Khosrow Biglarbigi (Master of Science in Petroleum Engineering)
Gas Passage Performance of Gas Lift Valves
(206 pp.)
Director, Dr. Zelimir Schmidt
(146 words)
The flow performance of three gas lift valves was studied under simulated downhole conditions. These valves include both throttling pressure and pressure operated gas lift valves. Performance curves were
measured for typical set pressures up to 1000 psi, and for injection pressure up to 1300 psi, with maximum observed flow rate of 1.8 MMsc f /D.
For throttling pressure valves (LM-16R), a portion of the performance curve was defined as the throttling range in which a linear relationship exists between the flow rate and tubing pressure. The slope of the throttling range is a function of port size and valve closing pressure.
Two distinct flow regions characterize the performance of pressure operated valves: throttling and variable Venturi regions. Treating a pressure valve like a straight-edge orifice is an oversimplification of true valve behavior. A statistical model was developed that predicts the flow performance of R-20 gas lift valves for port sizes up to 7/16 inch.
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