US 11,773,700 B2
Autonomous optimization of single-well and multi-well gas lift
Terizhandur S. Ramakrishnan, Boxborough, MA (US); William J. Bailey, Somerville, MA (US); and Kashif Rashid, Wayland, MA (US)
Assigned to SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION, Sugar Land, TX (US)
Filed by Schlumberger Technology Corporation, Sugar Land, TX (US)
Filed on Dec. 26, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/727,718.
Prior Publication US 2021/0198988 A1, Jul. 1, 2021
Int. Cl. E21B 43/12 (2006.01); G01F 1/78 (2006.01); G01F 1/74 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 43/122 (2013.01) [G01F 1/78 (2013.01); G01F 1/74 (2013.01)] 28 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for controlling gas lift in at least one production well, comprising:
i) receiving, from a first flow meter, a measured first flow rate of gas injected into a production well;
ii) receiving, from a second flow meter, a measured second flow rate of oil produced from the production well;
iii) determining, via one or more processors of a controller, a quadratic function that relates the second flow rate of oil produced from the production well to the first flow rate of gas injected into the production well based on the measured first flow rate of gas injected into the production well and the measured second flow rate of oil produced from the production well;
iv) determining, via the one or more processors of the controller, using the quadratic function, an optimal flow rate of gas injected into the production well;
v) controlling, via a control valve, using the optimal flow rate of gas injected into the production well, an actual flow rate of gas injected into the production well; and
vi) receiving, from the second flow meter, a measured third flow rate of oil produced from the production well at the optimal flow rate of gas injected into the production well.