Vortex Tools with Gas Lift: Reduced Liquid Slugging in Heel-Toe Dip in Lateral:
A Vortex (end-of-tubing) DX-I tool was installed at ~9,500 feet in a Cotton Valley deviated (49.65°) gas-lift operated well in Louisiana. The addition of Vortex increased both flush and long-term production of oil, increased daily gas to sales by 18% (from a 22% lower injection gas rate), and lowered tubing pressures by 10%. 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
Downhole Installation Instructions
These installation instructions cover how to correctly and safely install the line of Vortex downhole tools. PDF
Surface Installation Instructions
These installation instructions cover how to correctly and safely install the line of Vortex surface tools. 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. Available Upon Request
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
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
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…
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
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
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…
“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
“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
“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…
“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 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…
“Vortex Tools for Increased Condensate Recovery (R. Haas and C. McKay Miller)”
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…
“Vortex Tools: Production Enhancement in Horizontal Laterals (C. McKay Miller)”
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…
Vortex with Jet Pump for Oil Separation ad Cleanup
This is a demo of the Vortex tool with a jet pump. This combination of patented technologies shows the ability to separate oil and water. This flow is especially beneficial for oil spill cleanup (such as with the 2010 BP Gulf oil spill) and the jet pump can also be used to re-oxygenate the ocean…
Vortex Tools Trade Show Demo
This is a live trade show demonstration of the stable, helical flow set up by the Vortex tools. Blue dye was added to make the helical benefits more visible. Demo Videos
Wireline Retrievable (DX-WR) Tool Tubing String Video
This is a splice of several hours’ worth of real-time video with a camera in the wellbore. It was shot looking down on an oil & gas well equipped with a Vortex downhole wireline retrievable (DX-WR) tool. The video shows the Vortex tool allowing the well to flow below the critical rate as wellas bringing…
Surface (SX) Tools Promotional Video
This promotional video highlights the value of the Vortex surface tools. It gives a visual representation of the stable, spiraling flow set up by Vortex (as compared to standard turbulent flow) and the application of the tool in wellhead and flowline applications. The video also has graphics of an installation and the reduced pressure results…
“CBM Forum Introduces Vortex Flow Technology to Operators” in WellHead
Another older report that covers comments from operators on the value of the Vortex tools in coalbed methane and stripper well applications. PDF
“Gas, Liquids Separator” in Oil and Gas Reporter
This is one of the earliest reports on the benefits of the Vortex surface tools. It includes an example of reduced surface-line pressures in the Appalachian basin. PDF
“Local Company Makes Good” in Rocky Mountain Oil Journal
This article was written in response to Vortex Tools winning the 2004 Platts’ Global Energy Newcomer of the Year Award. PDF
“DOE-backed JVs Deliver New Technologies” on Rigzone online
“Oil and Gas Production” on the U.S. Department of Energy site
Three Articles containing snippets regarding Vortex winning the Platts’ Global Energy Newcomer of the Year Award
“Vortex Flow Technology Finding New Applications” in Rocky Mountain Oil JournalThis 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 installations with BP and Marathon Oil are included. PDF These three articles contain snippets regarding Vortex winning the Platts’ Global Energy Newcomer…
“Special Report: Downhole Technology” in Oil and Gas Journal
Vortex is covered with a number of other deliquification techniques (see page 9). The article mentions Vortex lowering the critical rate by up to 30%. PDF
“Tool Boosts Gas Production” in Journal of Petroleum Technology online
This brief article covers the application of the Vortex downhole (DX) tools in two-phase flow (gas and liquids) along with citing an example of increased gas production with a Vortex installation in the San Juan basin. PDF
“What’s New in Artificial Lift (Part Two)” in World Oil
This World Oil article covers the use of the Vortex velocity string (DX-VS) in coiled tubing applications in Canada. LINK
“RMOTC Tests Vortex Flow Surface Tools” in World Oil
This World Oil article covers the results of testing by the Rocky Mountain Oil Field Testing Center (RMOTC). Testing concluded that the Vortex surface tools mitigate paraffin build-up and prevent freezing in winter. LINK
“Vortex Flow Technology for Gas and Oil Production” on Peak Oil News
This Peak Oil News article covers the Stripper Well Consortium’s sponsorship of the use of Vortex tools on marginal wells. Field experiences with the surface tools include reduced line and bottom hole pressures, increased production and reduced annual costs. LINK
“Putting a New Spin on Flow” in E&P Magazine (Hart Energy)
This E&P magazine article covers field experiences with the Vortex tools, including surface line installs where liquids were cleared out, pressures reduced, production throughput increased and pigging eliminated. LINK
“Vortex on Whirlwind Ride” in The Littleton Independent
This article discusses how Vortex was picked as a semifinalist in the energy efficiency category of the 2012 Cleantech Open for our application in turning harmful CO2 waste from oil and gas wells into recovered high-value energy. PDF
“Downhole Tools Boost Flow in Unconventional Completions” in Upstream Pumping Magazine
This Upstream Pumping Magazine article covers the benefit of Vortex downhole tools in deviated wells, gas lift, etc. LINK
Vortex Tools: Production Enhancement in Horizontal Wells (Two Pages)
A New Mexico operator saw oil and gas production improve using the patented Vortex DX-I tools at the end of tubing in declining wells. The Vortex tool was set at end of tubing deep in the lateral and close to the formation (typically set at 80 degrees). In each case, oil production was increased and,…
Vortex Tools: Increased Condensate Recovery from Gathering Lines
A major U.S.-based oil and gas independent installed Vortex tools to increase condensate recovery. In installation #1, overall condensate production increased by ~200% and recovery benefits were better at high temperatures, indicating the Vortex system has a stabilizing effect on the condensate. In installation #2, in two months, Vortex recovered nearly 3.5 times more condensate…
Vortex Tools: Improved Natural Gas Liquids Recovery
An independent producer incurred significant pigging costs (due to liquids dropping out at low spots during transport) and believed natural gas liquid (NGL) revenues were not being optimized. After installing Vortex tools, 1.2+ million gallons of additional NGLs were recovered from three gathering lines in a single year, translating to $2+ million in additional revenues.…
Vortex Tools: Cost-Effectively Reducing Vapors At Production Tanks
With low energy prices, Vortex’s Vapor Buster tool offers lower costs, improved oil production, increased gas to sales, and reduced glycol/chemical use—all with no maintenance at an affordable price. The Vapor Buster allows operators to cost-effectively manage air quality issues (in compliance with regulations) while avoiding fines. Vortex provides a cleaner oil cut (with lower…
Downhole (DX) Tools Brochure
This brochure covers the line of patented Vortex downhole (DX) tools placed in the well. Whether it’s the end-of-tubing (DX-EOT) tool for free-flowing coal-bed methane applications, the inline (DX-I) tool for deeper vertical or horizontal applications or the wireline retrievable (DX-R) tool for intervention, Vortex has a tool for your downhole needs. PDF
Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) Recovery Brochure
Since the publication of the general surface tools brochure, several new applications for the SX tools have been discovered, including reducing flowback start-up times on new gas wells, replacing vapor recovery units at the wellhead, and replacing drip systems in flowlines (reducing the need for pigging). This NGL Recovery Brochure describes how the Vortex SX…
Surface (SX) Tools Brochure
This brochure covers the line of patented Vortex surface (SX) tools for use in flowlines, gathering systems and pipelines. Whether it’s the two-part paraffin mitigation (SX-P) tool, the in-line (SX-I) tool or the pig launcher (SX-PL) tool, Vortex has a tool solution for your surface needs. PDF
