Physics-Inspired Data-Driven Method Manages Liquid Loading

Liquid accumulation in gas wells can result in frequent well shut-ins and reduced productivity, necessitating regular cleanups or lift interventions to minimize disruptions. This work introduces a fast and methodical approach to detect liquid loading using easily available field data, avoiding traditional assumptions. It also determines critical gas rates directly from observed field data and provides a mechanism to recommend and confirm the best artificial lift settings to address liquid-loading problems.

Introduction

As shown in Fig. 1 above, wells experience a series of flow patterns throughout their life cycle.