The gas-lift operation is widely internationally used in the oil production. At present, this production method is used at the Orenburg oil and gas condensate field as one of its options—a natural-pressure gas-lift well operation method. The advantage of the natural-pressure gas-lift well operation method is a significant reduction in operating costs (electricity, electric submersible pump rent). At that both, new wells drilled into the gas cap and production wells where a breakthrough of gas has occurred can be used as a donor well. A feature that defines this operation method is a need for continuous control over pumping down each borehole. This is due to the fact that a donor well provides several producing oil wells with active gas, the operational parameters of these may significantly differ from each other. A system with automatic lock shield valves was adopted to automate the injection of gas in the Orenburg oil and gas condensate field, it allowed tuning up the injection, constantly monitoring and metering consumption of gas for each well.

This paper outlines the Gazpromneft-Orenburg experience in adopting an intelligent system for gas injection monitoring. It is described as a stage of a technical task preparation, conducting pilot runs at several wells, adjusting requirements to the equipment based on the results of pilot runs, full-scale implementation of the project at all wells of the deposit, optimization of gas-lift wells throughout the well stock.

The automated gas-lift process control system adopted at the Orenburg oil and gas condensate field allowed:

  • collecting and processing information coming from primary transducer-converters;

  • managing the actuators ensuring optimal well performance;

  • operatively ensuring well operation mode alternations;

  • accumulating the information received to gather statistical data and monitor the oil wells status.

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