Utilizing Dissolvable Barriers to Pilot Life of Well Gas Lift

by:
Craig Beanland – Occidental Petroleum
Matt Pomroy – Shale Oil Tools
Slavoljub Stojanovic – Occidental Petroleum
John Daniels – Shale Oil Tools
Brian Kennedy – Shale Oil Tools

The presentation details a successful pilot program utilizing dissolvable packer and dissolvable gas lift valve barriers to optimize initial well flow and gas lift operations. This approach was developed for Midland Basin wells that had flow profiles unsuitable for annular gas lift but too high of rates for initial flow through 2-7/8” tubing. Previously, operators often opted for larger 3-1/2” tubing with conventional gas lift, which was costly due to increased tubing expenses and higher early-life compression requirements.

The dissolvable barriers allowed annular flowback prior to conventional 2-7/8” gas lift injection, protecting the Gas Lift Valves (GLVs) from debris like sand and frac plug remnants during this phase. After a configurable delay, the barriers dissolve, enabling gas injection without further intervention. The trial demonstrated that this method reduced tubing expense by 52% and emissions and electrical usage by 33% as the well declined. It also maximized early life cumulative production compared to pad averages and maintained Time To Market (TTM) efficiencies. Furthermore, the dissolvable packer served as a sufficient well control barrier, allowing for day-one GLV installation without needing kill fluid and preventing the need for a future tubing downsize or associated workover. The trial well flowed for 45 days before conversion to gas lift, with the GLVs behaving normally.