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Determine Bottom Hole Pressure from

Wellhead Pressure in a Dry Gas Well
By DrillingFormulas.Com | December 3, 2014 - 12:13 pm |Applied Drilling Calculations, Basic Drilling Formulas

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Gas behaves differently from fluid therefore you cannot use a simple hydrostatic formula to
determine reservoir pressure. Gas is compressible but fluid is incompressible.

The formula to determine the bottom hole pressure of dry gas well is shown below;
Where; Pbh = bottom hole pressure in psia (absolute pressure)

Pwh = wellhead pressure in psia (absolute pressure)

H = true vertical depth of the well

Sg = specific gravity of gas

R = 53.36 ft-lb/lb-R (gas constant for API standard condition air)

Tav = average temperature in Rankin (Rankin = Fahrenheit + 460)

Example: The dry gas well is shut in and the well head pressure is 2,000 psig (gauge pressure). The
average wellbore temperature is 160 F. Gas specific gravity is 0.75. The well is 9,000’ TVD and the
wellhead is on land. Determine the bottom hole pressure and compare the result if you use a normal
relationship from hydrostatic pressure calculation.

Pwh = 2,000 + 14.7 = 2,014.7 psia

H = 9,000 TVD

Sg = 0.75

Tav = 160 + 460 = 620 °R

Pbh = 2,471 psia

Pbh = 2,471 – 14.7 = 2,456 psig

If you use hydrostatic pressure calculation, the bottom hole pressure is calculated by the following
equation.

Pbh = Pwh + (0.052 x average gas density (ppg) x TVD of the well, ft)

Average air density at 160 F is 6.404 x 10-2  (lb/ft3) = 8.56 x 10-3 ppg

Ref: http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/air-density-specific-weight-d_600.html

Average gas density at 160 F = gas specific gravity x Average air density at 160 F

Average gas density at 160 F = 0.75 x  8.56 x 10-3 ppg = 6.42 x 10-3 ppg

Pbh = 2000 + (0.052x6.42 x 10-3x9,000)= 2003 psia

As you can see from the calculation, the hydrostatic pressure cannot be used to determine the bottom
hole pressure of the dry gas well. It will give you inaccurate result.

Ref book:   Formulas and Calculations for Drilling, Production and Workover, Second
Edition

Tagged applied drilling formulas, bottom hole pressure calculation, dry gas. Bookmark the permalink.

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4 Responses to Determine Bottom Hole Pressure from Wellhead Pressure in
a Dry Gas Well

ahmed ibraheem JULY 30, 2015 AT 4:27 PM

there is a mistake in answer

Pbh = 2,471 – 14.7 = 2,456 psia you have to change the unit to psig

Reply

DrillingFormulas.Com AUGUST 8, 2015 AT 10:08 AM

Ahmed,
Thanks for informing us. This is our typo mistake and it is taken care of.
Regards,
Shyne

Reply

Bennezzar AUGUST 10, 2015 AT 4:03 PM

Education about the drilling operation

Reply

Lashar Lavenue DECEMBER 30, 2015 AT 7:25 PM

Good catch Ahmed.

Reply

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