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Development and Analysis of Mathematical Plunger Lift Models of the Low-Permeability Sulige Gas Field

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Listed:
  • Wenbin Cai

    (College of Petroleum Engineering, Xi’an Shiyou University, Xi’an 710065, China)

  • Huiren Zhang

    (College of Petroleum Engineering, Xi’an Shiyou University, Xi’an 710065, China)

  • Zhimin Huang

    (College of Petroleum Engineering, Xi’an Shiyou University, Xi’an 710065, China)

  • Xiangyang Mo

    (College of Petroleum Engineering, Xi’an Shiyou University, Xi’an 710065, China)

  • Kang Zhang

    (Exploration and Development Institute, Shaanxi Yanchang Petroleum Group, Co., Ltd., Yan’an 716000, China)

  • Shun Liu

    (College of Petroleum Engineering, Xi’an Shiyou University, Xi’an 710065, China)

Abstract

The Sulige is a low-permeability tight gas sandstone field whose natural gas production has gradually declined with continuous development. The primary reason was that most of the wells in the field flew below their critical rates and liquids started to accumulate in the wellbore at different levels, which resulted in the production reduction due to the wellbore pressure decrease and back pressure increase on the produced gas. An artificial lift was required to remove the liquids from those wells. With the advantages such as simple installation and operation, low cost and high liquid-carrying capacity, the plunger lift has been proven effective in the Sulige Gas Field. In this paper, firstly, a series of mathematical models were developed to investigate plunger displacement and velocity in the uplink and downside phases, fluid leakage in the uplink phase, and the characteristics of tubing pressure and casing pressure in the uplink and pressure build-up phases. Then, taking well X1 and well X2 at Su 59 area of the gas field as an example, the established mathematical models were applied to estimate its tubing and casing pressure, plunger moving displacement and speed, fluid leakage during the uplink phase, and gas production during the plunger lift. Hence, the well production cycle operated by the maximum gas rate was optimized. This study provides a theoretical basis for the optimal design of plunger lift parameters and the improvement of gas production.

Suggested Citation

  • Wenbin Cai & Huiren Zhang & Zhimin Huang & Xiangyang Mo & Kang Zhang & Shun Liu, 2023. "Development and Analysis of Mathematical Plunger Lift Models of the Low-Permeability Sulige Gas Field," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-12, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:3:p:1359-:d:1048671
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Qun Zhao & Leifu Zhang & Zhongguo Liu & Hongyan Wang & Jie Yao & Xiaowei Zhang & Rongze Yu & Tianqi Zhou & Lixia Kang, 2022. "A Big Data Method Based on Random BP Neural Network and Its Application for Analyzing Influencing Factors on Productivity of Shale Gas Wells," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-13, March.
    2. Wei Guo & Xiaowei Zhang & Lixia Kang & Jinliang Gao & Yuyang Liu, 2022. "Investigation of Flowback Behaviours in Hydraulically Fractured Shale Gas Well Based on Physical Driven Method," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-16, January.
    3. Huazhou Huang & Yuantao Sun & Xiantong Chang & Zhengqing Wu & Mi Li & Shulei Qu, 2022. "Experimental Investigation of Pore Characteristics and Permeability in Coal-Measure Sandstones in Jixi Basin, China," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-15, August.
    4. Cheng Peng & Dianzhuang Feng & Hai Long, 2022. "Assessing the Contribution of Natural Gas Exploitation to the Local Economic Growth in China," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-17, August.
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