GAS LIFT OPTIMIZATION PROCESS

A system, method and process (utility) is presented to control a gas injection setpoint of a production well utilizing gas lift. The utility may control a flow valve and/or source of injection gas (e.g., gas injection compressor) to increase or decrease a gas injection flow rate (e.g., setpoint) into the well during a gas injection interval. The utility monitors bottom hole pressure related values for multiple gas injection intervals with each have different gas injection setpoints (e.g., flow volumes). Bottom Hole Pressures (e.g., averages). The differences between the Bottom Hole Pressures are compared to calculate Bottom Hole Pressure Drawdown (BHPD) rates between intervals. A subsequent gas injection setpoint (e.g., direction and/or magnitude of change) is selected based on a comparison of a current BHPD and a previous BHPD.