Digital Lift Gains Ground in Canada's Montney

Producers turn to lift optimisation to cut costs, reduce downtime and meet emissions targets

19 Apr 2025

In western Canada's Montney formation, gas producers are finding new ways to stretch ageing wells. Rather than adding expensive hardware or relying on round-the-clock operators, they are deploying software that fine-tunes plunger and gas lift in real time. The result is steadier output, less waste and fewer site visits.

One case study describes a field-wide rollout across more than 1,000 wells, using standardised control applications. The gains are tangible: millions saved by cutting gas injection and reducing downtime during plant upsets. Producers are also testing more ambitious tools. Tourmaline, a major operator, has trialled artificial-intelligence-driven plunger-lift optimisation on 25 wells. Early signs point to greater reliability and fewer manual adjustments, suggesting such systems can scale beyond one-off pilots.

The attraction is that the software fits onto existing kit, speeding adoption and freeing field crews for other work. Vendors claim modest increases in production from plunger-lift wells, as well as sharper surveillance and anomaly detection. That matters as operators look to prolong the life of mature assets while keeping costs in check.

There is an environmental angle too. Alberta's Emissions Reduction Alberta agency has backed Al-enabled plunger lift as a way to cut methane. Regulators note that smart automation can curb venting during unloading, turning a technical fix into a climate tool. Efficiency and emissions goals, often seen at odds, may for once align.

Obstacles remain. Data quality varies, controllers differ and operators must adapt to new routines. Yet the direction is set. In the Montney, digital lift optimisation is moving from experiment to standard practice, offering smoother operations and a smaller footprint.