Guo, Boyun / Computer Assited Petroleum Production Engg 0750682701_chap03 Final Proof page 41 3.1.
2007 8:30pm Compositor Name: SJoearun
RESERVOIR DELIVERABILITY 3/41
0:007082kh kro 1 2
Reservoir Reservoir qo ¼ (p p2wf ) (3:55)
re mo Bo i 2pi i
pressure ¼ 2,250 psig pressure ¼ 1,800 psig ln
rw
pwf (psig) q (stb/day) pwf (psig) q (stb/day) or
2,250 0 1,800 0 0
qo ¼ Ji (p2i p2wf ), (3:56)
2,025 217 1,620 129
1,800 414 1,440 246 where
1,575 591 1,260 351
1,350 747 1,080 444 0 0:007082kh kro 1
1,125 884 900 525 Ji ¼ : (3:57)
re mo Bo i 2pi
900 1000 720 594 ln
rw
675 1096 540 651
450 1172 360 696
225 1227 180 729 The derivative of Eq. (3.45) with respect to the flowing
0 1263 0 750 bottom-hole pressure is
dqo 0
¼ 2Ji pwf : (3:58)
dpwf
3.6.2 Fetkovich’s Method
The integral form of reservoir inflow relationship for This implies that the rate of change of q with respect to pwf
multiphase flow is expressed as is lower at the lower values of the inflow pressure.
Next, we can modify Eq. (3.58) to take into account that
pðe
0:007082kh in practice pe is not constant but decreases as cumulative
0
q¼ f (p)dp, (3:53) production increases. The assumption made is that Ji will
ln rrwe p decrease in proportion to the decrease in average reservoir
wf
(drainage area) pressure. Thus, when the static pressure is
where f(p) is a pressure function. The simplest two-phase pe ( < pi ), the IPR equation is
flow case is that of constant pressure pe at the outer
boundary (re ), with pe less than the bubble-point pressure 0 pe 2
so that there is two-phase flow throughout the reservoir. qo ¼ Ji (p p2wf ) (3:59)
pi e
kro
Under these circumstances, f(p) takes on the value , or, alternatively,
mo Bo
where kro is the relative permeability to oil at the satura-
tion conditions in the formation corresponding to the qo ¼ J 0 (p2e p2wf ), (3:60)
pressure p. In this method, Fetkovich makes the key as- where
sumption that to a good degree of approximation, the
kro 0 pe
expression is a linear function of p, and is a straight J 0 ¼ Ji : (3:61)
mo Bo pi
line passing through the origin. If pi is the initial formation
pressure (i.e., pe ), then the straight-line assumption is These equations may be used to extrapolate into the
future.
kro kro p
¼ : (3:54) Example Problem 3.7 Using Fetkovich’s method plot the
mo Bo mo Bo pi
IPR curves for a well in which pi is 2,000 psia and
0
Substituting Eq. (3.54) into Eq. (3.53) and integrating the Ji ¼ 5 104 stb=day-psia2 . Predict the IPRs of the well
latter gives at well shut-in static pressures of 1,500 and 1,000 psia.
2,500
Reservoir pressure = 2,250 psig
Reservoir pressure = 1,800 psig
2,000
1,500
pwf (psig)
1,000
500
0
0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200 1,400
q (Stb/Day)
Figure 3.19 IPR curves for Example Problem 3.6.
Guo, Boyun / Computer Assited Petroleum Production Engg 0750682701_chap03 Final Proof page 42 3.1.2007 8:30pm Compositor Name: SJoearun
3/42 PETROLEUM PRODUCTION ENGINEERING FUNDAMENTALS
0
Solution The value of Jo at 1,500 psia is References
bandakhlia, h. and aziz, k. Inflow performance relation-
0 1,500
Jo ¼ 5 104 ship for solution-gas drive horizontal wells. Presented
2,000
at the 64th SPE Annual Technical Conference and
¼ 3:75 104 stb=day (psia)2 , Exhibition held 8–11 October 1989, in San Antonio,
0
and the value of Jo at 1,000 psia is Texas. Paper SPE 19823.
chang, m. Analysis of inflow performance simulation of
0 1,000
Jo ¼ 5 104 ¼ 2:5 104 stb=day(psia)2 : solution-gas drive for horizontal/slant vertical wells.
2,000
0
Presented at the SPE Rocky Mountain Regional Meet-
Using the above values for Jo and the accompanying pe in ing held 18–21 May 1992, in Casper, Wyoming. Paper
Eq. (3.46), the following data points are calculated: SPE 24352.
dietz, d.n. Determination of average reservoir pressure
pe ¼ 2,000 psig pe ¼ 1,500 psig pe ¼ 1,000 psig from build-up surveys. J. Pet. Tech. 1965; August.
dake, l.p. Fundamentals of Reservoir Engineering. New
pwf q pwf q pwf q York: Elsevier, 1978.
ðpsigÞ (stb/day) ðpsigÞ (stb/day) ðpsigÞ (stb/day) earlougher, r.c. Advances in Well Test Analysis. Dallad:
2,000 0 1,500 0 1,000 0 Society of Petroleum Engineers, 1977.
1,800 380 1,350 160 900 48 el-banbi, a.h. and wattenbarger, r.a. Analysis of com-
1,600 720 1,200 304 800 90 mingled tight gas reservoirs. Presented at the SPE
1,400 1,020 1,050 430 700 128 Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition held 6–
1,200 1,280 900 540 600 160 9 October 1996, in Denver, Colorado. Paper SPE
1,000 1,500 750 633 500 188
36736.
800 1,680 600 709 400 210
600 1,820 450 768 300 228 el-banbi, a.h. and wattenbarger, r.a. Analysis of com-
400 1,920 300 810 200 240 mingled gas reservoirs with variable bottom-hole flow-
200 1,980 150 835 100 248 ing pressure and non-Darcy flow. Presented at the SPE
0 2,000 0 844 0 250 Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition held 5–8
October 1997, in San Antonio, Texas. Paper SPE
IPR curves are plotted in Fig. 3.20. 38866.
fetkovich, m.j. The isochronal testing of oil wells. Pre-
sented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and
Summary Exhibition held 30 September–3 October 1973, Las
This chapter presented and illustrated various mathemat- Vegas, Nevada. Paper SPE 4529.
ical models for estimating deliverability of oil and gas joshi, s.d. Augmentation of well productivity with slant
reservoirs. Production engineers should make selections and horizontal wells. J. Petroleum Technol. 1988;
of the models based on the best estimate of his/her reser- June:729–739.
voir conditions, that is, flow regime and pressure level. The retnanto, a. and economides, m. Inflow performance
selected models should be validated with actual well pro-
relationships of horizontal and multibranched wells in
duction rate and bottom-hole pressure. At least one test
point is required to validate a straight-line (single-liquid a solution gas drive reservoir. Presented at the 1998
flow) IPR model. At least two test points are required to SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition held
validate a curvic (single-gas flow or two-phase flow) IPR 27–30 September 1998, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
model. Paper SPE 49054.
2,500
Reservoir pressure = 2,000 psig
2,000 Reservoir pressure = 1,500 psig
Reservoir pressure = 1,000 psig
1,500
pwf (psig)
1,000
500
0
0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500
q (stb/day)
Figure 3.20 IPR curves for Example Problem 3.7.
Guo, Boyun / Computer Assited Petroleum Production Engg 0750682701_chap03 Final Proof page 43 3.1.2007 8:30pm Compositor Name: SJoearun
RESERVOIR DELIVERABILITY 3/43
standing, m.b. Concerning the calculation of inflow per- Total compressibility, ct ¼ 0:000013 psi1
formance of wells producing from solution gas drive Drainage area, A ¼ 640 acres (re ¼ 2,980 ft)
reservoirs. J. Petroleum Technol. 1971; Sep.:1141–1142. Wellbore radius, rw ¼ 0:328 ft
vogel, j.v. Inflow performance relationships for solution- Skin factor, S ¼ 5.5
gas drive wells. J. Petroleum Technol. 1968; Jan.:83–92. 3.4 Construct IPR of two wells in an unsaturated oil
reservoir using generalized Vogel’s equation. The fol-
lowing data are given:
Problems Reservoir pressure, p ¼ 5,500 psia
Bubble point pressure, pb ¼ 3,500 psia
3.1 Construct IPR of a vertical well in an oil reservoir.
Tested flowing bottom-hole pressure in Well A,
Consider (1) transient flow at 1 month, (2) steady-state
pwf 1 ¼ 4,000 psia
flow, and (3) pseudo–steady-state flow. The following
Tested production rate from Well A, q1 ¼ 400 stb=day
data are given:
Tested flowing bottom-hole pressure in Well B,
Porosity, f ¼ 0:25 pwf 1 ¼ 2,000 psia
Effective horizontal permeability, k ¼ 10 md Tested production rate from Well B,
Pay zone thickness, h ¼ 50 ft q1 ¼ 1,000 stb=day
Reservoir pressure, pe or p ¼ 5,000 psia
3.5 Construct IPR of a well in a saturated oil reservoir
Bubble point pressure, pb ¼ 100 psia
using both Vogel’s equation and Fetkovich’s equation.
Fluid formation volume factor, Bo ¼ 1:2
The following data are given:
Fluid viscosity, mo ¼ 1:5 cp
Total compressibility, ct ¼ 0:0000125 psi1 Reservoir pressure, p ¼ 3,500 psia
Drainage area, A ¼ 640 acres (re ¼ 2,980 ft) Tested flowing bottom-hole pressure, pwf 1 ¼
Wellbore radius, rw ¼ 0:328 ft 2,500 psia
Skin factor, S ¼ 5 Tested production rate at pwf 1 ,q1 ¼ 600 stb=day
Tested flowing bottom-hole pressure, pwf 2 ¼
3.2 Construct IPR of a vertical well in a saturated oil
1,500 psia
reservoir using Vogel’s equation. The following data
Tested production rate at pwf 2 ,q2 ¼ 900 stb=day
are given:
3.6 Determine the IPR for a well at the time when the
Porosity, f ¼ 0:2
average reservoir pressure will be 1,500 psig. The fol-
Effective horizontal permeability, k ¼ 80 md
lowing data are obtained from laboratory tests of well
Pay zone thickness, h ¼ 55 ft
fluid samples:
Reservoir pressure, p ¼ 4,500 psia
Bubble point pressure, pb ¼ 4,500 psia
Fluid formation volume factor, Bo ¼ 1:1
Fluid viscosity, mo ¼ 1:8 cp Reservoir properties Present Future
Total compressibility, ct ¼ 0:000013 psi1 Average pressure (psig) 2,200 1,500
Drainage area, A ¼ 640 acres (re ¼ 2,980 ft) Productivity index J (stb/day-psi) 1.25
Wellbore radius, rw ¼ 0:328 ft Oil viscosity (cp) 3.55 3.85
Skin factor, S ¼ 2 Oil formation volume factor (rb/stb) 1.20 1.15
3.3 Construct IPR of a vertical well in an unsaturated oil Relative permeability to oil 0.82 0.65
reservoir using generalized Vogel’s equation. The fol-
lowing data are given:
3.7 Using Fetkovich’s method, plot the IPR curve
Porosity, f ¼ 0:25 0
for a well in which pi is 3,000 psia and Jo ¼ 4 104
Effective horizontal permeability, k ¼ 100 md stb=day-psia2 . Predict the IPRs of the well at well
Pay zone thickness, h ¼ 55 ft shut-in static pressures of 2,500 psia, 2,000 psia,
Reservoir pressure, p ¼ 5,000 psia 1,500 psia, and 1,000 psia.
Bubble point pressure, pb ¼ 3,000 psia
Fluid formation volume factor, Bo ¼ 1:2
Fluid viscosity, mo ¼ 1:8 cp
Guo, Boyun / Petroleum Production Engineering, A Computer-Assisted Approach 0750682701_chap04 Final Proof page 45 22.12.2006 6:07pm
4 Wellbore
Performance
Contents
4.1 Introduction 4/46
4.2 Single-Phase Liquid Flow 4/46
4.3 Multiphase Flow in Oil Wells 4/48
4.4 Single-Phase Gas Flow 4/53
4.5 Mist Flow in Gas Wells 4/56
Summary 4/56
References 4/57
Problems 4/57
Guo, Boyun / Petroleum Production Engineering, A Computer-Assisted Approach 0750682701_chap04 Final Proof page 46 22.12.2006 6:07pm
4/46 PETROLEUM PRODUCTION ENGINEERING FUNDAMENTALS
4.1 Introduction g ¼ gravitational acceleration, 32:17 ft=s2
gc ¼ unit conversion factor, 32:17 lbm -ft=lbf -s2
Chapter 3 described reservoir deliverability. However, the
r ¼ fluid density lbm =ft3
achievable oil production rate from a well is determined by
wellhead pressure and the flow performance of production z ¼ elevation increase, ft
string, that is, tubing, casing, or both. The flow perform- u ¼ fluid velocity, ft/s
ance of production string depends on geometries of the fF ¼ Fanning friction factor
production string and properties of fluids being produced. L ¼ tubing length, ft
D ¼ tubing inner diameter, ft
The fluids in oil wells include oil, water, gas, and sand.
Wellbore performance analysis involves establishing a re- The first, second, and third term in the right-hand side
lationship between tubular size, wellhead and bottom-hole of the equation represent pressure drops due to changes in
pressure, fluid properties, and fluid production rate. elevation, kinetic energy, and friction, respectively.
Understanding wellbore flow performance is vitally im- The Fanning friction factor ( fF ) can be evaluated based
portant to production engineers for designing oil well on Reynolds number and relative roughness. Reynolds num-
equipment and optimizing well production conditions. ber is defined as the ratio of inertial force to viscous force.
Oil can be produced through tubing, casing, or both in The Reynolds number is expressed in consistent units as
an oil well depending on which flow path has better per-
formance. Producing oil through tubing is a better option Dur
in most cases to take the advantage of gas-lift effect. The NRe ¼ (4:2)
traditional term tubing performance relationship (TPR) is m
used in this book (other terms such as vertical lift perform-
ance have been used in the literature). However, the math- or in U.S. field units as
ematical models are also valid for casing flow and casing-
tubing annular flow as long as hydraulic diameter is used. 1:48qr
This chapter focuses on determination of TPR and pres- NRe ¼ (4:3)
dm
sure traverse along the well string. Both single-phase and
multiphase fluids are considered. Calculation examples are where
illustrated with hand calculations and computer spread-
sheets that are provided with this book. NRe ¼ Reynolds number
q ¼ fluid flow rate, bbl/day
r ¼ fluid density lbm =ft3
4.2 Single-Phase Liquid Flow
d ¼ tubing inner diameter, in.
Single-phase liquid flow exists in an oil well only when the m ¼ fluid viscosity, cp
wellhead pressure is above the bubble-point pressure of the
oil, which is usually not a reality. However, it is convenient For laminar flow where NRe < 2,000, the Fanning
to start from single-phase liquid for establishing the con- friction factor is inversely proportional to the Reynolds
cept of fluid flow in oil wells where multiphase flow usually number, or
dominates.
Consider a fluid flowing from point 1 to point 2 in a 16
tubing string of length L and height z (Fig. 4.1). The first fF ¼ (4:4)
NRe
law of thermodynamics yields the following equation for
pressure drop: For turbulent flow where NRe > 2,100, the Fanning
g r 2fF ru2 L friction factor can be estimated using empirical cor-
DP ¼ P1 P2 ¼ rDz þ Du2 þ (4:1) relations. Among numerous correlations developed by
gc 2gc gc D
different investigators, Chen’s (1979) correlation has an
where explicit form and gives similar accuracy to the Cole-
P ¼ pressure drop, lbf =ft2 brook–White equation (Gregory and Fogarasi, 1985)
P1 ¼ pressure at point 1, lbf =ft2 that was used for generating the friction factor chart
P2 ¼ pressure at point 2, lbf =ft2 used in the petroleum industry. Chen’s correlation takes
the following form:
( " #)
1 « 5:0452 «1:1098 7:149 0:8981
pffiffiffiffiffi ¼ 4 log log þ
fF 3:7065 NRe 2:8257 NRe
2 (4:5)
where the relative roughness is defined as « ¼ dd, and d is
the absolute roughness of pipe wall.
The Fanning friction factor can also be obtained based
on Darcy–Wiesbach friction factor shown in Fig. 4.2. The
L
Darcy–Wiesbach friction factor is also referred to as the
∆z Moody friction factor ( fM ) in some literatures. The rela-
tion between the Moody and the Fanning friction factor is
expressed as
fM
fF ¼ : (4:6)
4
1
Example Problem 4.1 Suppose that 1,000 bbl/day of
408API, 1.2 cp oil is being produced through 27⁄8 -in.,
q 8:6-lbm =ft tubing in a well that is 15 degrees from
vertical. If the tubing wall relative roughness is 0.001,
Figure 4.1 Flow along a tubing string. calculate the pressure drop over 1,000 ft of tubing.
