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Turner Critical Gas Rate for Liquid Loading Formula

qgc=3.067PvgcATRzq_{gc}=3.067\frac{Pv_{gc}A}{T_Rz}

Turner Critical Gas Rate for Liquid Loading calculates critical gas rate for well performance workflows in production engineering.

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How engineers use this formula

Use this formula when the listed inputs (P_wh_abs, T_R, rho_L, sigma_l, gamma_g, z, D_i) are known and the assumptions behind the cited well performance relationship match the engineering case being checked.

Assumptions

  • Input values are representative for the well, reservoir, fluid, or equipment case being evaluated.
  • The declared units match the field-unit constants used in the formula.
  • The cited formula applies to the selected petroleum engineering workflow.

Limitations

  • The calculation does not replace a full engineering model or operating procedure.
  • Accuracy depends on the source correlation, assumptions, input quality, and unit consistency.

Common mistakes

  • Mixing unit systems without converting the inputs.
  • Using default example values as field recommendations.
  • Applying the formula outside the source assumptions.

Default example

Using the default inputs, q_gc equals 0.578199 MMscf/day.

P_wh_abspsia

400

T_RdegR

580

rho_Llbm/ft3

67

sigma_ldyne/cm

60

gamma_gdimensionless

0.6

zdimensionless

0.9

D_iin

1.995

Inputs

P_wh_abs

psia

Flowing Wellhead Pressure

T_R

degR

Flowing Wellhead Temperature

rho_L

lbm/ft3

Liquid Density

sigma_l

dyne/cm

Liquid Surface Tension

gamma_g

dimensionless

Gas Specific Gravity

z

dimensionless

Gas Compressibility Factor

D_i

in

Tubing Inside Diameter

Outputs

q_gc

MMscf/day

Critical Gas Rate

v_gc

ft/s

Turner Critical Gas Velocity

rho_g

lbm/ft3

Gas Density at Wellhead Conditions

A_t

ft2

Tubing Flow Area

Source and review

reviewed

Turner et al. 1969 critical velocity correlation; Pengtools liquid-loading workflow and Cranfield liquid-loading review.

Source

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