Guidelines & Recommended Practices

Selection of Artificial Lift Systems for Deli uifying Gas !ells

2.3g Soap Sticks This section discusses the practical limits of soap sticks in terms of liquid production rate, gas production rate, depth, pressure, temperature, etc. It presents rough guidelines on the relative costs of soap sticks. Obviously precise costs can not be given as they depend on many factors. It presents rough guidelines on the relative life expectancy of soap sticks. Clearly, precise expectations can not be given as they depend on many factors. Introduction The purpose of introducing solid surfactants into the well bore is to improve the Turner Coleman rate inexpensively. !oap sticks accomplish this but the benefit can be temporary. The surfactant mixes with the produced water down hole and changes the surface tension of the water molecule. This reduction of surface tension between molecules allows the water droplets to break up into ever finer droplets. "ater, in a mist condition, will migrate to the surface with the up flowing gas stream more easily than larger, heavier droplets. # falling soap stick will encounter and mix with the water that is nearest the top of the water column. Typically the upper portion of the water column is a burst of activity as gas bubbles churn through to the surface. This stirring effect, combined with the increased temperature down hole, promotes the dissolution of the solid surfactant. One soap stick will effectively treat one barrel of water, although the tubing can contain much more water than that. The weight of the standing water column in a gas well reflects the pressure of the near well bore formation. $emoving a portion of this water from the top of the water column by the use of solid surfactants means that the available pressure down hole can, alone, burp up an additional amount of water. #t this point, some wells will begin logging off again whereas other wells will continue to un load. One soap stick therefore can unload from % to & barrels depending on the well's bottom hole pressure and inflow characteristics.

Selection of Artificial Lift Systems for Deli uifying Gas !ells Practical Limits (epth limits

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There is not a finite depth limitation with the use of soap sticks other than maximum temperature. This fact makes solid surfactants an attractive option for deeper completions. !i)e limits !oap sticks are made as small as &*+, diameter by %-, long .%/mm*0&cm1 for use in velocity strings. The largest soap sticks are 0, .&-mm1 in diameter for use in casing only completions to delay the requirement for tubing installation. The most common soap sticks are %.0&, diameter by %/, long .20mm*3-cm1. 4ressure limits !oap sticks are immune to increases in pressure and may be used in high pressure applications. The exception is the less popular gel stick, as produced by a few manufacturers. If the gel 5acket contains an air pocket, the stick can distort under pressure causing the stick to hang up in the tree. Temperature limits !oap sticks may be purchased for higher temperature dissolution or alternately for low temperature dissolution. 6sing surfactants at extreme temperatures, however, can cause a degeneration of the chemical components used in the manufacture of the surfactant. The variables involved in the decision to employ soap sticks are7 a1 produced water volume, and b1 water column surface temperature, not bottom hole temperature. This is because a solid surfactant, used correctly, does not need to migrate deeply into the water column .see introductory paragraphs1. Consult with reputable surfactant manufacturers for definitive temperature limitations. 4ackaging and handling # typical soap stick is a liquid surfactant in a chemical binder. This binder gives the soap stick a hard wax like texture. # 8gel stick' is a near liquid surfactant in a gelatin sleeve giving the stick a higher ratio of active ingredients. The latest type of stick is known as the paper shell stick. This surfactant is contained in a water soluble paper shell. The paper shell remains clean and prevents losses due to breakage.

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$ate limits Concerning low flow rate wells7 solid surfactants will lower by &9 to 0-9 the Turner Coleman rates necessary to produce the well after other variables are met. # weaker well or a loaded well can be shut in for an extended period to increase the flow rate for unloading liquid from the tubing. :or higher producers, the maximum flow rate at which a soap stick will fall is approximately 3-- ;C:( in 0 2*+ tubing and approximately /-- ;C:( in 0 <*+ tubing. "hen a well flows above these rates, the well should be shut in for & to %- minutes to allow the stick to fall into the water column. 4roduced water and hydrocarbons :oamer formulations are specific for the presence of fresh water or water with high chloride count. #nother variable is the presence of oil or condensate. The Operator should inform the surfactant supplier about the water test report for the best result. Typically the oil cut can be as high as &-9 for the extended, continuous use of surfactants. The maximum amount of condensate is 2-9 when using surfactants on a daily basis such as with an automated launcher. These upper limits do not apply for the occasional use of surfactants. 6ser guidelines for vertical completions :or least cost and best results, vertically completed wells should be treated with one soap stick at a time and re charged with another stick when the flow rate trends downwardly toward critical .at approximately %.0 times the Turner critical velocity1. The exception to the minimum stick rule is larger tubing diameters and greater water volumes. The Operator should review the production records to determine when the effectiveness of a stick drop has expired .typically / to %0 hours later, frequently longer1. #nother stick drop should be scheduled prior to that time to maintain a more uniform flow rate. !hutting in the well during stick fall time is the exception, not the rule, in a vertical completion. 6ser guidelines for hori)ontal completions =ori)ontal completions differ from vertical completions. # hori)ontal completion should be treated with 0 to 3 sticks and then shut in for an extended period. Once the flow time begins, it should be sufficiently long to re charge the tubing with water.

Selection of Artificial Lift Systems for Deli uifying Gas !ells

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Other chemical sticks The 8foamer' stick is the most common chemical stick for de watering gas wells. Other sticks are manufactured for controlling corrosion, paraffin, scale, =0!, and salt bridges. #n acetylene stick is available to create a gas release for thoroughly liquid loaded wells. $esearch is ongoing to create an effective foamer for oil laden formations >imits with sand, corrosion, erosion, =0!, CO0, etc. 4ower requirements Operating requirements ;aintenance requirements #ost Guidelines C#4?@ The easiest method of introducing soap sticks into the well bore is by a submarine hatch arrangement of ball valves, i.e. two ball valves above the tree cap separated by %+,of pipe at a cost of about A/-- in 0--< dollars. # more expensive method is to employ an automatic soap stick launcher at about ten times the expense of the homemade launcher. The extra expense can be 5ustified if a production increase is the result. O4?@ The on going cost of de watering a gas well with solid surfactants is the expense of the soap stick. !oap sticks are purchased at supply stores from A& to A%- depending on formulations. Bolume purchases reduce the cost per stick. #n additional reduction in operating expense can be reali)ed by introducing the minimum number of sticks into the well at a time. !ee 6ser Cuidelines. $D; Life $%pectancy Guidelines

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Infant mortality .early time failure1 Eormal operating life The failure of soap sticks in the de watering process falls into two categories. The first is an incorrect formulation for the liquids being produced, for example an excess of liquid hydrocarbons or excessive chlorides. The second cause of failure is insufficient flow rate. !urfactants will reduce the Turner Coleman rate required by a limited percentage only. !ee $ate >imits. Soap Sticks 's. #ompeting (et)ods of Artificial Lift !oap sticks 6se of soap sticks is the least expensive artificial lift technique requiring minimal Capex. The disadvantage is that the total amount of fluid removable by this method peaks at about &- to %-- F4(. #nother disadvantage is the Opex for the personnel required to deliver soap sticks into the well bore. 4lunger lift The cost of plunger lift is on par with the use of automatic soap stick launchers and plunger lift is a preferred method when liquid hydrocarbons vs. water exceed the limitation outlined above. 4lunger lift is equal to solid surfactants in removing a maximum amount of fluid, i.e. &- to %-- F4(. 4lunger lift requires a more skilled operator, however. Capillary string Capillary strings are approximately 2- times more expensive than a homemade stick launcher and three times the expense of plunger lift or automatic stick launching. The surfactant from a capillary system is discharged at the perfs, where temperature issues might exist. The advantage to the cap string is the duration between re charge cycles. The Opex disadvantage is the cost of the liquid surfactant per ;C: increase. 4C4, ?!4, $od pump #lthough more expensive, the advantage of a 4C4 or a rod pump is in the total volume of fluid removed. ?ach technique will exceed

Selection of Artificial Lift Systems for Deli uifying Gas !ells the volume of fluid remove by surfactants by one order of magnitude. The disadvantage is the C#4?@ and O4?@.

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Recommended Practices for Installation+ ,peration+ and (aintenance of Soap Stick Systems Recommended Practices for Automation+ Sur'eillance+ and ,ptimi-ation of Soap Stick Systems