Dual Lift System
Horizontal well production is very complex due to the interaction of extreme wellbore deviation and multiphase fluid flow. Produced fluid within long horizontal intervals readily stratifies due to gravity, resulting in gas rising to the top of the wellbore and liquids, such as oil and water, settling.
Horizontal wells preferentially produce gas from the lateral and curve sections of the well. Gas flows more readily due to its relatively low density, leaving oil and water behind. This results in inefficient fluid production from the lateral and rising GOR. Eventually, liquid loading occurs, which further hampers production and causes portions of the lateral to become unproductive.
The key to maximizing production from horizontal wells is to ensure that the gas velocity of the production stream exceeds the critical rate sufficient to avoid liquid loading. This is particularly crucial within the lateral and curve sections of a horizontal well.
The Horizontal Lift Technologies Dual Gas Lift System is an artificial lift approach developed to optimize the production from horizontal wells. The system incorporates an upper lift stage to draw down hydrostatic head within the vertical and curve sections of the well, and an independent lower lift stage which efficiently moves production across the lateral completion interval. The combination of these two lift stages ensures efficient fluid flow throughout the entire well.
The Dual Lift System works by enhancing fluid velocity throughout the entire lateral, curve, and vertical sections of the wellbore. The system is also infinitely adjustable to adapt to changing production conditions and to optimize production throughout the life of the well.