This paper covers when a publicly-held oil and gas operator landed Vortex DX-I tools at the end of tubing, inside the liner, and in the horizontal lateral (typically set at 80° of deviation). In each case with Vortex, the oil production increased significantly (and in one case, the oil production increased from 80 barrels/day to over 400 barrels/day). Vortex tools also permitted the tubing to be set deeper in the lateral over 200 feet on average (measured depth), thereby increasing efficiency and, in some cases, gained over 400 feet of measured depth. The 10-day increased production from this one reported well was 3,200 barrels of oil (or $345,000 in production values). The Vortex tools for all five wells were paid for in less than one day. PDF

From 2013 to 2015, a major U.S.-based oil and gas independent installed Vortex tools to increase condensate recovery. In each application, the Vortex tools (and associated equipment) had an ROI of mere days, lowered the recovery costs, and stabilized/increased the condensate recovered by up to 3x (with increases in both summer and winter alike). These valuable liquids were then sold to create an additional lucrative revenue stream for the operator without any increase in OpEx. PDF

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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. Available Upon Request

These installation instructions cover how to correctly and safely install the line of Vortex surface tools. PDF

These installation instructions cover how to correctly and safely install the line of Vortex downhole tools. PDF

These installation instructions cover the additional clean-out steps associated with installing the wireline retrievable (DX-WR) tool. PDF