from the wellhead / lubricator to the bottom hole spring assembly through gas and fluid. When estimating this time you must consider the operating conditions the plunger lift is operating in. Wax, thick oil, sand or other impurities will slow down the plunger fall speed. The type of plunger will also have a bearing on the time required. Pad, brush plungers will generally fall slower than solid styles of plungers. The following formula will help ensure that the plunger is at bottom below the fluid before the well is turn on and the plunger is brought back to surface.

24. Plunger Lift • Rule of Thumb For Plunger lift Fall Times • DEPTH IN METERS/50 meters per minute fall rate=required fall time • Example: 1350m/50=27 minutes minimum fall or closed time

25. Plunger Lift Rule of Thumb For Plunger lift Travel Speeds Plunger travel speeds and target times. Plungers can travel to surface at very high velocities, causing stresses on the surface equipment. Watching the travel speeds of the plunger and keeping them between 215 meters and 305 meters per minute can control this and minimize required maintenance and repairs.

26. Plunger Lift • Rule of Thumb For Plunger lift Travel Speeds • Average travel speed • Well depth in meters / 215 meter per minute = average travel speed • Example: 1350 meter / 215 = 6 minutes and 28 seconds • Maximum travel speed • Example: 1350 meters / 305 meters per minute = 4 minutes and 42 seconds • Critical speed (fast travel shut down speed) • Example: 1350 meters / 450 meters per minute = 3 minutes 0 seconds

27. Plunger Lift Safety Concerns with Plunger Lift. Fast arrival has a wide window and can be used to classify any plunger traveling faster than the normal plunger arrival target time. It must be noted, any plunger traveling faster than 305 meters per minute should indicate a warning and should be investigated further. If the total is greater than 450 meters per minute this can cause early deceleration spring failure and plunger damage. Early arrival is when the plunger arrives at surface at an excesses speed. A typical rule of thumb is an average speed in excesses of 640 meters per minute. Repeated early arrivals can lead to premature equipment damage

28. Plunger Lift Safety Concerns with Plunger Lift. What to look for to make sure plunger is not coming up to fast.. Plunger runs times – making sure that plunger system is optimized and plunger is not coming up to fast. Checking spring in lubricator top for to much play. Looking for swelling on the fish neck of the plunger. Fish neck size is 1.375” Watching some plunger runs to make sure it is not coming up dry. Dipping tanks to make sure fluid is being produced Regular Preventive Maintenance Program.

29. Safety Check List • Plunger operations task list – training • Controller • Set times • Read history • Understand plunger rules of thumb • Understand optimization functions • Understand special features (i.e. tank options) • Understand external inputs and there function in the control process • Trouble shooting external inputs (i.e. sensors , Murphy gauges) • Daily, Monthly and yearly maintenance schedules • Plunger • Know the type and the function of each plunger seal style solid, pad, brush. • Understand the environment best suited for each plunger seal • Understand the different fishneck sizes and styles used in plunger lift equipment • Know the typical replacement sizes of the equipment • Daily, Monthly and yearly maintenance schedules

30. Safety Check List • Plunger operations task list – training • Lubricator • Know the different types of lubricators and the plunger styles that work with each lubricator design • Understand the catch function/operation ( if available ) on each style of lubricator • Know how to properly measure and evaluate the top cap spring condition • Wellhead operation • Understand the procedure to close and open wellhead with plunger lift in operation • Understand the proper way to start and stop a plunger lift while it is in operation • Know how to catch and remove the plunger from the wellhead • Know how to replace plunger in to well safely • Know the pressure limitations of your equipment ( for pumping chemicals i.e. methanol ) • General plunger lift safety • Pressure and the effect it has on velocities • Hydrate control with a plunger lift • Venting well to atmosphere and the effect this can have on plunger velocity • General understanding of the plunger velocity curve and the energy it can exerts on equipment

31. Conclusions • Plunger lift remains the most economical form of artificial lift. • Technology has advanced dramatically. • Proper well evaluations and data collection improves success rates. • Many variations and technology combinations can be the solution to individual well conditions

32. Plunger Lift Midfield Supply G.W.E.D Phone Numbers: Craig Stanger; Technical Sales Rep – 403-820-4681 Scott Dudley; Central Area Coordinator – 403-820-2635 Cal Whibbs; Calgary Sales Manager – 403-990-8171 Dale Chatwood; V.P. of Operations GWED – 403-304-5304 Steve Mantai; Distribution Coordinator – 780-975-8267

33. Plunger Lift Midfield Supply G.W.E.D Thanks You for your Time Any Questions?