Plunger Lift Systems

Plunger Lift Systems' operating costs: Usually less than $1000 per year in maintenance. $6500 or less for complete hook-up.

Plunger Lift System Requirements: Tubing ID/Wellhead/Packer/Tubing Anchor/etc. must all have equal Inside Diameter or Plunger will stall out or stick. Since most wells require no packer, the casing and tubing annulus can be used for stored energy. Recommended Tubing Placement is at the top of upper third portion of the perforated interval. If well has enough associated gas, this manner of lift can be accomplished with a packer in place. The benefits of the Plunger Lift System are: Decreased Average BHP, resulting in higher production. Stabilizing Production. Maximizing Draw Down and Maintaining Normal Decline Curve. Solids Control.

Conventional Plunger Lift Operation

Plunger Lift is a cyclic method of artificial lift that uses a plunger to establish an interface between the liquid accumulated in the production tubing and the reservoir or annulus gas pressure that will be used to lift the fluid.

The benefits of Plunger Lift are:
• Requires No Outside Energy Source
• Maximizes BHP Draw Down, resulting in Increased Production
• Low Initial Cost
• Low Annual Maintenance

Conventional Operating Principle

• Well is shut in and the plunger falls to bottom through the accumulated fluid in the tubing.
• The well is re-opened at a pre-determined time or pressure, dictated by electronic controls.
• The surface pressure is exhausted into a gas gathering system or to an alternate low pressure point and in return creating differential pressure across the plunger and the liquid fluid column in the production tubing, lifting the fluid and plunger to surface.

Plunger Lift Systems Applications

• Unload Wells That Continue to Load Up With Produced Well bore Fluids
• Reduce Fallback in Wells Being Produced by Intermittent Gas Lift
• Increase Production in Wells with Emulsion Problems
• Enhance Production in High Gas/Liquid Ratio Wells
• Keep the Tubing I.D. Clean in Wells Experiencing Solids Build Up

Application Considerations

Plunger Lift Systems Advantages

• Requires No Outside Energy Source - Uses Well’s Energy to Lift
• Dewatering Gas Wells
• Rig Not Required for Installation
• Easy Maintenance
• Keeps Well Cleaned of Solids Deposits
• Low Cost Artificial Lift Method
• Good in Deviated Wells
• Can Produce Well to Depletion

Plunger Lift Systems Limitations

• Specific GLR’s to Drive System
• Low Fluid Volume Potential
• (400 BPD)
• Solids may require down hole filtration systems, Requires Surveillance to Optimize

Types of Wells Needing A Plunger Lift

• Intermittent
• Soaped
• Shut in and blown
• Gas locked pumping wells
• Flowing wells with wide differentials between tubing and casing
• Paraffin problems
• High Line Pressure