Analyzing & Troubleshooting Plunger Lifted Wells

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Gregory Townsend
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1 Gas Well De-Liquification Workshop Denver, Colorado February 28 - March 2, 2005 Analyzing & Troubleshooting Plunger Lifted Wells Red Griffin Anadarko Lynn Rowlan - Echometer

2 Operational Benefits of Plunger Tracking 1. Plunger lift program takes the guess work out of setting fall times. 2. Accurate fall time measured from the time the plunger begins fall to the time the plunger hits the seat nipple or bottom hole spring. 3. Minimizes unnecessary shut-in time. 4. After-flow flow can be set by monitoring pressure to determine when casing pressure starts to rise then well loading begins. 5. Save time by ensuring all plunger runs are made and maximize sales time.

3 New Technology for Analyzing Plunger Lift Equipment on Well

4 Use Acoustic Surveys to Alert You to What is 4750 Tight Spot in Tubing Tight Spot End of /8 Hole in Tubing 1/8 Hole Liquid Level

5 Recorded Signals During One Cycle: Tubing and Casing Pressure, Plus Acoustic Casing Pressure Acoustic Signal Tubing Pressure

6 Control of Plunger Lift Cycle Control Valve Closed Open Shut-in in: Surface valve closed, flow shut-in, plunger falls down the tubing

Unloading and After-flow flow Periods Unloading Gas Surface valve open and pressure stored in the casing lifts the accumulated liquid and plunger to the surface Liquid After-flow Gas Surface valve

7 Unloading and After-flow flow Periods Unloading Gas Surface valve open and pressure stored in the casing lifts the accumulated liquid and plunger to the surface Liquid After-flow Gas Surface valve open, plunger held at surface by differential pressure from flow of gas up the tubing. Well is producing gas. Most liquid produced from the formation tends to fall back, accumulating at the bottom of the tubing.

8 Liquid Arrives During Unloading

9 Plunger Falling Through Gas & Liquid 200 Ft/min Gas Plunger on Bottom Plunger Hits Liquid 39 Ft/min Liquid Only Shut-in Time Period Shown

10 Plunger Falling Through Gas & Liquid 200 Ft/min Gas 39 Ft/min Liquid Plunger Hits Liquid Plunger on Bottom Zoom in on Axis From to 13 mins

0.3 Min of Pressure & Acoustic Data Shows 0.2 psi Pressure Wave Created at Collar # 112 C111 C112-3584 Ft Deep 0.

11 0.3 Min of Pressure & Acoustic Data Shows 0.2 psi Pressure Wave Created at Collar # 112 C111 C Ft Deep 0.2 PSI Acoustic Signal Show Plunger Fall Past 111 th and 112 th Tubing Collar Zoom in on Axis From to 0.3 mins

12 Count Collars for Fall Velocity & Depth

Plunger Depth and Fall Velocity Depth Axis End - 131 ft/min AXIS Begin -

13 Plunger Depth and Fall Velocity Depth Axis End ft/min AXIS Begin ft/min Normally, Velocity Decreases as Plunger Falls Deeper into Well

14 Gas Properties Determined by Fall

15 Troubleshooting by Tracking Plungers 1. Find holes in tubing of Gas wells or Plunger Lift wells by monitoring tubing and casing pressure while using acoustic to determine depth as plunger is falling. 2. Releasing plunger from the lubricator catcher, causes 2 to 3 psi drop in the tubing pressure as differential pressure is used to support plunger while falling. 3. Tubing pressure will increase by 2 to 3 psi, when plunger falls by a hole or stops. There may be a decrease in casing pressure. 4. Collars can be counted from the time the plunger starts falling to the time the pressure increases. 5. Procedure determines depth to stuck plunger or hole.

16 Tubing & Casing Pressure React to Plunger Falling in Well Tubing Pressure Increase & Casing Pressure Drops when Plunger on Bottom ~ 3 psi Drop when Released from Catcher

3 psi Drop when Released from Catcher Hole in Tubing Rapid Tubing

17 Tubing Pressure Helps to Identify Downhole Problems Plunger falls Past Hole at 1800 feet and Pressure from Casing Flows Into Tubing ~ 3 psi Drop when Released from Catcher Hole in Tubing Rapid Tubing Pressure Increase if Plunger has Sudden Stop Plunger Suddenly Stopped

18 Analysis of Plots Shows Depth to Hole Hole in 8514 Tubing Depth = 8940 ft

19 Tight Spot in Tubing Plunger Sticks at 60 th Joint (1866 ft) Tubing Pressure Increases when Plunger Sticks Tubing Pressure Drops when Plunger Starts to Fall Shut-in Begins Adjustable By-Pass Plunger

20 Hole in Tubing Shown During Shut-in

21 Fall Velocity Constant Above Hole

22 Hole in Tubing 1) Hole was 156 jts from surface or 5054' based on 32.4' joint lengths 2) Hole measured with micrometer to be by

23 Fall Velocity Bypass Valve Closes Plunger Slowed from 950 ft/min to 366 ft/min due to Valve Premature 3016 Bypass Valve Closed DON T WASTE TIME GUESSING

24 Safety Benefits Safety 1. Plunger Lift Tracking increases safety of plunger lift operations by knowing where the plunger is in the tubing. 2. If a plunger is not going to bottom and the well is pressured up, then the plunger could surface dry at a very high velocity. 3. Arrival at high velocity can cause equipment damage and could result in exceeding the mechanical integrity limits of the lubricator

25 Economics Economic Benefits 1. Tracking system minimizes the need for wire line. 2. A plunger can be dropped and tracked to the seat nipple or collar stop. The collars can be counted to be sure the plunger is at the seat nipple or bottom hole spring. 3. Save time by quickly identifying holes and eliminating the need to drop standing valve and pressure testing tubing before you pull it. 4. Quickly identify a spring or plunger that is not going to bottom.

26 Questions? Where s the Plunger

Smart Plunger TM by PCS

Smart Plunger TM by PCS What they are Highly accurate downhole pressure & temperature gauges Contained inside a variety of high quality plunger styles Utilized in a traveling mode or stationary position