Plunger Lift, Gas Lift and GAPL Basics Course

Clint Mason

This course provides a practical, field-driven understanding of plunger lift, gas lift, and gas-assisted plunger lift (GAPL) systems, with a strong focus on real-world operations rather than theory. Learners will explore how to interpret pressure and flow behavior, master plunger operation basics including liquid loading and its effects on well performance, and address challenges specific to horizontal wells. The training covers the importance of critical flow rates, flow regimes, and how to effectively manage plunger speed and placement. It also delves into advanced topics such as multi-stage plungers and GAPL applications to enhance well productivity. The course draws on decades of industry experience, making it ideal for those involved in optimizing artificial lift systems in complex wellbore configurations.Read more...

Who Should Take This Course
• Field and lease operators
• Artificial lift specialists
• Production and operations engineers
• Production technologists and foremen

What You Will Learn
• Apply GAPL and gas lift basics
• Interpret pressure and flow behavior
• Diagnose liquid loading and slugging
• Manage plunger lift in horizontal wells

Why This Course Works
• Avoid costly operational mistakes
• Reduce equipment damage and downtime
• Increase well production reliability
• Operate plunger lift safer and smarter

If plunger lift is part of your operation, this course gives you the insight to run it safer, smarter, and more reliably.

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Course contents

    Chapter 1 - Basic Plunger Operation

    01-00 - Introduction (6 min.)  Sample Lesson

    01-01 - Plunger basics - Liquid Loading Explained (15 min.)

    01-02 - Impact of Liquid Loading on Production (16 min.)

    01-03 - Bottom Hole Spring (14 min.)

    01-04 - Basic Plunger Design (28 min.)

    01-05 - Plunger Design - (continued) (8 min.) Quiz

    Chapter 2 - Lubricators

    02-01 - Lubricator Type and Design (17 min.)

    02-02 - Kinetic Energy and the Lubricator Deceleration Spring (11 min.)

    02-03 - Removing the Plunger and Safe Catcher Operation (12 min.)

    02-04 - Plunger Basics Controller and Sensor Basics (32 min.)

    02-05 - Picking the Right Plunger and Setting the Right Closed Time (23 min.)

    02-06 - Plunger Rise Speed, Setting the Open Time and Target Time (10 min.) Quiz

    Chapter 3 - Horizontal Well Applications

    03-01 - Fluid Movement in the Hz Section of the Well (9 min.)

    03-02 - End of Tubing Placement in a Vertical Well and Hz Wells (12 min.)

    03-03 - Packers with Plunger Lift Wells (8 min.)

    03-04 - Flow Challenges with Hz Wellbores (11 min.) Quiz

    Chapter 4 - System Selection

    04-01 - Plunger Lift System Types (10 min.)

    04-02 - GAPL/PAGL Application (Gas Assisted Plunger Lift) (24 min.)

    04-03 - Challenges of Producing Hz Wells with Other Systems (8 min.)

    04-04 - Basic Gas Lift Introduction (25 min.)

    04-05 - Hydrate Awareness (8 min.)

    04-06 - Advanced Optimization (13 min.) Quiz