Analysis of Plunger Safe Rise Velocity in Sulige Gas Field

Abstract

Sulige gas field is the low-medium pressure gathering and transportation mode; based on the limit pressure of the gas gathering pipeline, this paper analyzes the reasonable safe rise speed range of the plunger and liquid in tubing. First, the limit pressure is set at 5 MPa when plunger reaches the surface. Then, by using the impulse model and the Bernoulli equation, the maximum rise velocity of the plunger and liquid in tubing can be calculated and a line chart is presented which corresponds to the relationship between velocity and pressure of plunger and liquid. Finally, the speed range will be checked in the line chart. The plunger and different heights of liquid column correspond to different reasonable speed ranges; for a plunger and 100 m liquid column, the best speed is in a range between 328 ft/min and 984 ft/min in the 2⁷/₈” tubing. In the line chart, it can be found that different heights of liquid do obvious influence on limit speed. In order to obtain a reasonable safe rise speed range of plunger and liquid in tubing, the liquid column height above the plunger must be tested first. In this paper, the safe rise speed of the plunger and liquid is the first time proposed for low-medium pressure gathering and transportation mode in Sulige gas field. The operation characteristics of the plunger are analyzed by plotting the relationship between the velocity and pressure of the plunger and liquid.

Copyright 2017, Shaanxi Petroleum Society.

This paper was prepared for presentation at the 2017 International Field Exploration and Development Conference in Chengdu, China, 21–22 September 2017.

This paper was selected for presentation by the IFEDC&IPPTC Committee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the paper, as presented, have not been reviewed by the IFEDC&IPPTC Committee and are subject to correction by the author(s). The material does not necessarily reflect any position of the IFEDC&IPPTC Committee, its members. Papers presented at the Conference are subject to publication review by Professional Committee of Petroleum Engineering of Shaanxi Petroleum Society. Electronic reproduction, distribution, or storage of any part of this paper for commercial purposes without the written consent of Shaanxi Petroleum Society is prohibited. Permission to reproduce in print is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words; illustrations may not be copied. The abstract must contain conspicuous acknowledgment of IFEDC&IPPTC. Contact email: paper@ifedc.org or paper@ipptc.org.