_RP_11V8-2003_2015.pdf

Recommended Practice for Gas Lift System Design and Performance PredictionAPI RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 11V8FIRST EDITION,SEPTEMBER 2003REAFFIRMED,MARCH 2015 Recommended Practice for Gas Lift System Design and Performance PredictionUpstream SegmentAPI RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 111V8FIRST EDITION,SEPTEMBER 2003REAFFIRMED,MARCH 2015 SPECIAL NOTES API publications necessarily address problems of a general nature.With respect to partic-ular circumstances,local,state,and federal laws and regulations should be reviewed.API is not undertaking to meet the duties of employers,manufacturers,or suppliers towarn and properly train and equip their employees,and others exposed,concerning healthand safety risks and precautions,nor undertaking their obligations under local,state,or fed-eral laws.Information concerning safety and health risks and proper precautions with respect to par-ticular materials and conditions should be obtained from the employer,the manufacturer orsupplier of that material,or the material safety data sheet.Nothing contained in any API publication is to be construed as granting any right,byimplication or otherwise,for the manufacture,sale,or use of any method,apparatus,or prod-uct covered by letters patent.Neither should anything contained in the publication be con-strued as insuring anyone against liability for infringement of letters patent.Generally,API standards are reviewed and revised,reaffirmed,or withdrawn at least everyfive years.Sometimes a one-time extension of up to two years will be added to this reviewcycle.This publication will no longer be in effect five years after its publication date as anoperative API standard or,where an extension has been granted,upon republication.Statusof the publication can be ascertained from the API Standards department telephone(202)682-8000.A catalog of API publications,programs and services is published annually andupdated biannually by API,and available through Global Engineering Documents,15 Inv-erness Way East,M/S C303B,Englewood,CO 80112-5776.This document was produced under API standardization procedures that ensure appropri-ate notification and participation in the developmental process and is designated as an APIstandard.Questions concerning the interpretation of the content of this standard or com-ments and questions concerning the procedures under which this standard was developedshould be directed in writing to the Director of the Standards department,American Petro-leum Institute,1220 L Street,N.W.,Washington,D.C.20005.Requests for permission toreproduce or translate all or any part of the material published herein should be addressed tothe Director,Business Services.API standards are published to facilitate the broad availability of proven,sound engineer-ing and operating practices.These standards are not intended to obviate the need for apply-ing sound engineering judgment regarding when and where these standards should beutilized.The formulation and publication of API standards is not intended in any way toinhibit anyone from using any other practices.Any manufacturer marking equipment or materials in conformance with the markingrequirements of an API standard is solely responsible for complying with all the applicablerequirements of that standard.API does not represent,warrant,or guarantee that such prod-ucts do in fact conform to the applicable API standard.All rights reserved.No part of this work may be reproduced,stored in a retrieval system,or transmitted by any means,electronic,mechanical,photocopying,recording,or otherwise,without prior written permission from the publisher.Contact the Publisher,API Publishing Services,1220 L Street,N.W.,Washington,D.C.20005.Copyright 2003 American Petroleum Institute FOREWORD This Recommended Practice(RP)is under the jurisdiction of the API Committee on Stan-dardization of Production Equipment(Committee 11).This document presents RPs for the design of gas lift systems.Other API Specifications,API RPs,and Gas Processors Suppliers Association(GPSA)documents are referenced andshould be used for assistance in design and operation.Introduction to Gas Lift System Design and Performance Prediction API RP 11V8 Recommended Practice for Gas Lift System Design and Performance Pre-diction,provides two functions:A broad overview of gas lift systems and various major types of gas lift operations.Recommended practices for gas lift system design and for modeling methods used inperformance prediction.All key system components are reviewed to provide guidancefor engineers,technicians,well analysts,and operating personnel who are involved ingas lift system analysis,troubleshooting,design,and optimization.The primary purpose of this API Recommended Practice(RP)is to emphasize gas lift as asystem and to discuss methods used to predict its performance.Information must be gath-ered and models validated prior to a system design,which must precede wellbore gas liftmandrel and valve design.The subsurface and surface components of the