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ABSTRACT

Fahad B. A. Almudairis (Master of Science in Petroleum Engineering) Modeling of Transient Operations and Instabilities in Gas Lift
Directed by Dr. Holden Zhang

108 pp., Chapter 6: Conclusions and Recommendations

(194 words)

This  thesis  presents  a  model  for  the  simulation  and  analysis  of  various  steady and unsteady state gas-lift processes. The model is comprehensive and can be used as a tool to predict different transient  multiphase  flow  phenomena  in  petroleum  production  and transportation through wells and pipelines. This will assist with the design and optimization of the gas-lift system.
Gas-lift instabilities, including casing heading and density wave, are transient multiphase flow behaviors that may occur in a gas-lifted well. These instabilities can cause significant production fluctuations and even kill the well. The transient gas-lift model can be used to simulate the unsteady state flow and to prevent gas-lift instabilities through the optimization of gas-lift valve setup and gas injection control.
The new transient model includes the predictions of flow pattern and other detailed hydrodynamic behaviors. The physical properties of the fluids are calculated using the black oil model. A transient heat transfer model for both the natural flowing wells and the gas-lift wells is developed. This model can simultaneously calculate the heat transfer using the outputs of the transient hydrodynamic model. The model is validated through comparisons with experimental results, field data and commercial software simulations.

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Last updated September 04, 2012