Model Reformulation and Global Optimization of Oil Production Using Gas Lift

Gas lift technology is one of the most common methods used for wells with insufficient reservoir pressure. It makes use of gas reinjection to enhance individual well production. When several wells are used to produce a reservoir, a problem arises regarding the selection about how to produce each well so that overall production can be maximized. To accomplish it, one needs to determine the optimal production of each well and how much gas ought to be injected. In this article, we revise previous efforts and present a new MINLP model, which we solve globally using RYSIA, a recently developed global optimization algorithm (Faria and Bagajewicz, <i>AICHE J</i>. <b>58</b> (<i>8</i>) 2320–2335)