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

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.

Automated summary

The Sulige Gas Field, a low-permeability tight gas sandstone field, has experienced a decline in natural gas production due to liquid accumulation in the wellbore caused by below-critical flow rates of the wells. Plunger lift technology, known for its simple installation and operation, low cost, and high liquid-carrying capacity, has proven to be effective in removing liquids from the wells in the Sulige Gas Field.