NODAL ANALYSIS

Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved

 NODAL ANALYSIS

Psep

P flowline Pwf
GAS

Pwh Flowline
OIL
+WATER

Q
Separator

IS A METHODOLOGY TO ANALYZE
Tubing THE PRODUCTION SYSTEM AS AN
UNIT TO CALCULATE ITS CAPACITY
WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF:
Ptubing
DESIGNING EACH COMPONENT OF THE
PRODUCTION SYSTEM

DETECTING PRODUCTION IMPEDIMENTS

Reservoir
CALCULATING THE EFFECT OF CHANGING
Pr, IPR, K ONE OR MORE COMPONENTS ON THE
CAPACITY OF THE PRODUCTION SYSTEM

Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved

Pres P = f(Q)
 POSSIBLE PRESSURE LOSSES IN A PRODUCTION SYSTEM
p8= Pwh-Psep

gas
p6= Pds-Psep
Pwh-Pds = p5

Pwh
Pds Flowline Separator
Psep
Surface choke
Tank
Pdv
p7= Pwf-Pwh

Safety valve
p4= Puv-Pdv Puv
p1=Pr-Pwfs Loss in porous medium
Well p2=Pwfs-Pwf Loss across the completion
p3=Pur-Pdr restriction
Restriction Pdr p4=Puv-Pdv safety valve
p5=Pwh-Pds choke
p6=Pds-Psep in flow line
Pur p7=Pwf-Pwh Total loss in tubing
p3= Pur-Pdr p8=Pwh-Psep Total loss in flowline

Reservoir Pwf Pwfs Pr Pe

p1=Pr-Pwfs
Pwfs-Pwf = p2
Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved
 NODAL ANALYSIS CONCEPT

Q Q
INFLOW NODE OUTFLOW

Pu UPSTREAM
Pn DOWNSTREAM
Pd
COMPONENTS COMPONENTS

Pu Pd

P = f (Q)

Pnode = Pu Pupstream components (1) = f1(Q)

Pnode = Pd + Pdownstream components (2) = f2(Q)

Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved

 GRAPHICAL SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM

(2) Outflow from node

NODE PRESSURE, Pnode

NODE PRESSURE

(1) Inflow to node

SYSTEM FLOW CAPACITY

FLOW RATE, Q

Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved

 EXERCISE
ILUSTRATION OF NODAL ANALYSIS CONCEPT
P1= 200 psi P3= 60 psi
Pnode
P1 P2

WATER
WATER
SOURCE
SINK
2000 feet, = 3 1000 feet, =2

Calculate:

1) Actual capacity of the system in BPD.

2) Capacity of the system when the diameter of the 2 pipe is increased to 3.

Select the node at the point where the pipe diameter is reduced from 3 to 2.
Assume flow rates of 2500, 3000 y 3500, 5000, 5500, 6000 BPD.

Use the following equation to calculate the pressure drop in a pipe

L Q2
P = 3.8 x 10 - 7 x ;
D5

where, P is the pressure drop in psi, L is the pipe length in feet, D is the pipe
diameter in inches and Q the flow rate in BPD.
Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved
 GRAPHICAL SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM

(2) Outflow performance

2
NODE PRESSURE, Pnode

Pnode
(1) Pnode = P1-P1

(2) Pnode = P3+P2

Inflow
(1) performance

Actual system flow capacity

FLOW RATE, Q

P1= 200 PSI P3= 60 PSI

Pnode
P1 P2
WATER
WATER SINK
SOURCE
2000 feet, = 3 1000 feet, =2
Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved
 GRAPHICAL SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM

(2) Outflow performance

2
NODE PRESSURE, Pnode

Pnode
(1) Pnode = P1-P1

3
(2) Pnode = P3+P2
Inflow
(1) performance

Actual system flow capacity

FLOW RATE, Q new system flow capacity

SOL

P1= 200 PSI P3= 60 PSI

Pnode
P1 P2
WATER
WATER SINK
SOURCE
2000 feet, = 3 1000 feet, =2
Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved
 LOCATION OF VARIOUS NODES

1A

3 2
1

1B
4
NODE LOCATION

1 SEPARATOR
2 SURFACE CHOKE
3 WELLHEAD
4 SAFETY VALVE
5 RESTRICTION
6 Pwf
5 7 Pwfs
8 Pr
1A GAS SALES
1B STOCK TANK

6 7 8
Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved
 NODAL ANALYSIS APPLICATION IN A SIMPLE PRODUCTION SYSTEM
(NODE SELECTED AT THE WELLHEAD)

P flowline

Horizontal Gas
Pwh Flowline
NODE
Psep Separator

Tank

Inflow to node:
Ptubing Pr Pres Ptubing = Pwh (1)
Vertical or inclined tubing

Outflow from node:

Psep + Pflowline = Pwh (2)
Pr, k, IPR

Flow through porous media

Pres
Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved
 EFFECT OF THE FLOWLINE SIZE
(NODE SELECTED AT THE WELLHEAD)

d1
WELLHEAD PRESSURE, Pwh

d2 > d1

OUTFLOW

INFLOW

FLOWRATE, Q

Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved

 NODAL ANALYSIS APPLICATION IN A SIMPLE PRODUCTION SYSTEM
(NODE SELECTED AT THE BOTTOMHOLE)

P flowline

Horizontal Gas
Pwh Flowline

Psep Separator

Tank

Inflow to node:
Ptubing Pr Pres = Pwf (1)
Vertical or inclined tubing
Outflow from node:
Psep + Pflowline +
Ptubing = Pwf (2)
Pr, k, IPR

Pwf Flow through porous media

NODE
Pres
Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved
 EFFECT OF THE TUBING SIZE
(NODE SELECTED AT THE BOTTOMHOLE)

Pr d1
BOTTOMHOLE FLOWING PRESSURE, Pwf

d2>d1

INFLOW
IPR

OUTFLOW

0
0
FLOWRATE, Q

Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved

 FINDING OPTIMUM TUBING SIZE

FLOW RATE, Q

UNSTABLE REGION

DIAMETER FOR
MAXIMUM FLOW RATE

TUBING DIAMETER, d

Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved

 SIMULTANEOUS EFFECT OF MINIMIZING FLOW RESTRICTIONS
IN THE RESERVOIR AND IN THE PIPING SYSTEM

(NODE AT THE BOTOMHOLE)

d1
Pr
BOTTOMOLE FLOWING PRESSURE, Pwf

2*
WELL WITHOUT SKIN EFFECT
d2>d1
1

WELL WITH
SKIN EFFECT

2**

0
0 PRODUCTION INCREASE

FLOW RATE, Q
Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved
 BOTTOM HOLE FLOWING PRESSURE, Pwf
GAS LIFT WELL PERFORMANCE

LIQUID PRODUCTION RATE, QL

Maximum liquid production
Pr Excessive GLR

Inflow Performance
IPR
G
LR

Available gas Economic Optimum

volume

LIQUID PRODUCTION RATE, QL GAS INJECTION RATE, Qgi

(a) Gas lift well analysis (b) Effect of gas injection rate

Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved

 EFFECT OF PERFORATING DENSITY ON INFLOW

N = NUMBER OF PERFORATIONS PER FOOT

BOTTOMHOLE FLOWING PRESSURE, Pwf

Pr
INFLOW
OUTFLOW
N3>N2

N1

N1>N2

0
0
FLOWRATE, Q
Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved
 EFFECT OF PERFORATING DENSITY ON FLOW RATE

FLOWRATE, Q

NUMBER OF PERFORATIONS PER FOOT, N

Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved

 NODAL ANALYSIS APPLICATIONS

Selecting tubing size.

Selecting Flowline size.
Gravel pack design.
Surface choke sizing.
Analyzing an existing system for abnormal
flow restrictions (production impediments).
Artificial lift system design.
Well stimulation evaluation.
Analyzing effects of perforating density.
Predicting the effect of depletion on production
capacity.
Allocating injection gas among gas lift wells.
Analyzing a multiwell producing system.

Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved

 SUGGESTED PROCEDURE FOR
NODAL ANALYSIS APPLICATION
1. Determine which components in the system can be changed.

2. Select one component to be optimized.

3. Select the node location.

4. Develop expressions for the inflow and outflow.

5. Obtain required data to calculate the pressure drop versus

flow rate fall components.

6. Determine the effect of changing the characteristics of the

selected component by plotting inflow versus outflow and
readin the intersection.

7. Repeat the procedure for each component that is to be

optimized.

Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved

 HISTORY CASE
NODAL ANALYSIS FOCUSED ON ARTIFICIAL LIFT

GAS LIFT
BOTTOMHOLE FLOWING PRESSURE, Pwf

Pr

ELECTRICAL SUBMERSIBLE
1 PUMP (ESP)

BUBBLE PRESSURE
Pb

Pwf ESP FAILED DUE TO

2
EXCESSIVE GAS RATE
Pwf<<<<Pb
0
0 PRODUCTION
INCREASE
FLOW RATE, Q
Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved
 HISTORY CASE
NODAL ANALYSIS FOCUSED ON ARTIFICIAL LIFT

GAS LIFT
BOTTOMHOLE FLOWING PRESSURE, Pwf

Pr
IPR IMPROVED BY
REPERFORATION +
STIMULATION JOB
ELECTRICAL SUBMERSIBLE
1 PUMP (ESP)

3 ZERO GAS IN
THE PUMP
Pwf > Pb
BUBBLE PRESSURE
Pb
WELL WITH A
VERY STRONG
SKIN EFFECT 2

0
0 PRODUCTION INCREASE

FLOW RATE, Q
Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved
 HISTORY CASE
NODAL ANALYSIS FOCUSED ON INFLOW RESERVOIR PERFORMANCE

BEAM PUMPING
BOTTOMHOLE FLOWING PRESSURE, Pwf

Pr
2 WELL STIMULATED WITH
STEAM SOAK
1

VERY SMALL INCREASE

IN PRODUCTION WAS ACHIEVED

0
0
FLOW RATE, Q
Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved
 HISTORY CASE
NODAL ANALYSIS FOCUSED ON INFLOW RESERVOIR PERFORMANCE

BEAM PUMPING
BOTTOMHOLE FLOWING PRESSURE, Pwf

Pr

1
ELECTRICAL SUBMERSIBLE
PUMP (ESP)

0 1000 BPD
0 PRODUCTION INCREASE

FLOW RATE, Q
Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved
 WELL RESTRICTED BY PIPING SYSTEM AND
NEAR WELLBORE SKIN EFFECT

BOTTOM HOLE FLOWING PRESSURE, Pwf

Pr
TU
BIN
G
RE OR
2 ST F
RIC LOW
OUTFLOW
TIO LIN
N E

BOTH 1
4

O RE IN) INFLOW
3 LB (SK
EL ON
W I
AR ICT
NE STR
RE

0
0
FLOW RATE, Q
Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved
 ANALYZING MULTIWELL SYSTEMS

A change made in any component in the system would affect the producing
capacity of the total system, Some of the changes that could be considered
are:

Working over individual wells

Placing some wells on artificial lift
Add new wells
Shutting in some of the existing wells
Changes in producing characteristics with time
Effect of surface line sizes
Instalation of pumps or compressors
Effect of the final outlet pressure

Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved

 ANALYZING MULTIWELL SYSTEMS

Pwf1

PA System
Q1 Capacity
Well 1
A B
QA=Q1+Q2+Q3

Well 2

Pwf2

Q2 Well 3
Pwf3

Q3

Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved