GAS LIFT IN BASS STRAIT

Abstract

Gas lift has proved a most effective artificial lift method for the fields operated by Esso Australia Ltd in Bass Strait for the Esso-BHP joint venture. Gas lift is now used to produce approximately 5 st ML/d of the total crude production from the Strait. It has enabled wells to be produced to water cuts higher than 90 per cent, increasing the oil recovery from the fields by up to 35 per cent.

Gas lift work in Bass Strait to date has included the use of special packoff gas lift assemblies for wells with sliding sleeves, the development of a tool to assist the opening of the sleeves, improved operating techniques to limit slugging from gas-lifted wells, and the testing of gas lift performance. Gas lifting has been more successful than expected, and as a result, workovers initially planned to install full gas lift strings for older wells have not been necessary. The two phase flow correlations available have been improved to match the performance of the gas-lifted wells. The correlations are now used to design tubing strings with a number of gas lift mandrels prior to running the initial completions and to select the optimum gas injection depth.

Future work in gas lift for Bass Strait will involve the optimisation and automation of lift gas distribution on the platforms. Gas lift will also be used for planned future developments, including mini-platforms and subsea completions.