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TUALP Abstract
Herman
Guido Acuna (Master of Science in Petroleum Engineering)
Normalization of One Inch Nitrogen Charged Pressure Operated Gas-Lift
Valves
(251 pp. - Chapter VI)
Directed by Dr. Zelimir Schmidt
(146 words)
Three one inch gas-lift valves from different manufacturers were tested under simulated well conditions. The data included air flow performance curves in the throttling, orifice and transition regions with injection pressures ranging from 500 to 1750 psig.
Orifice flow data was used to update and verify the TU ALP orifice flow model. Accuracy evaluation of the TU ALP and Thornhill-Craver models showed that the TUALP model is superior by up to 105%.
The throttling flow data was normalized with two different techniques. One proposed by Nieberding in 1988 was slightly modified to obtain better accuracy. The second model was based on a constant slope assumption.
Because of bellows unpredictability, it was recommended that this type of valve be used in the orifice region only.
Techniques to calculate the transition injection pressure and a qualitative sensitivity analysis on several valve components are also included in this study.Download thesis (TUALP members only)
Last updated September 04, 2012