Method of placing a well on production

Claim 2

The process as defined in claim 1 wherein the compressed gas injected into the annulus is at a pressure of from about 50 to 1, 500 psig.

Claim 3

The process as defined in claim 1 wherein the volume of compressed gas injected into the annulus is from about 100 to 3000 cubic feet measured at injection temperature and pressure.

Claim 4

The process as defined in claim 1 wherein the concentration of foaming agent in said foaming agent solution injected into the annulus is from about 0.01 to about 2 percent by weight.

Claim 5

The process as defined in claim 1 wherein the volume of foaming agent solution injected into the annulus is from about 250 cubic feet to about 3,000 cubic feet.

Claim 6

The process as defined in claim 1 wherein a plurality of slugs of compressed gas are injected into the annulus prior to the injection of said solution of foaming agent.

Claim 7

A process for initiating production from a well traversing an oil and/or gas-bearing formation having insufficient pressure to overcome the hydrostatic pressure of liquid in the well, said well having a tubing extending from the surface downward into the well and having means located at the surface to control flow from the tubing, an annulus being formed between said tubing and the wall of the well, and the interior of the tubing being in fluid communication with the annulus, said process comprising: injecting about 250 to about 3,000 cubic feet of compressed gas measured at injection conditions of temperature and pressure of about 50 to 1,500 psi into the annulus with the tubing open, said injection of compressed gas displacing a portion of the liquid in the annulus from the annulus into the tubing and displacing liquid in the tubing upward and out of the well; with the tubing open and while maintaining pressure in the annulus, next injecting into the annulus, from about 250 to about 3,000 cubic feet of an aqueous foaming agent solution having a foaming agent concentration of from about 0.01 to about 2 percent by weight; thereafter releasing the pressure in the annulus thereby generating foam in the annulus; and allowing fluids to flow from the formation into the well and upwardly to the surface under formation pressure.

Claim 8

A process for initiating production from a well traversing an oil and/or gas-bearing formation having insufficient pressure in the formation to overcome the hydrostatic pressure of liquid in the well, said well being provided with a tubing extending from the surface downward into the well and spaced from the wall of the well, an annulus being formed between said tubing and the wall of the well, said tubing having means located at the surface to control fow from the tubing, and the interior of the tubing being in fluid communication with said annulus, said process comprising: admitting the output of a low pressure compressor into a gas storage vessel; introducing water into said storage vessel at an elevated pressure, thereby compressing the gas therein; injecting at least one slug of the gas so compressed into the annulus of the well with the tubing open, thereby displacing a portion of the liquid in the annulus into the tubing and liquid in the tubing upward and out of the well; with the tubing open and while maintaining pressure in the annulus, next injecting an aqueous foaming agent solution into the annulus; thereafter releasing pressure in the annulus, thereby generating foam in the annulus, and allowing fluids to flow from the formation into the well and upwardly to the surface under formation pressure.

Claim 9

A process for initiating production from a well traversing and oil and/or gas-bearing formation having insufficient pressure to overcome the hydrostatic pressure of liquids in the well, said well being provided with a length of tubing extending from the surface downward into the well and spaced from the wall of the well, an annulus being formed between said tubing and the wall of the well, said tubing having means located at the surface to control flow from the tubing, and the interior of said tubing being in fluid communication with the said annulus, said process comprising: admitting air at a pressure of about from 70 to 150 psig into a closed air-storage vessel, introducing sufficient water into said storage vessel to compress the air in said vessel to a pressure of from about 500 psig to about 1,500 psig, with the tubing open introducing at least one slug of the said air thus compressed to a pressure of from about 500 psi to about 1,500 psi into the annulus of the well, the total volume of said gas injected being from about 100 to 3,000 cubic feet measured at injection temperature and pressure, thereby displacing a portion of the liquid in the annulus from the annulus into the tubing and displacing liquid in the tubing upward and out of the well; with the tubing open and pressure maintained in the annulus, next injecting into said annulus from about 250 to about 3,000 cubic feet of an aqueous foaming agent solution having a foaming agent concentration of about 0.01 to 2 percent by weight; thereafter releasing pressure in the annulus, thereby generating foam in the well, and allowing fluid to flow from the formation into the well and upwardly to the surface under formation pressure.