The Gas Lift Method of Pumping Oil Wells

Abstract

The name "gas lift" has a new and unfamiliar sound in oil-fieldpractice and may, therefore, require an introduction or definition. The processshould become the subject of engineering discussions in order to dispel generalmisunderstanding.The gas lift is simply a modified form of the air lift, which has been usedfor many years in raising water from wells, is familiar to Gulf Coast oiloperators and was used considerably in California a number of years ago. Thegas lift differs from the air lift in that natural gas is used as the liftingmedium instead of air.Gas is used instead of air chiefly because it helps to save and recovernatural gasoline and such natural gas as accompanies the oil. The gasoline, ornatural gas, would be wasted if carried out of an oil well by air because itwould be diluted with the air and form an explosive mixture which could not behandled by compressors. The saving of gasoline is one of the reasons upon whichthe patent covering the process was granted to Philip Jones in 1914.Gas has a further advantage of not oxidizing or corroding the casing andtubing as air does, especially in the presence of sulfur.