12.

Gas Well and Network

Optimization
RESR1003

1
 Pressure Losses in
Gas Production System multiphase flow

The total fluid pressure loss from reservoir

to surface separator is composed of
several sections of pressure loss caused
by resistance:
1. pressure loss through porous media
2. pressure loss through well completion
3. total pressure loss through tubing IPR
string
4. total pressure loss through flowline
Simple pressure losses in Separator
the production system

WHP Flowline

Tubing

BHP Sandface
Reservoir

3
 restrictions

Various pressure losses

in the production system
including restrictions
4
 Nodal Analysis
• Gas production passes through the four subsystems,
which can be joined together into a unity by setting up
nodes.
• If the analog calculation of each subsystem is
conducted, the whole production system can be
mathematically simulated.
• The nodal analysis method uses just such an analogy
calculation process to analyze and optimize the
production system of a gas well.

5
 Node
Locations

6
 Applications of Nodal Analysis
1. Analyzing an existing 8. Well stimulation
system for abnormal evaluation
flow restrictions 9. Determining the effect of
2. Gravel pack design compression on gas well
3. Tubing sizing performance
4. Subsurface safety valve 10. Analyzing the effects of
sizing perforating density
5. Flowline sizing 11. Predicting the effect of
6. Surface choke sizing depletion on producing
capacity
7. Artificial lift design
12. Allocating injection gas
among gas lift wells
7
 Nodal Analysis
• When a specific problem is to be solved by
using the nodal analysis method, it is usual to
take aim at some node (known as the solution
node) in the system.
• Gas well production can be simplified into inflow
and outflow by selecting the solution node

8
 Optimisation Procedure
1. Identify the components in the system
2. Select one component to be optimized
3. Select the node location that will best emphasize the
effect of change
4. Develop expression for inflow and outflow
5. Calculate pressure drop versus rate for all components
6. Determine the effect of changing the characteristics of
the selecting component
7. Repeat the procedure for each component
8. Optimize the production system

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 e.g. Solution node: pwf
• Inflow: fluid flow through porous media and completion
• Outflow: fluid flow through tubing string and surface flowline

Using the nodal systems analysis

method:
1. Under constant outflow parameter
values, completion can be
optimized e.g. perforations
parameters
2. Under constant inflow parameter
values, tubing size and choke can
be optimized.

10
Prediction of Stable Flow Rate

Tubing
size = 5”

Stable flow rate occurs at

the intersection of the
available inflow pressure
and the required outflow
11
pressure.