Gas-lift valve testing

Nov. 23, 2009
This letter refers to an article by Zotan Turzo and Gabor Takacs entitled "CFD techniques determine gas-lift valve behavior" (OGJ, June 8, 2009, p. 46).

This letter refers to an article by Zotan Turzo and Gabor Takacs entitled "CFD techniques determine gas-lift valve behavior" (OGJ, June 8, 2009, p. 46).

The article stated: "Mainly based on the systematic work performed at TUALP [Tulsa University artificial lift projects], API published the first edition of Gas Lift Valve Performance Testing (API RP11V2) in 1995."

The statement is not entirely correct. The testing techniques adopted by American Petroleum Institute for the Recommended Practice (RP) 11V2 had been performed for many years prior to TUALP by Teledyne Merla. I am the chairman of RP 11V2 and former employee of Teledyne Merla. I am quite familiar with the time line and development of the testing techniques adopted by API.

While TUALP did practice one of the testing methods prior to the publication of the API document, the test method they practiced was not developed by them. In addition, the API document included two additional test requirements that, to my knowledge, were never practiced at TUALP; namely, the Loadrate test and the Flow Coefficient test. Both of these additional tests are critical to the proper testing of a gas-lift valve.

I would like to ensure proper credit is given not only to Teledyne Merla but also to the members of the API committee who worked very hard and for a great deal of time to write this document.

Kenneth L. Decker
Chairman, API RP11V2
Decker Technology Inc.
Stone Mountain, Ga.

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