Reducing Carbon Intensity of Production & Improving Uptime by Use of an Electric Adaptive Gas Lift Compressor

Abstract

This paper details the framework and operation of a wellsite facility that utilizes a wellsite gas lift compressor that implements “adaptive flow control” to minimize manual intervention and carbon intensity of oil and gas production. The adaptive operation of the compression package is detailed, along with the metrics quantifying the reduction in carbon intensity. The basis for the reduction in carbon intensity is achieved by reduction in scope-1 emissions, instrumentation exhaust, minimizing the intervention by operations teams, and operating in “adaptive” mode to minimize trips and maximize production. Unconventional wells on gas lift are sensitive to surface compressors trips, and in most cases required to be shut in a few hours due to liquid loading. Given the remoteness of well facilities, there may not be enough time for a lease operator or compressor technician to arrive at the compressor before the well is shut-in. Tracking the data on the majority causes of failures, it is observed that about half of the compressor trips were caused due to fluctuation in process gas pressure — this can be suction side, discharge side or due to gas conditions causing sudden fluctuation between stages of compression. Additionally, these dynamic conditions of operation are protected by static equipment protection alarms. The adaptive compressor operates with the ability to adjust to fluctuating process conditions, including floating shutdown limits using real-time calculation of mechanical loads on key components to ensure the dynamic nature of the shutdown limits does not impact equipment integrity. In case of a trip, the compressor additionally goes through a series of tests and attempts to restart itself. First trials of this project have shown high uptime of the facility and gas lift compressor and provide a model for collaborative R&D towards achieving a producers goals.