Introduction to NODAL

Analysis

April 2003
Instructor: Felipe Montoya

Objective
The objective of this course is to give the
engineer the basic tools and knowledge of
Nodal Analysis for him/her to understand its
benefits, usefulness and limitations and help
him/her apply it to his/her work for
production optimization.

Outline

Explain the concept of Nodal Analysis.

List the four major segments between the reservoir and the
separator where pressure loss occurs.
Give definitions for each of the following terms:
Inflow performance curve
Tubing Intake curve
System graph
Solution node
Benefits of NODAL Analysis

Agenda
1. The concept of Nodal Analysis
2. Segments in the reservoir/well system where pressure
loss occurs
3. Fluid Properties
4. Solution node
5. Inflow performance curve
6. Outflow performance curve
7. System graph

Pressure Losses in Well System

P4 = (Pwh - Psep)
Pwh

Gas

Psep

Sales line

Liquid

Stock tank

P3 = Pwf - Pwh

Pwf

P1 = Pr - Pwfs

= Loss in reservoir

P2 = Pwfs - Pwf

= Loss across completion

P3 = Pwf - Pwh

= Loss in tubing

P4 = Pwh - Psep

= Loss in flowline

PT = Pr - Psep

= Total pressure loss

Pwfs

Pr

Pe

P1 = (Pr - Pwfs)
P2 = (Pwfs - Pwf)
Adapted from Mach et al, SPE 8025, 1979.

Nodal Analysis
P4 = (Pwh - Psep)
Pwh

Gas

Psep

Sales line

Liquid

Stock tank

P3 = Pwf - Pwh

Pwf

P1 = Pr - Pwfs

= Loss in reservoir

P2 = Pwfs - Pwf

= Loss across completion

P3 = Pwf - Pwh

= Loss in tubing

P4 = Pwh - Psep

= Loss in flowline

PT = Pr - Psep

= Total pressure loss

Pwfs

Pr

Pe

P1 = (Pr - Pwfs)
P2 = (Pwfs - Pwf)
Adapted from Mach et al, SPE 8025, 1979.

Inflow Performance Curve

Flowing bottomhole pressure, psi

3500

Inflow (Reservoir) Curve

3000

2500

2000

1500

1000

500

0
0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

Production rate, STB/D

3500

4000

4500

Tubing Intake Curve

Flow ing bottom hole pressure, psi

3500

Tubing Curve

3000

2500

2000

1500

1000

500

0
0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

Production rate, STB/D

3500

4000

4500

System Graph
3500

Inflow (Reservoir) Curve

Tubing Curve

Flowing bottomhole pressure, psi

3000

2500

1957.1 psi
2000

1500

1000

500

2111 STB/D

0
0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

Production rate, STB/D

3500

4000

4500

Solution Node At Wellhead

P4 = (Pwh - Psep)
Pwh

Gas

Psep

Sales line

Liquid

Stock tank

P3 = Pwf - Pwh

Pwf

P1 = Pr - Pwfs

= Loss in reservoir

P2 = Pwfs - Pwf

= Loss across completion

P3 = Pwf - Pwh

= Loss in tubing

P4 = Pwh - Psep

= Loss in flowline

PT = Pr - Psep

= Total pressure loss

Pwfs

Pr

Pe

P1 = (Pr - Pwfs)
P2 = (Pwfs - Pwf)
Adapted from Mach et al, SPE 8025, 1979.

Fluid Physical Properties

Oil Properties
Oil in the absence of gas in solution is called dead oil.
The physical properties of dead oil are a function of the
API gravity of the oil, pressure and temperature. The
API gravity of oil is defined as:

141.5
API gravity
131.5
o
SpGr @ 60 F
With gas in solution, oil properties also depend on gas
solubility. Gas solubility is normally represented by Rs.

Fluid Physical Properties

Gas Solubility:
Gas solubility is defined as
the volume of gas
dissolved in one stock tank
barrel of oil at a fixed
pressure and temperature.
There are several
correlations for gas
solubility such as:
Standing
Lassater
and others

scf

STB

Rs

p 10 0.0125 API
g
x 0.00091 T
18 10

1.2

Fluid Physical Properties

Formation Volume Factor (o):
Is the volume in barrels occupied by one stock tank barrel
of oil with the dissolved gas at any elevated pressure and
temperature. It measures the volumetric shrinkage of oil
from the reservoir to surface conditions.
There are different correlations for calculating the
formation volume factor. They are empirical and based
on oil from different areas. The Standing correlation was
developed for California crude and can be written as
follows:
o = 0.972+0.000147 x F1.175
0 .5
g

F R S
1.25 T
o

Graphical Form of Standings Correlation, Bo

Example
Required
Formation volume at
200 F of a bubble point
liquid having a gas/oil ratio
of 350 CFB, a gas gravity of
0.75, and a tank oil gravity
of 30o API
o

Procedure
Starting at the left side
of the chart, proceed
horizontally along the 350
CFB line to a gas gravity of
0.75 . From this point, drop
vertically to the 30o API line.
Proceed horizontally from
the tank oil gravity scale to
the 200o F line. The
required formation volume
is found to be 1.22 barrel
per barrel of tank oil.

Copyright 1952
Chevron Research Company
Reprinted by Permission

Properties of natural mixtures of hydrocarbon gas and liquids, formation volume of bubblepoint liquids after Standing.

Fluid Physical Properties

Standings or any other correlation for formation
volume factor cannot be used above the bubble
point pressure Pb. Above the bubble point:
C o P Pb

o ob e

Where Pb and Bob are calculated from Standings or Lassaters

correlation using Rs=Rp, Rp being the produced GOR. The
parameter Co is not a constant and can be calculated by Trubes
correlation as follows:
1,433 5R s 17.2T 1,180 g 12.61API
Co
P x 10 5

Graphical Form of Standings Correlation, Pb

Properties of Natural Hydrocarbon Mixtures of Gas
and Liquid Bubble Point Pressure
Example:

Required
Bubble point pressure at 200oF of a
liquid having a gas-oil ratio of 350
CFB, a gas gravity of 0.75, and a tank
oil gravity of 30o API.
Procedure:
Starting at the left side of the chart,
proceed horizontally along the 350 o
CFB line to a gas gravity of 0.75.
From this point drop vertically to the
30o API line. Proceed horizontally
from the tank oil gravity scale to the
200o F line. The required pressure is
found to be 1930 PSIA.

o
-P

Bubble Point Pressure

-

ds
un

pe

ua
q
rs

re

ch
in

Ab

te
lu
o
s

Oil Viscosity
The fluid viscosity of reservoir oil containing
solution gas decreases with pressure up to the
bubble point pressure

Oil Viscosity
In the absence
of lab data the
Beal correlation
is used.

Rate of increase of oil viscosity above

bubble-point pressure. After Beal.

Absolute Viscosity of Gas-Free Oil (cp)

Dead Oil Viscosity

Oil Gravity o API at 60oF and Atmospheric Pressure

Dead oil viscosity at reservoir temperature and
atmospheric pressure. After Beal.

Gas Viscosity
Carr, Kobayashi and Burrows presented a correlation for
estimating natural gas viscosity as a function of gas
gravity, pressure and temperature

Gas Deviation Factor

Variable used in calculating the gas density
and gas formation volume factor.
To determine this parameter, the law of
corresponding states is used:
This law states that at the same reduced pressure
and reduced temperature, all hydrocarbon gases
have the same gas deviation factor.

Gas Deviation Factor

As a function of Ppr and

After Standing and Katz

Inflow Performance
Relationship

Inflow Performance
Relationship
Inflow Performance is the ability of the
reservoir to deliver oil or gas through
the formation and is described by the
pressure / rate response of the
reservoir. The IPR depends on
reservoir parameters and reservoir
fluid characteristics.

Inflow Performance
Relationship

Flowing bottomhole pressure, psi

3500

Inflow (Reservoir) Curve

3000

2500

2000

1500

1000

500

0
0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

Production rate, STB/D

3500

4000

4500

Inflow Performance
Relationship
Reservoir Conditions:
Bubble Point = 2150 psi

Bottom hole well pressure, psi

Progressive
deterioration of
IPRs as
depletion
proceeds with
time.

Original Pressure = 2150 psi

Crude oil PVT. Characteristics
and relative permeability
Characteristics from Ref. 7
Well spacing = 20 acres
Well radius - 0.33 foot
Cumulative recover,
percent of original
oil in place

Producing rate, bopd

Inflow Performance
Relationship
For single phase oil or liquids, the IPR shown below
is stated by Darcys law for radial flow as follows:

qo =

-3

7.08 x 10 kh (Pr - Pwf)

re
oBo ln
0.75 s
rw

Productivity Index (PI)

Pws

A
TAN =

Pwf

OB
= J = PI
OA

q = qmax when Pwf = 0

On the IPR curve the PI is defined as the negative inverse of

the slope of the line:
For PI calculations, q = surface production of fluids, and Pr-Pwf
= reservoir pressure drawdown.

Productivity Index (PI)

The Productivity Index of a well is defined as the total
liquid production per day per psi of pressure drawdown.

or, PI = J =

(qo + qw)
(Pr - Pwf)

, BPD/psi

Example Problem No.1

For the following oil-well data, calculate:

a) The absolute open flow potential, AOF and draw the IPR curve
b) Calculate the Productivity Index

Permeability, Ko = 30 mD
Pay thickness, h = 40 ft
Avg reservoir pressure, Pr = 3,000 psi
Reservoir Temperature, T = 200o F
Well Spacing, A = 160 Acres (43,560 ft2/acre)
OH size, D = 12
Formation Volume factor, o = 1.2 bbl/stb
Oil viscosity, o = 0.8 cp
Assume skin, St = 0 and no turbulence

Answers to Example Problem No.1

1. Drainage radius =

A x 43,560 , ft = 1,490 ft

2. Applying Darcys law , qo = 26,550 = 3,672

bopd
7.23
3. PI =

qo
(Pr - Pwf)

BPD/psi = 1.22 bopd/psi

Darcy Equation for Gas Wells

4

qg

2
r

7.03E k g h P Pwf2

re
0.75 S t Dq g
g Z T ln
rw

Skin factor
The Skin Factor (St) is a constant which relates
the pressure drop in the skin to the flow rate and
transmissibility of the formation. Thus:

St

Pskin
141.2q o o

Kh

Pskin Pwf' Pwf

Skin Factor graphical representation

rw
rd

Pr

Pwf
Pwf

Positive skin ~ Damaged wellbore or

Reduced wellbore radius

Skin factor
S t S d S p S pp S turb S o S s ......,
St = total skin effect, (+ damaged; - stimulated)
Sd = skin effect due to formation damage (+)
Spp = skin due to partial penetration (+)
Sp = skin effect due to perforation (+)
Sturb = Dq, skin effect due to turbulence (+)
So = skin effect due to slanting of well (-)
Ss = skin effect due to stimulation (generally -)