See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/334746037

URTeC: 157 Production Modeling for Velocity String Applications in

Unconventional Wells

Conference Paper · July 2019

DOI: 10.15530/urtec-2019-157

CITATIONS READS
0 366

3 authors, including:

Suat Bagci
Baker Hughes Incorporated
160 PUBLICATIONS   982 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE

All content following this page was uploaded by Suat Bagci on 29 July 2019.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

URTeC: 157

Production Modeling for Velocity String Applications in

Unconventional Wells
Suat Bagci, Tina Chang; Baker Hughes, a GE Company
Copyright 2019, Unconventional Resources Technology Conference (URTeC) DOI 10.15530/urtec-2019-157

This paper was prepared for presentation at the Unconventional Resources Technology Conference held in Denver, Colorado, USA,
22-24 July 2019.

The URTeC Technical Program Committee accepted this presentation on the basis of information contained in an abstract
submitted by the author(s). The contents of this paper have not been reviewed by URTeC and URTeC does not warrant the
accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of any information herein. All information is the responsibility of, and, is subject to corrections by
the author(s). Any person or entity that relies on any information obtained from this paper does so at their own risk. The information
herein does not necessarily reflect any position of URTeC. Any reproduction, distribution, or storage of any part of this paper by
anyone other than the author without the written consent of URTeC is prohibited.

Abstract
In this paper, production-modeling studies are presented for applicability of a velocity string with ESP and
gas lift in production wells completed in unconventional reservoirs to prevent gas slugging for production
enhancement with optimized velocity string size and length. The effect of velocity string size and length on
the performances of ESP and gas lift installed wells were studied. Gas slugging behavior was reduced with
an optimized velocity string length based on ESP pump setting depth or depth of gas lift orifice. The flow
regimes occurring at the lateral section of the well and inlet and outlet of the velocity string were identified
and pressure drops estimated.
Changing the inside diameter of the velocity string affected the operating point on the flow regime map.
The flow regime can be changed at the outlet of the velocity string before the inlet of the ESP pump or gas
lift orifice when the velocity string size is changed from bigger diameter to smaller diameter. For smaller
velocity string sizes, the flow regime in the horizontal section of the velocity string changed from
stratified/slug flow to dispersed bubble flow. However, the change in flow regime at this point of the
completion did not affect the operation of ESP and gas lift systems. A shorter velocity string increased the
production rates and the changes in the diameter of the velocity string became more significant and
decreased the production rates. This did not take into account the potential improvement in inflow
performance of the well with shorter velocity strings, which allowed production from the originally isolated
frac stages in unconventional wells.
The importance of these factors is explained in this study, which will describe the applicability of velocity
strings, and the challenges encountered during implementation. It will focus on an engineered approach to
select and deploy a velocity string with artificial lift systems for production enhancement.

Introduction
Production from unconventional wells is characterized by non-steady state two-phase slug flow. Slug flow
causes significant problems for artificial lift systems. The velocity string is the installation of the wellbore
tubular to modify the hydraulic characteristics of an existing completion conduit (production tubing, casing,
and liner) that will enable the production of all wellbore fluids. A smaller conduit allows for higher velocity
URTeC 157 2

flow for the same volumetric flow rate. Higher velocity flow has a better chance of dragging entrained
liquid up the wellbore and mitigating the severity of gas slugs, but higher velocity flow also has a higher
pressure drop due to friction.
Many deviated and horizontal wells have suffered poorer than anticipated production at least partly due to
wellbore design profiles, heading problems, multiphase challenge and flow regimes. Due to density
differences between liquid and gas, different flow patterns or flow regimes can occur when gas and liquid
flow simultaneously inside the wellbore from the toe to heel section and towards the wellhead.
In order to understand the impact of gas slugging in oil well, it is first to understand how the liquid and gas
phases interact under flowing conditions. Depending on the flow conditions, a gas-liquid flow exhibits one
of several different patterns in vertical and horizontal pipes as shown in Figure 1.

Horizontal Flow

Vertical Flow

Figure 1 – Illustration of different flow regimes in vertical and horizontal pipe flows (modified from
Bratland, 2013).
URTeC 157 3

A flow regime is determined by the velocity of the gas and liquid phases and the relative amounts of gas
and liquid at any given point in the production system from the bottom of the wellbore to the wellhead.
Simulating multi-phase flow of any deviation or inclination involves determining what kind of flow regime
is occurring along the length of the wellbore, and then performing pressure loss calculations for that
particular regime. Flow regime maps developed for vertical and horizontal wellbores shown in Figure 2
and Figure 3 are useful when to gain insight into the mechanisms creating flow regimes.

Figure 2 – Flow regime map for a vertical pipe (modified from Bratland, 2013).

Figure 3 – Flow regime map for a horizontal pipe (modified from Bratland, 2013).
URTeC 157 4

During a multiphase flow through the vertical and horizontal lateral sections of the well, the flow pattern is
based on the relative magnitudes of the forces (buoyancy, turbulence, inertia, surface tension) that are acting
on the fluids. However, these forces are affected by flow rates, tubing/casing diameter, inclination angle
and fluid properties of the phases. Different flow patterns can exist in the same well, and during the life of
a well, one or all of these flow regimes may occur. In the beginning, the well has a high liquid rate and
therefore the flow regime is mist flow in the tubing. Below the tubing end to the mid-perforations, the flow
regime can also be in a bubble, transition, or slug flow. After some period when the production declines the
flow regime changes from the perforations to the surface due to decreasing liquid velocity. Beside of this,
gas production increases and liquid production declines. Higher up in the well the flow will stay in a mist
flow regime until the well changes to a fluctuating production, resulting in a slug flow regime due to
declining liquid rate and increasing GOR. Slug flow at the surface can change to a stable production rate
again as the liquid rate drops further. It is possible that the well is able to flow for a long time and that gas
is produced through the liquids without any liquids rising to the surface although it is in a loaded condition.
The objective of this study is to understand the applicability of velocity string with ESP and Gas Lift in
unconventional production wells to prevent gas slugging and enhance the production by optimizing size
and length of velocity string being installed in the well below the intake of ESP or Gas Lift valve.

Velocity String Applications

When the cross-sectional flow area gets smaller, the gas velocity in the tubing will increase. By using
velocity string, the higher the gas velocity on the bottom of the well, the more energy for transporting the
liquid up to the surface is given and preventing the gas slugging. Therefore, liquid production is guaranteed.
The behavior of the velocity on the lowest portion of the good completion is of most importance. The higher
the velocity on the bottom of the well, the better the flowing condition is in the upper section of the well. It
should be noted that the velocity is completely dependent on its associated liquid holdup. To put it another
way, the liquid holdup must be determined to get the applicable velocities for a given well. Liquid holdup
is also related to the flow regimes lower velocities can cause the discharge of the liquid with an annular
flow pattern. Rapid variation of liquid holdup can be obtained due to lower fluid velocities. That creates a
greater mixture density and a higher bottomhole pressure. The velocity of the gas flow rate can be increased
by reducing the flow area. It should be noted that by the production through a smaller tubing size, the
frictional pressure drop will increase, consequently resulting in a lower production rate.
Gas slugging in the oil well creates unstable flow due to high gas volumes from the reservoir. The
accumulated gas in the well creates additional pressure against formation pressure and reducing production
until the well ceases production. In order to reduce these effects of gas slugging in oil production, gas-
slugging problems should be diagnosed in time and dealt properly and efficiently.
The study of Arachman et al. (2004) showed that especially for big-bore completions velocity string
installation could be very beneficial. It is generally less expensive than other solutions and treatment
methods for liquid loading since it could be done in a live well with coiled tubing. However, velocity string
applications are critical because as the diameter of tubing decreases, the pressure loss value due to friction
will increase which would limit production rates. The solution to this problem would be installing the
velocity string from the perforation interval up to a certain point instead of installing it all the way to the
surface in gas wells. If the velocity string is too short, however; it could be insufficient to lift the produced
liquids effectively and would need replacing with another longer or smaller string. In addition, it may not
be a permanent solution as reservoir pressure continues to deplete an even smaller diameter tubing string
would be needed.
Castano et. al (2013) presented the case history of well operated with coiled tubing in conjunction with real-
time evaluation of the remaining potential of the formation and assess the velocity string option using 1-
3/4 in. coiled tubing to reduce the wellbore transverse flow area, thus improving the vertical lift
performance. They observed that the velocity string created the flowing wellbore conditions; lowest
URTeC 157 5

pressure at the perforations for the highest production rate deliverable from the reservoir, the fluid velocity
of 10 to 12 ft/sec in the lower end of the tubing and liquid holdup fractions of 0.2 or less in the lower portion
of the wellbore.
Skopich et. al (2013) experimentally investigated the effect of smaller pipe diameters on liquid loading in
gas wells using 2-in. and 4-in. pipe diameters. They observed that the critical gas velocity corresponding to
the minimum pressure gradient was larger for the smallest pipe diameter. This supported the use of velocity
strings to extend the production life of the gas wells.
Asel et. al (2014) presented a case study of a retrograde gas condensate well and the challenges encountered
during the implementation of an engineered approach to successfully select and deploy a velocity string for
gas well deliquification.
Quintana et. al (2016) presented a velocity string application case study implemented in the dry gas field
having a high water production problem and reservoir pressure declining. They used a coiled tubing velocity
string to unload liquids in gas wells. The correct choice of velocity string size helped to optimize the gas
well productivity. The smaller diameter velocity string installed inside the production tubing improved the
gas velocity, thereby avoiding water column accumulation at the bottom of the well. In velocity string
design, the reservoir inflow performance (IPR) and tubing performance relationship (VLP) are considered
to predict the liquid velocities in tubing for defining flow regimes together with potential production rates
for selectable velocity string sizes and lengths. The critical flow and future decline of the reservoir pressure
determined whether to use a velocity string to mitigate the liquid loading. Maintained gas rates above the
calculated critical gas production rate meant that liquid loading was not occurring.
From these field case applications, the general aim of this study is to determine the conditions for avoiding
high gas volumes in artificially lifted oil wells. However, as gas slugging problems in well progress after a
certain point, it may be impossible to keep the well flowing on its own. When that happens, a solution can
be used in order to solve the gas-slugging problem in the well. One of the solutions is installing velocity
string in the well by re-sizing production strings to change the flow pattern regimes and increase the flowing
velocity. When the critical flow rate and velocity equations are considered, smaller tubing sizes can be
economically favorable with time where gas slugging will be more problematic since reservoir pressure
will deplete eventually, causing the gas slugging with liquids produced from the reservoir.

Case Study 1 - ESP Well

One of the limitations of achieving full potential in ESP wells is the presence of excessive gas at pump
intake due to gas slugging. Presence of gas slugging and free gas at pump intakes affect the pump
performance negatively, reducing the liquid rates and pressure added by the pump. This performance
reduction and gas slugging problems may sometimes be quite severe, resulting in unstable pump operation,
significant production losses, lower reliability and increased operating costs due to ESP failure. Currently,
some operators need to produce wells under challenging operational conditions with very high GORs and
gas slugging. ESP in wells with high GOR that requires the use of special gas handling technologies is
becoming more and more common. In addition to these technologies, velocity string applications are widely
used with ESPs to more gassy applications in the industry to prevent the gas-slugging problem.
In this case study, the results and learnings from the application of ESPs with velocity string based on real
field data as shown in Figure 4. Present operating conditions were simulated for the production well
installed with velocity string and ESP pump to predict the flow regimes. These flow regimes define what
is happening in the horizontal lateral section of the well, at the inlet of the velocity string, at the outlet of
the velocity string, at the inlet of ESP pump and inside the vertical tubing to the wellhead.
URTeC 157 6

Figure 4 – ESP pump with velocity string

Velocity strings below the ESP of different sizes were modeled to show the effects on the flow regime
changes in the velocity string completions would have. Pressure profiles as shown in Figure 5 show that
velocity string size and length have a negligible effect on flow regime at the top of the velocity string, but
would have a noticeable effect on pressure due to friction loss. Lower pump intake pressures were obtained
with longer velocity string while the highest pump intake pressure occurs without velocity string. Small
velocity string sizes (1.05 in. and 1.25 in.) cause so much pressure drop at the pump intake and pump intake
pressure falls to zero without any flow due to gas slugging.
Figure 6 shows the effect of velocity string length on pump intake pressure and on production rate. The
shorter velocity string created less pressure drop and therefore higher pump intake pressure. Production
rates decreased with increasing velocity string length for constant size and by keeping constant pump intake
pressure. The effect of velocity string size on pump intake pressure and on production rate are given in
Figure 7. Changing the size of the velocity string changes the operating point (superficial liquid and gas
velocities) on the flow regime map. However, the velocity string size needed to pass any flow regime
boundaries will cause significant pressure drop lowering the pump intake pressure. The pump intake
pressures for very small velocity string sizes (1.05 in. and 1.25 in.) are zero and the fluids are not moved
towards the intake of the ESP pump. These pump intake pressures will greatly increase the volume of free
gas not allowing the ESP for properly operating. Therefore, the velocity string sizes should be
recommended for installation under operating conditions of the well.
URTeC 157 7

Figure 5 – Effect of velocity string length and size on pressure profiles along the wellbore.

Figure 6 – Effect of velocity string length on pump intake pressure and on production rate
(ID = 1.995 in.).
URTeC 157 8

Figure 7 – Effect of velocity string size on pump intake pressure and on production rate
(Length = 2500 ft.)
Modeling the liquid holdup along the wellbore bore at different production rates and flowing bottomhole
pressures of the IPR curves demonstrate the point at which gas slugging occurs. Velocity string completions
work as an effective means of gas separation when the entrance to the velocity string is in the stratified flow
regime that is likely to occur in the lateral of the wellbore. The cross-sectional area taken up by liquid in
the two-phase flow is the liquid holdup. For the velocity string to give full gas separation benefit as shown
in Figure 8, the liquid holdup should be more than the casing/velocity string OD ratio and be stratified flow.
The gas separation benefit will decrease as the casing/velocity string ratio becomes greater than the liquid
holdup or if the flow regime is not stratified flow.

Figure 8 – Gas separation with velocity string

Figure 9 shows the effect of velocity string size and length on liquid holdup. The liquid holdup is affected
by smaller velocity string sizes (1.05 in. 1.25 in.) due to the disappearance of liquid hold up with high gas
flow issue at the inlet of the velocity string.
URTeC 157 9

Figure 9 - Effect of velocity string size and length on the liquid holdup
The velocity string of higher sizes (1.995 in. and 2.441 in.) still have some gas separation benefit in other
flow regimes by decreasing the effect of gas slugging. By increasing the length of velocity string having a
constant size of 1.995 in. The ID has a benefit to increase the liquid holdup at the inlet of velocity string
while the liquid holdup is decreased at the outlet of the velocity string before intake of the ESP pump. A
velocity string system is needed to simultaneously resolve the issues of motor cooling and the reduction of
the amount of free gas entering the pump. The increasing of the liquid holdup at the inlet of the velocity
string decreased the gas volume that affected the performance of the ESP pump.
Developed a horizontal flow regime map for 1.995 in. velocity string having 2500 ft length is presented in
Figure 10. This figure shows a comparison of the superficial gas velocity and superficial liquid velocity on
a Log10 scale and the flow regime boundaries. A superficial velocity is hypothetical flow velocity calculated
given in gas volume and the cross-sectional area. In this case, the portion of cross-sectional area is the flow
area of the production casing/liner taken up either the gas or liquid phase. The well model calculates the
volume of oil, water and gas and the liquid and gas holdups through the wellbore to calculate the superficial
liquid and gas velocities. As the well becomes vertical, the fluid naturally enters the slug flow regime from
URTeC 157 10

the increasing velocities. The goal of the velocity string will be to increase velocities enough to move to
the annular or bubble flow regime.
Flow regime from the toe of the lateral section of the well towards the inlet of the velocity string is stratified-
slug flow. By using velocity string, flow regime transitions from slug flow to annular flow as fluid moves
along the velocity string by reducing gas slugging before intake of the ESP pump. At the intake of ESP
pump, the flow regime is completely annular flow.

Figure 10 – Horizontal flow regime map (Velocity String ID = 1.995 in., Length = 2500 ft.)

Figure 11 presents the vertical flow regime map for a velocity string of 1.995 in. showing the flow regime
transitions from the discharge of the ESP pump, through the tubing and to the wellhead. At the discharge
of the ESP pump, the flow regime is bubble flow then slowly transitions to slug flow as it moves toward
the wellhead.
URTeC 157 11

Figure 11 – Vertical flow regime map (Velocity String ID = 1.995 in., Length = 2500 ft.)

Case Study 2 - Gas Lift Well

In this case, study, a gas lift system was modeled to understand the production potential of the well after
installation of the velocity string under operating conditions as shown in Figure 12. A gas lift system does
not have a downhole pump, so it does not have issues with gas slugging due to changing flow regimes that
have occurred in the ESP system. The systems inject gas into the production tubing to reduce the hydrostatic
pressure of the fluid column to reduce the flowing bottomhole pressure and increase the production of the
well. Well, modeling was used for prediction of production rates, fluid velocity, flow regimes, slip velocity
and holdup along the length of the well based on multiphase flow correlations.
URTeC 157 12

Figure 12. Velocity string in the gas lift system

In well modeling, the latest production rate was matched with VLP/IPR matching to confirm the reservoir
pressure and understand the operating conditions (effect of gas lift gas injection rate) with currently installed
velocity string (ID = 1.995 in. and length = 2500 ft.). Matched production rate using VLP/IPR matching of
the latest production data and optimized gas lift gas injection rate is presented in Figure 13.

Figure 13 – VLP/IPR matching for production rate prediction.

Pressure profiles were developed in the well from the toe and heel including the velocity string installed
with gas lift system as shown in Figure 14. Shorter velocity string decreased the inlet pressure at the inlet
of the velocity string with larger size (1.995 in.). However, the smaller size of the velocity string increased
the pressure at the inlet of the velocity string with resulting to change the flow regime.
URTeC 157 13

Figure 14 – Effect of velocity string length and size on pressure profiles along the well.

Effect of velocity string length on pressure at the inlet of velocity string and liquid production rate is
presented in Figure 15. The shorter velocity string created less pressure compared with longer lengths.
There is no effect of velocity string length, which is higher than the optimum length of 1500 ft. on pressure.
The liquid production rates decreased with increasing velocity string length. The liquid holdup or liquid
slug length is dependent on the velocity string size. At the inlet of the velocity string, liquid holdup increased
with decreasing velocity string size. The length of the liquid slug is also decreased with decreasing velocity
string size. At the low rates, the difference between the gas and liquid velocities is high and therefore the
liquid holdup increases. The smaller size of velocity string allows for higher velocity flow and then, higher
velocity flow has a better chance of dragging entrained liquid holdup. Higher velocity flow also creates a
higher-pressure drop due to friction. Figure 16 presents the effect of velocity string size on inlet pressure at
the velocity string and on liquid production rate. Pressures at the inlet of velocity string increased with
decreasing velocity string size for the constant length of 2500 ft. Then, the pressure drop is less in 1.05 in.
and 1.25 in. when compared with larger velocity string sizes. Smallest velocity string size has a negative
impact on liquid production rates with increasing inlet pressure at the velocity string.
URTeC 157 14

Figure 15 – Effect of velocity string length on pressure at the inlet of velocity string and liquid production
rate.

Figure 16 – Effect of velocity string size on pressure at the inlet of velocity string and liquid production
rate.

Horizontal flow regime map is presented in Figure 17 for 1.995 in. velocity string size and length of 2500
ft. Flow regime from the toe of the lateral towards the inlet of the velocity string is stratified-annular flow
under sever slugging issue. The flow regime transformed to stratified-slug flow from the inlet of velocity
string. Inside the velocity string, the flow regime stayed as stratified-slug flow.
Vertical flow regime map was developed for vertical section of the well installed with a gas lift system and
velocity string (ID = 1.995 in., Length = 2500 ft.) as shown in Figure 18. After crossover and from the gas
lift orifice/valve, the flow regime transformed from bubble flow to slug flow through the production tubing.
By spacing of the gas lift valves, flow regime transitions slug to annular flow as the fluid moves in the
vertical tubing to the wellhead.
URTeC 157 15

Figure 17 – Horizontal flow regime map (Velocity String ID = 1.995 in., Length = 2500 ft.)

Figure 18 – Vertical flow regime map (Velocity String ID = 1.995 in., Length = 2500 ft.)
URTeC 157 16

Conclusions
The following conclusions were obtained:
 The effect of velocity string size was studied at the current production rate and desired production
rate to estimate the optimum velocity string size. The flow regimes occurred during the production
of the well using velocity string were identified while the pressure drop and liquid loading on the
fluid flow were estimated.
 Velocity string installation in the ESP wells has a better chance of mitigate gas slugs but has higher
pressure drop due to friction.
 Lower pump intake pressures were obtained with longer velocity string installations while the
highest pump intake pressure occurred without velocity string.
 Small velocity string sizes (1.05 in. and 1.25 in.) cause so much pressure drop at the pump intake
and pump intake pressure falls to zero without fluid movement due to gas slugging.
 The shorter velocity string created less pressure drop and therefore higher pump intake pressure.
Production rates decreased with increasing velocity string length for constant size and by keeping
constant pump intake pressure.
 Smaller velocity string sizes (1.05 in. and 1.25in.) affected the liquid holdup due to disappearance
of liquid holdup with high gas volume flow. Increasing the velocity string length had a benefit to
increase liquid holdup and decreasing gas-slugging issue.
 Flow regime from the toe of the lateral section of the well towards the inlet of the velocity string is
stratified-slug flow. By using velocity string, flow regime transitions from slug flow to annular
flow as fluid moves along the velocity string by reducing gas slugging before intake of the ESP
pump. At the intake of ESP pump, the flow regime is completely annular flow by affecting pump
intake pressure.
 At the discharge of the ESP pump, the flow regime is bubble flow then slowly transitions to slug
flow as it moves toward the wellhead.
 In gas lift well, pressures at the inlet of velocity string increased with decreasing velocity string
size. Smallest velocity string size have negative impact on production rates with increasing inlet
pressure at the velocity string.
 Flow regime identified as stratified-annular flow at the inlet of velocity string in the horizontal
lateral. The flow regime transformed to stratified-slug flow from the inlet of velocity string towards
outlet of it. Inside the production tubing with spaced gas lift valves, the flow regime stayed as slug
flow and transformed to annular flow at certain depth above the gas lift valves.

Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Baker Hughes, a GE Company for the opportunity to publish and present
this paper.

References
Arachman, F., Singh, K., Forrest, J.K. and Purba, M.O., "Liquid Unloading in a Big Bore Completion: A
comparison Among Gas Lift, Intermittent Production, and Installation of Velocity String", Paper SPE
88523, presented at the 2004 Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition in Australia, October 18-
20, 2004.
 URTeC 157 17

Asel, S.A., Gomez, F.A., Ahmed, D., Baez, F., Elsherif, T., Kneina, M.A. and Kharrat, W., “An Innovative
Integrated Methodology to Deliquify Gas Well Using In-Well Live Performance Coiled Tubing for
Velocity String Selection and Deployment: A Case Study in Saudi Arabia”, Paper SPE 168258, presented
at the SPE/ICoTA Coiled Tubing & Well Intervention Conference & Exhibition, The Woodlands, Texas,
USA, 25-26 March 2014.
Bartland, O., Pipe Flow 2: Multiphase Flow Assurance (2nd. Ed.) Chonburi, Thailand. Retrieved from
http://www.drbratland.com/ (2013).
Castano, D.A.F., Ruiz, N., Zabala, R., Mora, E., and Nava, D.J., “Real-Time Evaluation of a Velocity
String: Case History of a Suitable Solution for Well Recovery”, Paper SPE 163920, presented at the
SPE/ICoTA Coiled Tubing & Well Intervention Conference & Exhibition, The Woodlands, Texas, USA,
26-27 March 2013.
Quintana, J., Duque, E., Diaz, J.D., Eras, J., Rodas, J., Vergara, E., and Prieto, W., “Coiled Tubing Velocity
String Hang-Off Solves and Prevents Liquid-Loading Problems in Gas Well: Case Study in the Gulf of
Guayaquil, Ecuador”, Paper SPE 177264, presented at the SPE Latin American and Caribbean Petroleum
Engineering Conference, Quito, Ecuador, 18-20 November 2015.
Skopich, A., Pereyra, E., Sarica, M. and Kelkar, M., “Pipe Diameter Effect on Liquid Loading in Vertical
Gas Wells”, Paper SPE 164477, presented at the SPE Production and Operations Symposium, Oklahoma
City, Oklahoma, USA, 23-26 March 2013.

View publication stats