Gas Assisted Plunger Lift

Gas assisted plunger lift can be used to create a pressure differential and draw liquid up the tubing to production equipment. Plunger lift systems use a piston between formation gas and produced liquids. When the control valve is open, the well is flowing and the plunger rests in the lubricator at the surface. As liquids accumulate the well begins to load. When the control valve closes, this stops the flow and the plunger drops through emulsion to the bottom of the well. With the well shut in, the pressure builds until a controller tells the valve to open, allowing the plunger to return while pushing the liquid that’s above it to the surface. A key component of plunger lift is the control valve. The valve must operate unmanned. An electric actuator is ideal in this situation because pneumatics will often fail due to moisture in the gas causing deterioration or freezing.