Course:- 28117

Class:- 289033a

HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERING

Examination for the Degree of

MEng in Petroleum Engineering

Production Technology 1b

Friday 23rd April 1999

09.30 - 12.30

NOTES FOR CANDIDATES

1. This is a Closed Book Examination.

2. 15 minutes reading time is provided from 09.15 - 09.30.

3. Examination Papers will be marked anonymously. See separate instructions for completion of
Script Book front covers and attachment of loose pages. Do not write your name on any loose
pages which are submitted as part of your answer.

4. This Paper consists of 2 Sections:- A and B.

5. Section A & B:- Attempt 4 numbered Questions from 7 with at least 1 Question from each
Section

6. Marks for Questions and parts are indicated in brackets

7. This Examination represents 55% of the Class assessment.

8 State clearly any assumptions used and intermediate calculations made in numerical questions.
No marks can be given for an incorrect answer if the method of calculation is not presented.

9. Answers must be written in separate, coloured books as follows:-

Section A:- Blue

Section B:- Green
 SECTION A

A1. “Advanced wells and in particular horizontal and multi-lateral wells, can enhance the business
case of a field development by any of 3 primary techno-economic drivers.” What are these?
[3]

“Multi-lateral well configurations can in the main be classified as stacked, opposed or planar, but
the selection of the optimum geometry must be based on the reservoir structure and flow charac
teristics.” Discuss this statement giving examples to illustrate the application of the various
options - use sketches as appropriate.
[7]

A2. Two subsea well completion designs are shown in Figures 1 and 2 - review and compare each of
these designs for the following applications:

(a) 10,000ft T.V.D. oil producer, normally pressured with a GOR of 400scf/bbl.
[5]

(b) Water injection completion for the same reservoir.

[5]

A3. The well shown in Figure 3 is an overpressured oil producer. If pressure buildup is experienced
in the 103/4” x 7” annulus at surface:

(a) What are the potential sources of the pressure?

[3]

(b) What method(s) and tools could be used to identify the cause of the leakage(s)?
[4]

(c) What corrective measures would you propose for the causes identified in (b) above?
[3]
 Typical Producer Typical Injection
Completion Schematic Completion Schematic

Annulus
check Annulus Tubing hanger
valve check
valve
4 1/2" TRCHSV
3.812" RQ' Landing nipple
injection valve
4 1/2" 12,6 lb/ft VAM J55 Tubing

4 1/2 " 2.6lb/ft new vam tubing

4 1/2" Alloy 'MMG' SPM

4 1/2 " alloy 'MMG' SPM

4 1/2 " 12.5 lb/ftvam tubing

3.812' 'XN' No-Go lancing nipple

Seal unit
3.912" 'XN' No-Go landing nipple

Seal unit 4 1.2"PBR

4 1/2" PBR
Tubing anchor latch
9 5/8" 40lb/ft NBS vam casing
9 5/8' SAB-3 HYD set
Tubing anchor latch permanent packer
9 5/8" SAB-3' HYD set permanent
packer O/W millout extension Millout extension

3.588" RN' No-Go landing nipple 2.750" XN nipple

3.1 2/9' /AM perforated at

2.756" XN' No-Go landing nipple
2.313' XN' No-Go landing nipple

2.313" XN' No-Go landing nipple Wireline re-entry guide

Wireline re-entry guild PERFS

PERFS
PBTD PBTD

Figure 1 and 2
 7" TR SSV

10 3/4" tie -back

Liner top isolation packer

Liner hanger
13 3/8" shoe @ 5700'
9 5/8" liner

7" CRA tubing

Full bore nipple profile
A-Ryte sealassemble
w/ anochor latch Liner hanger w/lower swal bore

9 5/8" shoe @10700'

7" CRA production liner Liner top isolation packer

w/ upper seal bore and
Bi-directional slipes and w/ bullet
Perforations seals on lower seal assembly
7" shoe @ 14500'

Figure 3
 SECTION B

B4.
(a) Sketch the main components of a 3 phase (gas/oil/water) horizontal separator and briefly (one
sentence) explain the function of each of the main components.
[8]

(b) Indicate how the export of the oil/water/gas flows are controlled and why the outlets are situated
at your indicated locations.
[3]

(c) Stokes Law (below) describes the velocity of separation of one liquid from another

kd 2 ( ρd − ρc )
V=
µc

An oil/water 2-phase separator has been in use in a field for many years. The main producing
zone (35˚ API, saline formation water) is now depleted and it is proposed to produce a shallower,
subsidiary zone (17˚ API oil, fresh formation water). The required data are given in Table 1.
You are required to advise management as to whether the existing separator capacity is sufficient
when the subsidiary zone is producing at 1% and 75% water cut.

Fluid properties at Producing zone

separator conditions Main sand Subsidiary sand
Oil viscosity cp 2.5 40
density/gcm-3 0.85 0.95
Water viscosity cp 0.9 0.7
density/gcm-3 1.1 0.99

N.B. The production rate from the subsidiary zone is only 10% of that achieved
from the main zone.
[9]

(d) An assumption has to be made in the above calculations. Indicate its impact on the conclusion
reached in the unfavourable (separator capacity insufficient) case and indicate two remedial
actions that could be taken.
[5]

B5.
(a) You are the Production Technologist responsible for completion of a well in a new field. Briefly
list what techniques you would use to help you in the decision as to whether sand control meas
ures need to be installed.

N.B. A core has been taken across the pay zone.

[8]
(b) This field has been declared marginal and can only be economically developed with subsea
wells. Briefly describe how this will affect your decision:

(i) on the need for the installation of sand control measures and
(ii) type of sand control measures installed.
[5]

(c) The field is developed with an oil well producing through a gravel pack. The (Darcy) skin due to
presence of the gravel pack and the resulting pressure drop (∆Ps) may be calculated from:

96( k / kg ) L
S=
d 2n
and
141.2 qBµ 
S+ 4 2
Dq
∆Ps =
KL  d n 
or

∆Ps = 0.00539 q S + 4 2 
Dq
 d n 

(see Table 2 for definition of the parameters and numerical values)

Calculate the (Darcy) skin value (S) and the resulting pressure drop for a perforation density of 4
shots/ft.
[4]
This is the target, allowable pressure drop in the well.

(d) Well testing found that the turbulent (non-Darcy) resulted in an unacceptably high pressure drop
of 374 psi. You are required to advise management as to whether the next well should be
completed with:

Case Cost Stort Density Diameter

A Low 12 shots/ft 0.5 in
B High 4 shots/ft 1.0 in

and whether it will meet the target, allowable pressure drop.

[5]

(e) Briefly comment on which case you would have expected to give the better inflow, and why.
[3]
 Well production (q) 2500 STB/D
Total production height (h) 23 ft
Reservoir permeability (k) 578 mD
Oil viscosity (µo) 0.310 cp
Formation volume factor (Bo) 1.636 bbl/STB
20-40 mesh gravel pearmwability 120,000 mD
Perforation Penetration (L) 6 in
Perforations Diameter (d) 0.5 in
Perforation Density (n) 4 shots/ft
Non-Darcy (turbulence factor) (D) 0.01

B6.
(a) List up to 6 key features for both Rod Pumps and Gas Lift that form the basis of the following
statement:

“Worldwide, 85% of Artificial Lift equipment installed is rod pumps. This is mainly in stripper
wells while gas lift is the most popular artificial lift technique for higher rate wells”.
[6]

(b) Most gas lift fields have insufficient gas to lift all the wells at their (technical) maximum
production. Briefly describe the process of optimal allocation of available lift gas; mentioning
the key economic parameters involved.
[6]

(c) Design a gas lift installation for the following conditions:

Tubing 3.958 in
Required Production Rate 3000 STB/day
Oil Cut 100%
Gas Specific Gravity 0.65
Average Flowing Temperature 150˚F
Reservoir Productivity Index 4 bpd/psi
Reservoir Depth 10,000 ft
Reservoir Pressure 3400 psi
Lift Gas Injection Gradient 20 psi/1000 ft
Minimum flowing tubing head pressure
to transfer fluids to facility 250 psi
Dead Oil Density 35˚ API or 0.368 psi/ft
Brine Density 0.44 psi/ft
Lift Gas Injection Rate 3,000,000 scf/d

A pressure traverse curve is provided as Figure 4.

Assume that the well is closed in with dead oil in the tubing and brine in the casing/tubing
annulus.
 (i) does this well require artificial lift to produce?
[2]

(ii) what depth should the gas lift valve be installed in a single valve lift installation in order to
achieve the required production?
[6]

HINT: Note that the relevant portions of the pressure traverse curve can be approximated by
straight lines.

(iii) what is the minimum surface gas injection pressure to kick the well off in the configuration
described?
[4]

(iv) how does this change if dead crude oil was present in the casing/tubing annulus instead of
brine?
[1]

B7.
(a) Briefly contrast the generalised selection criteria for matrix acidising and fracturing treatments
when considering carrying out a stimulation treatment on a well.
[5]

(b) List 2 sources of formation damage encountered during drilling and completion operations and 3
damage sources during production operations. Briefly indicate how the fluid selection for a
(matrix) removal treatment will be influenced by the damage source (examples may clarify your
answer).
[6]

(c) A well completed on 40 acre spacing (re = 745 ft) has a damaged region extending 1 ft beyond
the wellbore (rw = 0.328 ft).

The Hawkins formula may be used to calculate the skin due to formation damage:

k r
Sd =  o − 1 d
 kd  rw

while the productivity ratio (Ji/Jd) of the well with and without the above formation damage is
given by:

 re 
Ji ln rw  + S
=
ln e r 
Jd r
w

Use the above to illustrate the statement:

“Formation Damage reduces well productivity greatly while the stimulation effect of increasing
the near wellbore permeability above the initial value has limited effect”.
 HINT : estimate the relative well productivity with 95%, 75%, 50% formation damage and
10 times increase in near wellbore formation permeability.
[6]

(d) Your service company has designed the following fracturing treatments:

Wellbore radius (rw): 0.328 ft

Reservoir height: 100 ft; bounded by competent shales
Reservoir Permeability: 0.1 mD
Proppant available: 300,000 lb
Design Fracture Conductivity (kf*w): treatment A
- 1500 mD.ft at 4 lb/ft2 proppant loading

treatment B
- 850 mD.ft at 2 lb/ft2 proppant loading

(i) Use the accompanying graph from Cinco-Ley and Samiengo to advise management as to
whether treatment A or B will give the highest well productivities.
[6]

(ii) Why would you expect one of these treatments to be preferred?

[2]

2
Sf + ln (xf/rw)

0
0.1 1 10 100 1000
Kf.w
FCD =
K.xf

End of Paper