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Spe 1557 G Pa PDF
Spe 1557 G Pa PDF
Producing Wells
R. V. McAFEE AXELSON·GARRETT DIY. OF U. S. INDUSTRIES, INC.
MEMBER AIME HOUSTON, TEX.
t-
) - - - - - SURFACE PERFORMANCE - - - - - - - ' 32~
~
r.:z
w
24S! 2" TBG.
n: 800 BLPD
l?
0.195 PSI./FT.
RTICAL LIFT PERFORMANCE
.08
) - - - - - RESERVOIR PERFORMANCE----_,.
PROOUCTION. BLPD
400 800 1200 1600
FLOWI~G
3 as "Liquid and Gas-Flowing". The pressure gradient It should also be noted that the viscosity was not
becomes less because of the presence of the gas. The
considered to be of influence on the pressure gradient.
gradient is no longer a straight line because the fluid is
now a compressible mixture and the density increases It was evident that an attempt should be made to
with the increased pressure at increasing depths in the resolve the mathematics to a language common to
well. The latter is the key to all proper thinking with standard oilfield data, and to fewer significant variables.
respect to flowing gradients. Gilbert' stated in his paper that " ... there is a different
depth pressure gradient for each size of pipe, each rate
A final pOint to be made is that the amount of gas
of liquid flow, and each gas-liquid ratio". In a footnote
?er volume of liquid determines the density; variations he further stated that, "Gradients presumably are also
IJ?- gas volume per volume of liquid will vary the den- affected by many other factors including liquid surface
SIty and, therefore, the flowing gradient. Thus, it can
tension, viscosity and gravity, flowing temperatures, gas
be seen that, at a given rate of liquid flow and other gravity and gas-liquid solubilities".
constant conditions, there must be a different depth-
pressure gradient for each gas-liquid ratio. "However, there is a reasonably close correspondence
between results which have been obtained in the light-
Recognizing this to be true places a responsibility
oil (~5° to 40 0 API) fields of Long Beach, Santa Fe,
~pon the individual to then seek a practical method of
Dommguez, Ventura, Canal and Ten Section and sev-
Interpreting gradients in their true form as a curve and eral foreign fields without adjusting for such factors.
asa function of the volume of gas per volume of liquid.
Also, it has not been found necessary to correct gradients
~he ~ost commonly accepted mathematical interpreta-
for water cuts. However, the gradients are inadquate to
tron IS that presented in the excellent paper by Poett-
predict the effects of emulsions."
mann and Carpenter.' Use of their mathematics was
f~)Und to give an acceptable accuracy; however, it was
Using this philosophy, the listed variables of Poett-
tIme-consuming because the following 12 variables mann and Carpenter were evaluated and the following
were taken into consideration for each calculation: was determined.
tubing size, rate of liquid flow, gas-liquid ratio, flowing 1. Liquid gravity, gas gravity and average flowing
wellhead pressure, liquid composition, flowing friction temperature could be fixed as a field constant without
factor, .compressibility factor of gas, gas-liquid solubility, impairing the accuracy of the calculations from a prac-
formatIon volume factor, average flowing temperature, tical-use standpoint.
gas gravity, and liquid gravity. 2. The formation volume factor and gas-liquid solu-
2400
3. AVE""G! FLOWING TEMP. -150·f.
V / V / / 2000
2~O
/ / / / / /
2000
I,,-!>.
(to......,
..'" / / / / V 11
2.5 TBG.
~
~~Q~ 00/ o~.;/ ~/ oY
,/ 1600
608 BLPD
1'00 r ~\v.f
o)' oY o'
<3 0.05 "'(FB FORMATION GAS
V / 1.1" ~ ./ ~ g;
1000
1400§
.
!
w
~ . . *'
V / / /
/
/ V
/'
/ ' 1-0V ~ t200~~
0.40
o
MCFB
PRESSURE
PRODUCED GAS
BOMB SURVEY
:~-OOS MCFB
,/ ,/
/ ' ~ 8;;; ~
:::>
1200 .. / / / / if)
:3a:
/ 1/ / ~ ~ F""
~
z ./ /' /" n.
lOOOi
.00 co / / / / ~ v-: ~ ~ 800
600 J / V ~ ~ ~ F"'"
400
V 1,,('/ k::;,; tIi¢ ~ 400
/~ ~ ~ APPENDIX B-23
800 BPO- 2.375" TUBING-
- - - O A O MCFB
2000
2000
1200";
a: o PRESSvRE BOMB SURVEY 1200~~
::J ::J
<f) <f)
<f) <f)
w w
a: a:
0.. 0..
800 2.5" TBG. 800
1438 BLPD
0.158 MCFB PRODUCED GAS
0.092 MCFB INJECTED GAS
0.066 MCFB FORMATION GAS
MCFB
MCFB
MCFB
2" TBG.
DEPTH. Fl. DEPTH, FT.
1000 2000 a 0 4000 5000 6000 7000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000
FIG. 7 - CORRELATION OF A PRESSURE SURVEY REQUIRING AN FIG. 9-EFFECT OF WELLHEAD PRESSURE UPON FLOWING
INTERPOLATION FOR THE MEASURED GAs-LIQUID RATIO. BOTTOM-HOLE PRESSURE.
2000
2800
<5
~ TBG BLPD MeFB PWH
A. 2" 800 06 300 0
1200~£ B. 2" 800 0.6 100 0 /
0~0
::J
<f)
<f)
w
8:
800
A/ B/0
400 ..-/-~0_/_.~~
C>""'----."....,~--~---- ----.-.-
1600
0.2 MCFB
NO CORRELATION
11...::::::.----20
- - 3000DEPTH;Jclb BLPD
00 6000 7000 200 400 600 800
FIG. 8- CORRELATIONOF Two PRESSURE SURVEYS SHOWING FIG. 10---PLOT OF 2.0-IN. TUBING PERFORMANCE
METHOD OF ADJUSTING FOR WELLHEAD PRESSURE. AT 6,500 FT VS INFLOW PERFORMANCE OF WELL.
NA-
-~ S_·(,", -:::::
2C'~ -' -' 2000
i:-'C
"
~ : 0
C(, I : c' :' -' " 2 ~BG 2 2'
50 50 : 4 ::-EPT .... '7000' 7000'
160C
'" 75 4 : ,- s 160e
PWr 440 Ps 400 ~S
s ... pc 200 280
:;c~ 07 MCFS Q:MCrB
J20.)~
12000:
"
v'
(L
i1:
~
"- a:
I
80e "-
800
-Sl"lrl:: 810 ;;:S;u.
~A BCD::
~
?BHF2 = 1730 PSiG.
400 ? r.
/ D[PTH,FT
100 000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 DEPTH, FT
1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000
FIG. ll-PRODUCTION DECLINE FROM CHANGE IN WATER CUT.
FIG. 13-0BTAINING PRODUCTIVITY INDEX FROM
SURFACE TEST DATA.
2000
PSHS
GIVEN,
2000 PBHF
PBHS 2000 PSIG PBHF A, REFERENCE DEPTH
TBG B, CASING PRESSURE GRADIENT
1600 DEPTH 7000'
C, FLOWING GRADIENT BELOW THE POINT
PWH 440 PSIG
1600 OF GAS INJECTION
g;" BLPD
GLR
200
07 McFB 200 BLPD 2 D, OPTIMUM POINT OF GAS INJECTION
C.
1200~~ 0.70 MCFB le E, FLOWING GRADIENT ABOVE THE POINT
=>
if)
1200:l OF GAS INJECTION
B
a:
=>
if) A.
if)
"- W
800 g:
800-----
PBHF = 1810 PSIG
400 PI 105
DEPTH, FT
1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000
1000 2000 5000 6000 7000
FIG 12-0BTAINING PRODUCTIVITY INDEX FROM STATIC
BOTTOM-HOLE PRESSURE AND SURFACE TEST DATA. FIG 14-FuNDAMENTALS OF GAs-LIFT DESIGN.
HORSEPOWER REQUIREMENTS
1600
~
1200l;!
d
D
1600
1200~rr
<)
~ DI. 51!
D2" CJ
25" 800 BLPD
0.05 MerB
::> 50 :::>
'"'" <f)
<f)
~ ~
8001~---------:Ji7'"-
MerB
MerB
MerB
MerB 2" TBG.
DEPTH. FT. DEPTH, FT
2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000
FIG. IS-EFFECT OF FLOWING WELLHEAD PRESSURE UPON HORSE· FIG. I7-EFFECT OF TU~ING SIZE UPON HORSEPOWER
POWER REQUIREMENTS-COMPRESSOR INTAKE = 25 PSIG. REQUIREMENTS.
_~~~~ ----------------------~~
has been discussed in various published papers. If it can
2000._ noo PSIG __ be anticipated from a calculated P.I. using formation
data that the actual producing P.I. is appreciably less
1600
HORSEPOWER REQUIREMENTS
than the formation P.1. of the well, steps can be taken
Do
600 800
PSIG
o
to clean up the well and permit operation at greatly
reduced horsepower requirements.
Fig. 21 shows the importance of correct valve place-
800 PSIG
ment with respect to horsepower requirements. If a
point of injection were located at "A", the horsepower
requirements would be over twice that required if it
were located at "B". If the point were located at "e",
injection would be impossible. Not only must the point
2'1 TBG. of injection be properly located, but so also must any
5000 6000 7000
valves used to unload to the point of injection. All must
be located in a manner which will accommodate the
FIG. IS-EFFECT OF GAs-INJECTION PRESSURE UPON HORSE- productivity of the well and achieve the desired point
POWER REQUIREMENTS.
of injection. Any design which does not take well per-
1600
<5
iii
0..
00
·005 0.10
D
0.20
MeFB
i<
~
030
'-'
z
0
1600
1200~
<5
~
:>
00-
['"'"____________________ ~~r:J7~~--
400
FIG. 19-EFFECT OF FORMATION GAS UPON HORSEPOWER FIG. 20-EFFECT OF FLOWING BOTTOM-HOLE PRESSURE UPON
REQUIREMENTS. HORSEPOWER REQUIREMENTS.
oD
w
--'
ro
<Ii
if)
1600
Ii' 1600 SI"AT1C
0.465
GRADIENT
PSI. /F T. _______
"
g; A B
l
c
g;"
1200~~ ABC
:>
if)
1200k!~
::>
~ if)
c:: ~
80,~~~-----------------t~1l------- c::
oo,~~~-----------------;J,r
400
400
2" TBG.
2" TBG. P.1. 8.0
30ooDEPTH4&li,
2000 5000 6000 7000
1000 2000 5000 6000 7000
2000
2000 PBHS
A. RESTARTING
8. SUPPLEMENTING
1600
1600 STATIC
0465
GRADIENT
PSI/FT "
g;
0.0
0.2
1200~r
:>
if)
::l
IE
2" TBG.
600 BLPD
2" TBG
2000 600 7000
5000 6000 7000
FIG. 24-DESIGN PROBLEM WITH SEPARATE POINTS OF INJEC-
FIG. 22-DESIGN PROBLEM WITH ApPRECIABLE FORMATION GAS. TION REQUIRED FOR RE-STARTING AND SUPPLEMENTING FLOW.
FIC. 25-DESICN PROBLEM WITH FINAL POINT OF INJECTION FIC. 26---SPECIAL RE-STARTINC PROBLEM WITH FINAL POINT OF
ABOVE STATIC PRESSURE GRADIENT. INJECTION ABOVE STATIC PRESSURE GRADIENT.
Fig. 25 illustrates a design problem with the final with good results, and even our aJ;lProach to intermittent
point of gas injection above the static pressure gradient. gas lift has been greatly improved by the knowledge
This is brought about by the 0.2-Mcf/bbl formation gained from the work with the techniques. There is an
gas-liquid ratio creating a flowing gradient which crosses uncounted amount of work still to be done to resolve
the static pressure gradient below the final point of gas all phases of vertical-lift performance to a true applied
injection. The final point of injection shown is not science.
capable of creating sustained production from the for- For those whose interest is maximum rate rather than
mation until gas evolves; and, as discussed with Fig. 24, optimum efficiency, it should be pointed out that the
no formation gas can be counted upon until after for- study of every variable in the paper can be revised with
mation fluid is produced. increased production as the main objective.
Unless additional valves are run deeper to re-start A definite advantage to the techniques developed is
formation flow, this well will not produce. their use of charted flowing gradients. This permits the
Fig. 26 is a composite of Figs. 24 and 25, illustrating techniques to be applied to any approach to flowing
re-starting below the static pressure gradient at 4,500 gradients so long as the approach can be resolved to a
ft with a required injected gas-liquid ratio of 0.8 Mcfl depth-pressure relationship.
bbl, finally supplementing at a point above the static It is the author's sincere belief that vertical-lift per-
pressure gradient with an injected gas-liquid ratio of formance is the true field of petroleum production
0.2 Mcf/bbl. engineering and that it is a scientific field as important
economically as the field of reservoir engineering. In
LIMITATIONS OF THE MASTER CHARTS comparison, it is virtually untouched. Though some may
regard this paper as an oversimplification of the prob-
The following are the listed areas in which the curves lem, they may also agree that some simplification would
are either unproven or suspect. serve to promote improved practices in the evaluation
1. The 1- and 1;4 -in. curves have not been verified of vertical-lift performance in producing wells,
because of the lack of available pressure survey data
for these sizes. NOMENCLATURE
2. The curves plotted for gas-liquid ratios above 2.0- P WH = flowing wellhead pressure, psig
Mcf/bbl have not correlated with pressure surveys at PBHB = static bottom-hole pressure, psig
rates of flow of 400 BID of liquid or less. It is believed PBHP = flowing bottom-hole pressure, psig
that this point marks a transition from foam flow to P.1. = Productivity Index in BID of total produced
mist flow and exceeds the mathematics of Poettman liquid/psi drop in bottom-hole pressure
and Carpenter. The curves of Gilbert have given a good IPR = inflow performance relationship
correlation when used in this range. D = reference depth of well
3. These curves are for continuous flow and will not
provide suitable data for intermittent flow. ACKNOWLEDGMENT