Unloading Horizontal Gas Wells

Robert P. Sutton
Marathon Oil Corporation

Abstract
The determination of critical velocity defined here as the producing gas velocity or corresponding flow rate
necessary to ensure liquids are continuously produced from a well is frequently determined from surface conditions.
It is routinely recognized that changes in downhole tubing diameter at the tubing/casing junction can shift the
analysis point from the surface to this location in the well to determine suitable production rates that ensure the well
is unloaded.
The complex completion geometries introduced by directional and horizontal wells add further complications in the
evaluation of critical velocity. Horizontal wells are rarely horizontal and frequently encounter subtle changes in hole
angle in the range 85-95 along the horizontal section. Furthermore, it is common for operators to set tubing above
the horizontal section of the well. This completion practice combined with changing flow contribution along the
horizontal section collectively affects the wells ability to efficiently evacuate liquids from the wellbore.
Accumulation of liquids across production intervals has been shown to reduce the effective permeability to gas by
75% so it is imperative that the well is unloaded. Furthermore, attempting to maintain high gas flow rates have
shown to be damaging in some reservoirs which limits this deliquification option. In order to design an effective
deliquification program that deals with these scenarios, the critical velocity profile is examined in the well from the
wellhead to the toe of the horizontal section. Suitable flow velocity can then be achieved through proper placement
and appropriate sizing of tubing in the well. Artificial lift techniques such as gas lift using the AVE system can be
used to supplement gas flow from the reservoir and provide a viable solution to eliminate liquid loading in horizontal
gas wells.