Patent ID: 7401655
Filing Date: 2008-07-22
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A method for producing a gas well, comprising: (a) selecting a well having a production zone; (b) performing a bottom hole pressure versus flow rate test of the production zone while the well is free of a column of liquid above the production zone and graphing a pressure versus flow rate curve by varying a flow area of an orifice through which gas flows from the production zone, measuring a pressure and flow rate of the gas flowing from the production zone at the different flow areas of the orifice; (c) computing a frictional pressure drop due to friction of the well fluid flowing through a production tubing from the production zone to the surface; (d) selecting a compressor having at a selected speed a design pressure at least equal to a sum of the frictional pressure drop plus a desired wellhead pressure and a design flow rate based on the pressure versus flow rate curve; (e) operatively connecting a motor to the compressor, securing the compressor and motor to a string of production tubing, and lowering the motor and the compressor into the well after the pressure versus flow rate curve has been made; (f) supplying power to the motor and rotating the compressor at the selected speed, which creates a suction to draw gas from the production zone into the compressor; and (g) compressing the gas with the compressor and conveying the gas up the production tubing.