Surface · Plunger Lift
Wellhead & Flow Outlets
The wellhead with an upper and a lower outlet to the flowline.
What it does
The liquid above the plunger leaves through the outlets into the flowline. Once the plunger sits in the lubricator, the gas that lifted it flows out through the lower outlet.
Basics
| Outlets | Upper and lower, to the flowline |
| Preferred | Dual flow ports over a single port |
| Requirement | Same inside diameter as the tubing through the wellhead |
Common failures
- Restriction or change in bore that stops the plunger near surface
Troubleshooting
- Symptom
- Plunger stalls near surface
- Likely cause
- Wellhead bore smaller than the tubing
- What to check
- Match the wellhead and lubricator inside diameter to the tubing