Gas Well Deliquification

James F. Lea, Jr. is currently an independent consultant for both academic and corporate facilities aiding in production projects and teaching seminars. He was previously the Chair of the petroleum engineering department of Texas Tech University, where he taught since 1999. Previous to his teaching experience, Dr. Lea worked in the industry for 20 years for Amoco as a special research associate and team leader of the optimization and production group. He taught at the University of Arkansas from 1975 to 1978, and before that he worked as a senior research engineer at the famed Sun Oil Company in Richardson, Texas. Dr. Lea holds 8 patents, has co-authored 2 books, and was awarded the SPE Lifetime Achievement Award as a "Legend of Artificial Lift". Dr. Lea earned a BSME and MSME from the University of Arkansas and a PhD from Southern Methodist University. He is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engieers and ASME. Lynn Rowlan earned a BSCE from Oklahoma State University and was the recipient of the 2000 J.C. Slonneger Award bestowed by the Southwestern Petroleum Short Course Association, Inc. He has authored numerous papers for the Southwestern Petroleum Short Course, the Canadian Petroleum Society, and the Society of Petroleum Engineers. Mr. Rowlan works as an engineer for Echometer Company in Wichita Falls, Texas. His primary interest is to advance the technology used in the Echometer Portable Well Analyzer to analyze and optimize the real-time operation of all artificial lift production systems. He also provides training and consultation for performing well analysis to increase oil and gas production, reduce failures, and reduce power consumption. He presents many seminars and gives numerous talks on the efficient operation of oil and gas wells.

1. Introduction2. Recognizing Symptoms of Liquid Loading in Gas Wells3. Critical Velocity4. Nodal Analysis5. Compression6. Plunger Lift7. Hydraulic Pumping8. Liquid Unloading Using Chemicals for Wells and Pipelines9. Progressing Cavity Pumps10. Use of Beam Pumps to Deliquefy Gas Wells11. Gas Lift12. Electrical Submersible Pumps13. Coal Bed Methane (CBM) and Shale14. Production AutomationAppendix A: Development of critical velocity equationsAppendix B: Nodal concepts and stability concernsAppendix C: Plunger troubleshooting proceduresAppendix D: Gas lift terminologyIndex