Is The Dome Pressure Equal to The Closing Pressure in Nitrogen-Charged Gas-Lift Valves?

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

1-1-2024

Abstract

This paper investigates the impact of a widely accepted assumption that equates closing pressure with dome pressure in defining dome-charging pressures for nitrogen-charged gas-lift valves. The primary objective of this work is to quantify the disparities between closing pressure and dome pressure and to evaluate their implications for gas-lift system design. Data from the Load Rate Test (LRT) conducted at Louisiana State University for the Valve Performance Clearinghouse (VPC) consortium served as the basis for this project. Multiple nitrogen-charged gas-lift valves, ranging in port sizes from 12/64 to 16/64 inches, underwent testing. Additionally, tests were conducted under both standard and field temperature conditions to assess the impact of dome pressure on closing pressure. The results reveal significant differences between dome and closing pressures, which vary among different valve models and manufacturers, with differences ranging from 20 to more than 250 psi. These differences can be attributed to a term related to the bellows mechanical deformation force, currently not accounted for in the force balance used in the literature and industry. Furthermore, the paper presents and recommends a corrected force balance equation to enhance the accuracy of gas lift system design and proposes a simple but robust method to accurately set the dome pressure for nitrogen-charged gas-lift valves. By shedding light on the significant influence of the bellows force on closing pressure and dome pressure estimations, this study offers valuable insights for improving the precision of GLV designs.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Society of Petroleum Engineers - SPE Artificial Lift Conference and Exhibition - Americas, ALCE 2024

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