Click a link below to drop-down to a description of the media you would like to view:
Technical Papers
“Vortex Tools: NGL Technology Solution for Operators with Enhanced Recovery and Improved ROI”
“Investigation of New Tool to Unload Liquids from Stripper-Gas Wells”
“A Review of D.O.E. Testing of VortexFlow Technology for Petroleum & Natural Gas Production and Operations”
“Field Testing Vortex Oil and Gas Units in NPR-3 Gathering Systems”
“Vortex Flow Technology Finding New Applications”
Case Studies
Manzanares Surface Pressure Reduction Study
Horizontal Study
Flowlines with Paraffin Study
Surface: Trunk Lines Study
Surface: One-Page Case Studies
Downhole Tools Study
Downhole: Intermitted Well Flow Study
E. Texas Producers Association Study
Installation Instructions
Surface Installation Instructions
Downhole Installation Instructions
Advanced DX-WR Installation Instructions
Surface line from a coalbed methane well (note the spiral formed by the vortex flow)
Technical Papers
“Vortex Tools: NGL Technology Solution for Operators with Enhanced Recovery and Improved ROI” (R. Haas and C. McKay Miller)
This technical paper covers a 15-month study (through March 2011) on the value of the Vortex surface tools in substantially increasing natural gas liquid (NGL) recovery with marginal change to the value of the gas (7-12 BTU). A major E. Texas independent recovered over 1.2 million gallons of additional NGLs from 10 Vortex tools installed in three gathering lines with the Vortex tools in a single year, translating to over $2 million in additional revenues. An average well line with Vortex paid for itself in less than 60 days (including the cost of the Vortex tool and associated tanks and installation). There were also additional “non-revenue” benefits like reduced pigging, lower methanol use, reduced hydrate formation and zero line freeze-ups on gathering lines with Vortex. PDF
“Investigation of New Tool to Unload Liquids from Stripper-Gas Wells” (A. Ali, SPE/White Paper #84136)
This SPE White Paper (drawn from a graduate MS thesis by Ahsan Ali) covers the Vortex method for unloading and restoring continuous production of low-rate (stripper) gas wells. The performance of the Vortex tool was examined using a 125-ft. vertical flow loop of two-inch diameter clear PVC at the Texas A&M Petroleum Engineering school. The Vortex tool was found to alter the basic flow structure in the pipe, resulting in improved liquid flow and reduced friction, lower slugging and a reduced critical rate. The tool was observed to reduce tubing pressure loss by up to 17% and to lower the minimum gas velocity required to lift liquids up the tubing string below Turner/Coleman theories. PDF
“A Review of D.O.E. Testing of VortexFlow Technology for Petroleum & Natural Gas Production and Operations” (N. Hein)
This paper provides a summary of various testing conducted from 2002 through 2006 with the Department of Energy (DoE), Rocky Mountain Oilfield Testing Center (RMOTC), Stripper Well Consortium (SWC) and various universities. This testing covered deliquification (as opposed to artificial lift) applications to extend the flowing life of gas wells and lowering the critical flow requirements to unload wells. Additionally, tests were performed to evaluate the Vortex tools’ effectiveness on mitigating paraffin and line freezing, as well as removing stagnant fluids and preventing associated corrosion problems. PDF
“Field Testing Vortex Oil and Gas Units in NPR-3 Gathering Systems” (M. Milliken)
This paper covers the Rocky Mountain Oilfield Testing Center’s testing of the Vortex tools in improving flow efficiencies of single-phase high-rate liquid, decreasing paraffin build-up, sweeping out liquids and preventing freezing in gathering lines. A follow-up article in World Oil is also available. PDF
“Vortex Flow Technology Finding New Applications” (D. Simpson)
This article covers Vortex’s downhole testing with Texas A&M and in 25 Rocky Mountain and Mid-Continent oil and gas wells (see pages 4-5). Results of Vortex tool installations with BP and Marathon Oil are included. PDF
Case Studies
Manzanares Surface Pressure Reduction Study
This study involved placing Vortex surface tools in BP America’s Manzanares coalbed methane gas gathering system. The three Vortex surface tools provided a significant benefit both in improved pressure stability, rate increases, the ability to prevent liquid drop-out in long gathering lines and reduced manpower requirements from eliminating a weekly pig run. BP also reduced the horsepower requirement for the compression station and, following this trial, ordered additional tools for the coalbed methane gathering systems in the San Juan basin. PDF
Horizontal Study
This study involved placing a downhole inline (DX-I) tool in a well flowing below the critical rate. After the Vortex installation, this Barnett Shale well had more fluids, produced consistently below the critical rate, and had a good production response in reduced tbg/csg differential (even with higher rates). PDF
Flowlines with Paraffin Study
This study involved placing a two-part paraffin (SX-P) tool in a flowline in Oklahoma. Prior to the Vortex installation, this line was hot-oiled every two weeks. Since the Vortex installation, hot oiling was nearly eliminated. This study also shows how and where the paraffin accumulates to be easily treated. PDF
Surface: Trunk Lines Study
This study includes the field results of Vortex surface tool installs on trunk lines, laterals and gathering systems. Benefits noted include removing stagnant liquids, reducing wellhead/field pressures, replacing pig launchers and enhancing production. Specific customer comments on these benefits are included. PDF
Surface: One-Page Case Studies
This is a series of one-page studies covering a variety of uses and applications of the Vortex Tools. These include removing stagnant liquids, reducing flowline pressure, improving production, replacing pigging, mitigating paraffin accumulation, increasing multi-phase line efficiency, reducing flowing bottom hole pressure, reducing liquid hold-up, replacing PCP pumps, replacing rod pumps and enhancing intermitter and plunger-lift wells. PDF
Downhole Tools Study
This study covers a variety of Vortex downhole tool installs in both university and field studies. Improvements with the Vortex tools include enhancing/stabilizing production, extending the decline curve (by reducing the critical rate) and replacing various pumps. PDF
Downhole: Intermitted Well Flow Study
This case study covers the installation of wireline (DX-WR) and inline (DX-I) Vortex tools in enhancing the effectiveness of automated intermitters, decreasing the flowing bottom hole pressures and, as a result (depending on the well conditions), increasing the gas production. PDF
E. Texas Producers Association Study
This larger case study is a general Vortex Tools PowerPoint presentation. It includes an overview of the technology along with surface and downhole install results on production, pressure, surfactant and soap use, reduction in plunger/pump LOE, slugging and liquid loading. PDF
Installation Instructions
Surface Installation Instructions
These installation instructions cover how to correctly and safely install the line of Vortex surface tools. PDF
Downhole Installation Instructions
These installation instructions cover how to correctly and safely install the line of Vortex downhole tools. PDF
Advanced DX-WR Installation Instructions
These installation instructions cover the additional clean-out steps associated with installing the wireline retrievable (DX-WR) tool. PDF
VortexFLOW, LLC is a trade name of Vortex Tools, LLC
