Nobuo Nishikiori (Master of Science in Petroleum Engineering)
Gas Allocation Optimization for Continuous Flow Gas Lift Systems
(252 pp. – Chapter VII)
Directed by Dr. Zelimir Schmidt
(133 words)
An algorithm for finding the optimum gas injection rates for a group of wells so as to maximize the total oil
production rate is established in this study. The algorithm uses non-linear optimization technique and the quasi-Newton method incorporated with the gradient projection method capable of accommodating linear constraints is selected by theoretical comparison with other methods. The algorithm requires the initial gas injection rates; a method of estimating initial gas injection rates is developed for that purpose.Computer programs for both the gas allocation optimization and the estimation of initial gas injection rates are developed based on the algorithms established, and a numerical experimentation is performed using a total of three continuous flow gas lift systems assuming both unlimited and limited gas supply. FORTRAN source code listings are included in the Appendix.
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