QUICK GUIDE TO DOING NODAL

ANALYSIS ON PAPER
Ezinne Nnebocha
 3500
■ Inflow Performance
Inflow (Reservoir) Curve Relationship
3000
Tubing Curve Curve(IPR) is
dependent on the
Flowing bottomhole pressure, psi

2500
performance/delivera
bility of the reservoir
1957.1 psi
2000 ■ Tubing Curve Is gotten
from flow correlations
or pressure gradient
1500
charts
■ This guide will show
1000
you how to create the
IPR curves manually
500 using excel or on
2111 STB/D
paper
0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500
Production rate, STB/D
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 Darcy’s Radial Flow eqn for Pseudo-steady state
Inflow Performance Evaluation 0.00708 ko h Pr − Pwf
qo =
Key Equations to Remember o Bo   0.472re 
1n  +S 
'

  rw  

■ Darcy’s Law Simple Productivity Index Equation

– Single phase fluid in Pseudo Steady State J =

q
(STB / D / psi )
p − p wf
■ Productivity Index
Productivity Index From Darcy’s Eqn
– Simple Well P.I if above bubble point
– Use Vogel – Best first pass estimate – requires actual 𝑘ℎ
𝐽=
production data 𝑟𝑒
141.2 𝐵𝜇 (𝐿𝑛 𝑤 − 0.75)
𝑟
– Use Pseudo Steady State when production data or
bottom hole pressure is unavailable Vogel’s P.I equation below bubble point

 q  
2
 pwf   p 
Skin Equation   = 1 − 0.2   − 0.8  wf  
 rd  k  Pskin  qmax    p   p  
St =
S = ln  − 1  141.2q o  o 
 
 rw  k d   Kh 
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Generating The IPR Curve

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Nodal Analysis Steps – How to generate the IPR Curve
Undersaturated Reservoir – No correction for bubble point
Pr

■ Generate the IPR curve

– If you have production data, use P.I method

Pressure (psi)
otherwise use Darcy’s method
– Estimate your 2 end points pwf

■ The reservoir pressure which will be the largest

number on the y axis qmax
O Rate Q (stb/d)
■ The qmax which will be the largest number on the x
axis. qmax is calculated from your P.I equation by
using a Pwf = 0
– Select arbitrary flow rate numbers between 0 and
qmax
■ For each flow rate assumed, calculate the
corresponding Pwf using P.I equation

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Nodal Analysis Steps – How to generate the IPR Curve –
Undersaturated Reservoir with correction below bubble point
■ Generate the IPR curve
– If you have production data, use P.I method
otherwise use Darcy’s method pr
– Estimate your 2 end points
■ The reservoir pressure which will be the largest pb

Pressure
number on the y axis
■ The qmax (AOF) will be the largest number on the x
pwf
axis. qmax is calculated from your Vogel’s P.I equation
■ If you know the bubble point pressure, using the
Vogel’s P.I equation calculate the flow rate
corresponding to the bubble point pressure
O Rate q
■ Select arbitrary flow rate numbers between 0 and
qmax
■ For each flow rate assumed, calculate the
corresponding Pwf using P.I equation

 q  
2
J=
q
(STB / D / psi ) 
 pwf
 = 1 − 0.2 
  p 
 − 0.8  wf  
p − pwf  qmax    p   p  
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 Nodal Analysis Steps – How to generate the IPR Curve
Saturated Reservoir (already below bubble point)

■ Generate the IPR curve

– Vogel’s equation will be used here
p
– Estimate your 2 end points r
■ The reservoir pressure which will be the largest
number on the y axis pb

Pressure
■ The qmax (AOF) will be the largest number on the x
axis. qmax is calculated from Vogel’s P.I equation pwf
below using a known flowrate(q) at a specified bottom
hole flowing pressure (Pwf)
■ Assuming different values of q between 0 and qmax, O Rate q
calculate the corresponding Pwf. Note that qmax and
P(reservoir pressure) will remain fixed
■ For each q assumed, plot it against the corresponding
Pwf. Use a curve to join all points
 q  
2
 pwf   p 
  = 1 − 0.2   − 0.8  wf  
 qmax    p   p  
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Generating the Tubing Performance
Curve

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 How To Use The Pressure Transverse
Curves
■ Input Data:
– Tubing size: 3 ½”
– Tubing length: 5000ft
– Production Rate: 1500bpd
– Tubing head pressure: 800psi
– Gas Liquid ratio – 1000scf/bbl
■ Start at the Tubing Head Pressure (1)
■ Draw a straight line to meet the GLR (2)
■ Add the tubing length to current depth (3) 5000ft
■ Draw the line horizontally back to your GLR(4)
■ Draw the line vertically back to your pressure
axis. Read off the corresponding bottom hole
flowing pressure (5)

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Constructing the Tubing Performance
Curve
■ Each Pressure Transvers chart gives you the estimated bottom hole flowing pressure at a particular
flow rate for the fluid conditions and tubing size specified on the chart
■ To plot the tubing curve, you need to repeat the process for different flow rate numbers while
keeping every other parameter constant
■ The best thing to do is to select some flow rate numbers within the same range as your IPR curve
(this rate will be between 0 and qmax
■ For each rate specified, find the correct Pressure Transverse Curve. Make sure that the pressure
transverse curves are for the same set of properties (tubing size, oil API etc)
■ For each flow rate chart, starting with the known tubing head pressure, estimate the corresponding
Pwf. Therefore you now have a Pwf versus q for all the assumed flow rates
■ Plot these points(q vs Pwf) on the same chart os your IPR curve and join the points
■ Where the two lines intersect is your solution point – this is the expected production rate for that
well. If the 2 lines do not intersect it means that the well will not produce under those set of
conditions

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Pressure Gradient
Curves For Exercise

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Pressure Gradient
Curves For Exercise

Schlumberger-Private
Pressure Gradient
Curves For Exercise

Schlumberger-Private
Pressure Gradient
Curves For Exercise

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