Subsurface Compressor System Improves Gas Production in Unconventional Reservoirs

This paper describes an artificial lift technology, a subsurface compressor system (SCS), that simultaneously removes liquids, increases gas production, and improves recoverable reserves in gas wells. The subsurface compressor can reverse the vicious cycle of liquid loading, which decreases gas production from a gas well and leads to premature abandonment, by creating a virtuous cycle of increased gas and condensate production. The first field trial of the technology in an unconventional shale gas well supports the mechanism of subsurface gas compression and its benefit to unconventional gas production.

The SCS

This paper focuses on the latest deployed design. As with all SCS systems, this unit has three major components (Fig.