Petroleum Science and Technology, 24:113–116, 2006

Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

ISSN: 1091-6466 print/1532-2459 online
DOI: 10.1081/LFT-200041065

Static Bottom-Hole Pressures in Wells

Emad Talib Hashim

Department of Chemical Engineering, Engineering College of Sabratha,
Sabratha, Libya

Iamir E. Maloka
Applied Chemistry Department, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia

Abstract: A compote procedure is presented in this article for estimating static pres-
sure gradient. The procedure integrates reservoir properties; temperature, pressure,
depth, and density to calculate pressure drop in wellbore. The procedure constraints
are intended to ensure that an accurate pressure gradient is obtained.
Keywords: static pressure, pressure gradient, static bottom hole pressure

INTRODUCTION

Flow of natural gas and accompanying liquids through gathering, process

equipment, and transmission pipelines requires pressure drop as the driving
force. Pressure drop during flow is evaluated by use of the flow equation. Ver-
tical flow pressure drops in wellbores are evaluated frequently; the conversion
of well head pressure in static single-phase conditions is also common. The
measurement of flow rates also requires an understanding of the flow equa-
tion and fluid properties. The flow equation is also used in relating the power
needs for compression of natural gas to thermodynamic properties and the
equipment to be used. The attendant temperature rise during compression
must be evaluated to size the inter or after coolers at compression stations.

CALCULATION OF STATIC BOTTOM-HOLE PRESSURES

IN WELLS

A knowledge of the static bottom-hole pressures in wells is of prime impor-

tance in predicting reserves and deliverability of oil and gas reservoirs. With
single-phase fluids in wellbore, one may compute the bottom-hole pressure

Address correspondence to Iamir E. Maloka, 6 Rosedale Crs., 3047 Dallas, VIC,

Australia. E-mail: amer_esa@yahoo.com

113
114 E. T. Hashim and I. E. Maloka

from wellhead pressure and fluid density. When two phases are present in
the wellbore, measurement of bottom-hole pressures or fluid levels becomes
necessary. In gas storage operations with a large number of wells, surface
measurements of gas pressure by dead weight or accurate pressure gauge
followed by calculation of static column pressure differential is an econom-
ical and satisfactory method. Equation (1) Katz and Robert (1990) may be
applied to the fluid column:



2 g 2 g
vdP + (h2 − H1 ) = 0 or VdP + m(h2 − h1 ) =0 (1)
1 gc 1 gc

The number 1 refers to the state position at height H from bottom hole, 2
refers to the bottomhole. For gases, it is convenient to evaluate V using the
gas law, P V = ZnRT :

p2 ZnRT g
dP = −m (2)
p1 P gc

Assuming that Z and T may be evaluated at average values (Za , Ta ) the n

moved out of the integral, and taking the number of moles n = (1/29G) for
unit mass (1 lbm , Kg, . . . ) with G the gas gravity(molecular weight divided
by 29, the molecular weight of air), Eq. (2) becomes:

p2
Z a Ta R dP g
= −h (3)
29G p1 P gc

Integrating and rearranging, one uses the usual equation for English units:
   
0.01877 Gh
P = P2 − P1 − P1 exp −1 (4)
T a Za

where 0.01877 is the molecular weight of the air divided by R, 29/1545.3.

The solution of this equation requires, in addition to wellhead pressure,
a knowledge of h, depth of well; G, gas gravity; Ta , the average wellbore
temperature; and Za , the compressibility factor at the mean temperature and
pressure in the wellbore. Also, one needs assurance that there is a single gas
phase in the wellbore.
The primary problem in solving Eq. (4) is to find a way to obtain Za
quickly and easily. This has been done by transferring the data of compress-
ibility factor (Katz and Robert, 1990) (as a graph) into a fitted formula as
follows:
 
0.5
Z = 0.25(2.8 − TR ) + 1.3 + (PR − 15) (5)
15

for PR range (15–30) and TR range (1.4–2.8).

Static Bottom-Hole Pressures in Wells 115

The critical properties, Tc and Pc , can be calculated from these two linear
formulas (Katz and Robert, 1990):

Tc = 245 + 200G (6)

Pc = 721 − 84G (7)

Direct solution of Eq. (4) is easily done by a programmed computer.

The program should be used with attention to input quantities. Because the
pressure increases from the top to the bottom of the well is an integral of fluid
velocity times height, more accurate results can be obtained by accounting
for changing values of Z and T . According to the new work, Za will be
calculated Pa and Ta as follows.
Assume linear relationship for temperature gradient along with well depth:

Ta = (T1 + T2 )/2

For first tries, let Pa = P1 , secondly, Pa = (P1 + P2 )/2.

To get an idea about the results (Tables 1, 2, and 3) of the proposed pro-
gram, this program will be applied for given fixed conditions: Gas gravity =

Table 1. Pressure gradient (P2 − P1 ), psi in gas wells for G = 0.6

H , ft P1 = 2000 P1 = 4000 P1 = 6000 P1 = 8000 P1 = 10000

4000 114 209 289 356 415

6000 240 436 601 741 862
8000 378 684 940 1157 1344
10000 530 957 1311 1610 1867

Table 2. Pressure gradient (P2 − P1 ), psi in gas wells for G = 0.7

H , ft P1 = 2000 P1 = 4000 P1 = 6000 P1 = 8000 P1 = 10000

4000 147 268 370 458 533

6000 310 564 776 957 1113
8000 493 892 1224 1504 1745
10000 699 1258 1718 2105 243

Table 3. Pressure gradient (P2 − P1 ), psi in gas wells for G = 1.0

H , ft P1 = 2000 P1 = 4000 P1 = 6000 P1 = 8000 P1 = 10000

4000 178 325 449 555 646

6000 379 689 947 1166 1355
8000 608 1097 1502 1843 2136
10000 871 1557 2121 2592 2994
116 E. T. Hashim and I. E. Maloka

0.6, 0.8, 1.0, reservoir temperature = 302◦ F, the closed wellhead temperature
is to be 100◦ F at 15000 ft, H = 4000, 6000, 8000, 10000 ft.

NOMENCLATURE

g Acceleration due to gravity

gc Conversion factor from mass to force unit (lbm ft/lbf s2 )
G Gas gravity at 32◦ F, 14.7 psi
h Depth of well (ft)
n Number of moles
P Pressure in wellbore
P1 Well pressure at a given height (psi)
P2 Bottom hole pressure (psi)
P Pressure gradient, P2 − P1 (psi)
Pa Average wellbore pressure (psi)
Pc Critical pressure (psi)
PR Reduced pressure
Ta Average wellbore temperature (◦ F)
Tc Critical temperature (◦ F)
TR Reduced temperature
υ Specific volume of well fluid (ft3 /lb)
V total volume of well fluid (ft3 )
Za Compressibility factor taken at mean temperature and pressure
in wellbore

REFERENCES

Katz, D. L., and Robert, L. L. (1990). Natural Gas Engineering Production

and Storage. New York: McGraw Hill.