Gas Injection

"Thanks to productivity gains from advanced E&P technology, the oil and gas industry has dramatically increased the ultimate recovery of resources from existing fields" (U.S. Department of Energy).

Gas injection, also referred to as a gas lift, is a process used to artificially lift oil from wells where there is insufficient reservoir pressure to produce the well. It is one of the most effective ways to increase recoverability and push production rates higher. In fact, gas injection accounts for nearly 50% of Extended Oil Recovery (EOR) production in the United States (U.S. Dept. of Energy).

Gas injection works by injecting a gas (natural gas, carbon dioxide (CO2), or nitrogen) into the reservoir to increase pressure and reduce viscosity. Increasing pressure within the formation pushes oil toward the production wellbore, while reducing viscosity allows the oil to flow more easily. Viscosity is reduced when certain gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), dissolve into the oil, making it easier for the oil to flow. Gas may be injected continuously or intermittently, depending on the producing characteristics of the well and the arrangement of the gas-lift equipment.