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TUALP Abstract
 

Miguel Antonio Rodriguez (Master of Science in Petroleum Engineering)
Normalization of Nitrogen-Charged Gas-Lift Valves Performance
(151 pp. - Chapter VII)
Directed by Dr. Zelimir Schmidt
(150 words)

A data bank was developed which contains the flow performance tests gathered at TUALP for the Cameo R-20, Cameo BK, Cameo BK-1, McMurryHughes JR-STD and Teledyne Merla NM-16R valves.

The overall performance of Nieberding's orifice flow model shows an accuracy of ± 7 percent . Nieberding throttling flow model was modified by developing a new correlation for P_pdc and P_pdϻαμ; it shows an accuracy of 25 percent for the four one inch valves tested.

The overall performance of Acuna's throttling flow model, for the four one inch gas-lift valves tested, shows an accuracy of approximately 30 percent.

Both the Constant Injection Pressure Testing method and the Constant Production Pressure Testing method were examined and were found to yield the same valve performance relationship between the flow rate, production pressure and injection pressure.

Nieberding's orifice flow model and Acuna's throttling flow model generated from Constant Injection Pressure Test data can be used to accurately predict Constant Production Pressure Test data.

Download thesis (TUALP members only)
 

Last updated September 04, 2012