What is Coning?

There are essentially three forces that may affect fluid flow distributions around
the well bores. These are:
 Capillary Forces
 Gravity Forces
 Viscous Forces
Capillary forces usually have negligible effect on coning and will be neglected.
Gravity forces are directed in the vertical direction and arise from fluid density
differences.
Viscous forces refers to the pressure gradients associated fluid flow through the
reservoir as described by Darcy’s Law.
Coning
Coning occurs primarily due to imbalances between the viscous and gravity forces
that result from very high drawdown created in the vertical direction near the
wellbore.
If the pressure drawdown, Δp is larger than the gravity pressure differential,
which tends to keep the oil on top of the water then coning can occur.
Consequently, the in-situ fluids (both oil and water, although the latter has higher
gravity) are driven towards the well perforations So, it is possible to have coning
when:
Δp > 0.433 (Υw - Υo) hc
where:
Δp = Pavg - Pwf = pressure drawdown at the well, psi
Υw = formation water specif1c gravity
Υo =reservoir oil specific gravity
hc =vertical distance from the bottom of the well's
completion interval to the oil/water contact, ft
Mechanism of coning
Coning is primarily the result of movement of reservoir fluids in the direction of least
resistance, balanced by a tendency of the fluids to maintain gravity equilibrium. The
analysis may be made with respect to either gas or water.
Let the original condition of reservoir fluids exist as shown schematically in figure,
water
underlying oil and gas overlying oil. Assume that the position of an oil/water interface
in a reservoir is at a sufficient distance away from the well, equilibrium between the
capillary, gravity and viscous forces is achieved at a level below the perforation of the
well.
Care is taken during completion so that the wells are perforated above the oil/water
contact.
High production rate from the well would create pressure gradients that tend to lower
the gas-oil contact and elevate the water-oil contact in the immediate vicinity of the
well. Counterbalancing these flow gradients is the tendency of the gas to remain above
the oil zone because of its lower density and of the water to remain below the oil zone
because of its higher density. Due to upward movement of WOC, the movable water is
drawn up towards the perforations. The net result is formation of a water cone and a
high water/oil ratio in the producing stream. Coning may be very severe in reefs, or
other reservoirs having continuous vertical permeability.
A similar phenomenon is observed where a gas cap overlying the oil column exists, as
free gas is coned downward due to high pressure drawdown and is eventually produced
through the wellbore, resulting in a high gas/oil ratio.
We can expand on the above basic visualization of coning by introducing the
concepts of:
q Stable Cone
q Unstable Cone
q Critical Production Rate
Stable Cone
If a well is produced at a constant rate and the pressure gradients in the drainage
system have become constant, i.e. a steady-state condition is reached. If at this
condition the dynamic (viscous) forces at the well are less than the gravity forces,
then the water or gas cone that has formed will not extend to the well. Moreover,
the cone will neither advance nor recede, thus establishing what is known as a
stable cone.
Unstable Cone
If the pressure in the system is an unsteady-state condition, then an unstable cone
will continue to advance until steady-state conditions prevail. If the flowing pressure
drop at the well is sufficient to overcome the gravity forces, the unstable cone will
grow and ultimately break into the well.
Critical Production Rate
The rate above which the flowing pressure gradient at the well causes water (or gas)
to cone into the well. It is, therefore the maximum rate of oil production without
concurrent production of the displacing phase by coning. At the critical rate, the
built-up cone is stable but is at a position of incipient breakthrough.
It is evident that the degree or rapidity of coning will depend upon the rate at which
fluid is withdrawn from the well and upon the permeability in the vertical direction
kv compared to that in the horizontal direction kh. It will also depend upon the
distance from the wellbore withdrawal point to the gas-oil or oil-water discontinuity.
Water Coning Controlling Methods
q By controlling back pressure on a well
q Drilling of deviated wells including the horizontal wells.
q Increase horizontal permeability through acidizing and hydraulic fracturing.
q Partially perforating the pay-zone
q Creation of impermeable barriers by injecting plugging gels/polymers.
q Injection of natural gas into the water bearing zone to reduce relative
permeability to water.
q Modified flow rate, i.e. reduction in flow rate
q Reduced well spacing i.e. increase well ratio
q Stimulation of damaged formation to reduce the pressure gradient near the
wellbore i.e. removal of positive skin
q Inversion of cone by perforating in water zone.