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Journal of Energy Resources Technology-Transactions of The ASME, Vol.121, No.4, 234-240, 1999
Plunger lift versus velocity strings
As gas wells deplete, the velocity in the tubing becomes lower. Eventually, the gas velocity will become low enough such that the flowing gradient in the tubing begins to rise because liquids begin to accumulate in the tubing. There are many solutions to liquid loading problems in a gas well. They include use of foams, use of smaller tubing (velocity strings), use of intermittent gas lift, use of plungers (which is essentially intermittent gas lift with a traveling pig), and many pumping methods to lift liquids from a low-pressure gas well. Depending on well conditions, often the choices are between installing smaller tubing (velocity strings) or leaving in the larger tubing and employing plunger lift. This paper shows how to compare the performance of plunger Lift Versus velocity string applications in a manner not previously possible.