Leveraging UDTL’s Artificial Lift Valves in Oil Recovery

Oil recovery during the initial phases of a well’s producing life is largely enabled by the natural pressure of the reservoir fluids. As long as the reservoir pressure remains higher than the wellbore pressure, hydrocarbons keep moving out of the well on its own. However, when the formation pressure reduces over time, recovering hydrocarbons from the well becomes tough. Artificial Lift as an oil recovery method was introduced very soon after Colonel Edwin Drake discovered the first oil in 1859. Today, artificial lift has become the most used oil recovery method throughout the world. Artificial lift’s popularity is so high that it is said that every oil well and gas well will require the intervention of artificial lift at some point in their producing life.

The efficiency of the Artificial Lift method in extracting hydrocarbons from wells is directly related to the efficiency of the equipment used in the process. In this article, let us see how years of engineering excellence at the leading oilfield equipment manufacturer, UDTL has resulted in artificial gas lift equipment with zero leakage rate.

UDTL: One of the Leading Artificial Lift Companies

Headquartered in India with a strong global presence, United Drilling Tools Limited is an API and ISO-certified oilfield equipment manufacturer. Leveraging its rich history of over two decades, UDTL has a global reputation in manufacturing oilfield equipment with field-proven design and operations. The firm employs 450+ industry professionals to deliver world-leading oilfield products, fabricated using high-quality raw materials and cutting-edge technologies. UDTL also offers essential after-sales service to buyers around the world. UDTL’s product portfolio spans from Wireline Winch Units, Downhole Tools and Artificial Lift Equipment to Casing Pipe Connectors.

Let us have a look at the innovative artificial lift equipment product line of UDTL.

UDTL WIRELINE RETRIEVABLE GAS LIFT VALVE

UDT Wireline retrievable injection pressure operated gas lift valves use nitrogen-charged, multi-ply Monel bellows to provide the force necessary to maintain the valves in the normally closed position. These gas lift valves are installed in the side pocket mandrel for injection of gas and can be easily replaced using wireline string. These valves are manufactured in a variety of port sizes to suit a wide range of gas injection volume and flow rates. All the gas lift valves feature floating valve seats, which facilitate seat change-outs to make valve repairs easier and more economical.

Benefits of UDTL Wireline Retrievable Artificial Lift Valve

• Field-proven design and operation
• Large dome volume gives smooth stable valve operation that prevents stem and seat cutting
• Robust bellow construction, hermetically sealed for reliable performance
• Features a double O-ring seal on the tail plug that provides enhanced sealing integrity for the nitrogen dome-pressure charge, increasing the service life of the valve
• Bellows fluid dampening to prevent vibration and destructive chatter during operation
• Manufactured from a variety of premium grade materials to provide corrosion and erosion resistance for the intended application. Stainless steel or Monel options are typically utilized for the outer and main body components
• Mechanical stops limit bellows travel in both directions. This provides bellows protection and assures long life by keeping bellows travel within design limits
• Valve seat and Ball are made up of Tungsten carbide. Optional Monel or Stainless steel seats are also available as required
• Bellows are silver brazed using induction heating techniques
• Robust reverse flow check valve
• Guided valve-stem for precise alignment with the seat during operation
• These valves can be easily inserted and retrieved using standard Wireline techniques with latch installed at the top of the valves.
• Inspection and Testing as per the stringent requirements of API 19G2 Specifications

UDTL ORIFICE VALVES

Orifice valves control the volume of gas through the valve into the production conduit. These valves are used for continuous injection of gas. They are fitted mostly at the bottom of the wells. Since they do not have charged bellows and stem configurations they remain in an open condition and allow the free passage of injection gas into the production tubing. These valves have integral robust reverse flow check valves at the bottom to prevent production fluid backflow. The reverse flow check valve has elastomeric primary seal and metal to metal secondary seal to prevent tubing to casing communication. Reverse flow check valves are rated to 5000 psi differential pressure.

Benefits of UDTL Orifice Valves

• • Field-proven design and operation.
  • Manufactured from a variety of premium grade materials to provide corrosion and erosion resistance for the intended application. Stainless steel or Monel options are typically utilized for the outer and main body components.
  • Valve seat is made up of Tungsten carbide. Optional Monel or Stainless steel seats are also available as required.
  • These valves can be easily inserted and retrieved using standard Wireline techniques with latch installed at the top of the valves.
  • Robust reverse flow check valve.
  • Inspection and Testing as per the stringent requirements of API 19G2 Specifications.

UDTL DUMMY VALVE

Dummy Valves are used to blank off communication between tubing and casing. In new installations, dummies can be retained in the mandrels until gas lift valves are required to maintain production. Then, dummies are pulled and gas lift valves installed by wireline. During the life of the well, gas lift valves installed above the fluid level can be replaced with dummies to block off injection gas.

Benefits of UDTL Dummy Valves

• • Field-proven design and operation.
  • Manufactured from a variety of premium grade materials to provide corrosion and erosion resistance for the intended application. Stainless steel or Monel options are typically utilized for the outer and main body components.
  • These valves can be easily inserted and retrieved using standard Wireline techniques with latch installed at the top of the valves.
  • Inspection and Testing as per the stringent requirements of API 19G2 Specifications.

UDTL LATCHES

Latches are available in a wide range of designs for use with retrievable gas lift valves to be installed in the side pocket mandrels and make it easy to install and remove valves. These latches are spring-loaded with a ring locking arrangement.

Benefits of UDTL Latches

• Field-proven design and operation.
• Manufactured from a variety of premium grade materials to provide corrosion and erosion resistance for the intended application.
• Wireline-retrievable latch design allows valves to be pulled and serviced or replaced without pulling the tubing, reducing maintenance and repair costs.
• Inspection and Testing as per the stringent requirements of API 19G3 Specifications.

UDTL RUNNING TOOL

UDTL Running Tools are used to install wireline retrievable GLV, orifice and dummy valve into the side pocket mandrel pocket.

Benefits of UDTL Running Tools

• Field-proven design and operation.
• One-piece design and tangential pins for ease of shearing.
• Fitted with industry-standard connections and fishing necks.
• Inspection and Testing as per the stringent requirements of API 19G3 Specifications.

UDTL PULLING TOOL

UDTL Pulling Tools are used to retrieve wireline retrievable GLV, orifice and dummy valve from side pocket mandrel pocket

Benefits of UDTL Pulling Tools

• Field-proven design and operation.
• Fitted with industry-standard connections and fishing necks.
• Inspection and Testing as per the stringent requirements of API 19G3 Specifications.

UDTL KICKOVER TOOL

UDTL Kickover Tools are utilized in the installation and retrieval of wireline devices from Side Pocket Mandrel pocket.

Benefits of UDTL Kickover Tools

• Field-proven design and operation.
• Fitted with industry-standard connections and fishing necks.
• Able to insert and retrieve valves in highly deviated wells.
• Inspection and Testing as per the stringent requirements of API 19G3 Specifications.

UDTL SIDE POCKET MANDREL

UDTL Side pocket mandrels are a part of the tubing string. These side-pocket mandrels feature an oval-body design and threaded connections for installation in the tubing string. The side pocket is offset from the bore of the tubing, which allows full tubing drift, through the mandrel and without restriction, for well-servicing operations. The side pocket contains profiles and seal bores to land gas-lift and other flow-control devices.

Flow-control devices are installed in the side pocket using a kickover tool, which is run into the well using standard wireline techniques. These mandrels include an integral orienting sleeve that aligns the kickover tool and flow control devices with the pocket for precise installation in straight and deviated wellbores.

Benefits of UDTL Side-pocket Mandrels

• Field-proven design and operation.
• Side-pocket design eliminates the need to pull or rerun the tubing string to install or replace gas-lift valves.
• Side pocket is offset from the tubing bore, which maximizes the flow area and allows full tubing drift for well servicing operations through the mandrel, without restriction.
• Slotted orienting sleeve in select models enables precise installation and retrieval of gas-lift equipment in straight and deviated wellbores.
• Tool guard protects gas-lift equipment from damage by deflecting tools larger than the pulling/running tool from the flow-control device.
• Full traceability through the manufacturing process and 100% dimensional inspection is performed.
• Welding qualifies to ASME Sec IX standards with quality control including ultrasonic testing and radiography testing.
• QA inspection includes weld visual inspection, Hardness testing, internal and external drift testing and kick over testing.
• 100% internal pressure testing at rated pressure of the mandrel
• These mandrels are available in a variety of thread connections like EU and / or premium thread configurations required by customers. Side pocket mandrels are available in AISI-4130 grade as well as L-80 grade material. Alternate material options are also available.
• Manufacturing facility certification to ISO 9001 & API Monogram Program specification 19G1 in all grades.

Learn about how UDTL’s casing pipe connectors have enhanced the reliability of casing pipes

(The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Energy Dais)