Water Coning in Vertical Wells 2

Water Coning Petroleum Seminar
Contents
 Introduction.
 Critical rate definition.
 Critical rate correlations.
 Factors effecting on water coning.
 Water coning treatment.
 Critical rate by production testing.
 Water breakthrough time.
 Performance after breakthrough.
 Field Case (Belhedan Oil Field)
 Reference.
1
Introduction
Coning is a term used to describe the mechanism underlying the upward

movement of water into the perforations of a producing well.
Water coning formation oil reservoirs is scientific problem with direct

applications to the oil industry, for instance, if
the production rate exceeds a critical production
rate, the water cone will propagate into the well,
and oil and water is produced simultaneously in
oil recovery this is unwanted.
Increasing water saturation around the well

bore, the increasing of water saturation owing to
raising the water oil contact line near the well
bore due to high drawdown pressure which
coming from high production rate
Coning can seriously impact the well productivity and influence the degree of
depletion and the overall recovery efficiency of the oil reservoirs. Therefore, the
understanding of coning phenomenon will help for identifying the location and
completion of produced interval and prolonging the life of the well.
The specific problems of water a coning are listed below:
• Costly added water handling.

• Reduced efficiency of the depletion mechanism.
• The water is often corrosive and its disposal costly.
• The afflicted well may be abandoned early.
• Loss of the total field overall recovery.
A field engineer involved with coning studies is interested in knowing three

things, first, he want to know the maximum oil production rate at which a well can
be produced without coning any water. this oil production rate is called "critical
rate." if economic necessity dictates production above this critical rate, he want to
2
know two additional things ,i.e., water break through time and water cut
performance after break through.
There are essentially three forces that may affect fluid flow distributions around
the well bores. These are:
• Capillary forces
• Gravity forces
• Viscous forces
Critical Rate Definition
Water cone formation in oil reservoirs is a scientific problem with direct

applications to the oil industry. For instance, if the oil production rate exceeds a
critical production rate, the water cone will propagate into the well, and oil and
water is produced simultaneously. This is unwanted, because it will affect the
ultimate oil recovery.
Fig(1) Water Coning in Vertical Wells.
3
Increasing water saturation around the well bore owing to raising the water oil
contact line near the well bore due to high drawdown pressure which coming from
high production rate.
Coning studies involve, the determination of the maximum oil Production rate
at which a well can be produced without coning any water. This oil production rate
is called the "Critical Rate."
In this section, will conduct production rate analysis for the studied wells, to
determine its critical rate, this will help to know whether these wells were
produced above their critical rate, which caused the water coning problem.
There are essentially three categories of correlation that are used to solve the
coning problem. These categories are:
• Critical rate calculations.
• Water Breakthrough time.
• Well performance calculations after breakthrough.
Fig(2) Water Coning in perforated zones.
4
Critical Rate Calculations
There are several empirical correlations that are commonly used to predict the oil
critical rate, including the correlations of:
1. Meyer-Garder Method.
2. Chaney et al Method.
3. Schols Method.
4. Chaperson Method.
The Meyer-Garder Method

Meyer and Garder analytically determined the maximum allowable flow of oil
into a well without the water zone coning into the production section of the well,
Meyer and Garder derived the following equation for critical rate calculation.
(() )
( ρw − ρ o ) k o
q c =0 . 264 X 104 (h2−D2 )
re
ln μ β
rw o o
Where
qc = Critical production rate , STB/D.
w -o = Density difference between water and oil, Lb/ft3
h = Oil zone thickness, ft.
D = Perforated interval, ft.
Ko = Permeability, md.
µo = Oil viscosity, cp.
βo = Oil formation volume factor, RB/STB
re = Drainage radius, ft.
5
rw = Wellbore radius, ft.
Schols method
Based on experiments conducted in Hele-shaw models, Schols derived an
empirical formula for critical rate as follows:
( ( ))
( ρ w −ρo ) k o ( h2−D2 ) π h
0 . 14
qc= X 0 . 432+ X( )
2049 μ o β o re re
ln
rw
Where
qc = Critical production rate , STB/D.
w -o = Density difference between water and oil, g/cc
h = Oil zone thickness, ft.
Ko = Permeability, md.
βo = Oil formation volume factor, RB/STB
re = Drainage radius, ft.
rw = Wellbore radius, ft.
Chaperon Method
This method, based on an approximate analytical solution, and is used to determine
the well oil production without the water zone coning into the production section
6
of the well , Chaperon derived the following equation for critical oil rate
calculation:
[ ]
2
−4 k h h ( p w − po ) ¿
q c =4 .888 X 10 X (qc )
μo β o
Where
(qc*) is a function of (reD) given by:
¿ 1. 9434
(q c ) =0 . 7311+( )
r eD
And, the dimensionless drainage radius, reD, is defined by:
re
r ed =( ) √ k v /k h
h
Chaney et al Method
Chaney et al developed a set of curves from which critical flows rates Be
determined at various lengths of perforations, the rates obtained from Chaney’s
curves have the following form:
7
q curve =0 .1313 ( h2−D 2 )−23 . 2
Where
qcurve = Critical production rate from Chaney’s curves, RB/D
h = Zone thickness, ft.
For critical rate calculation, it is necessary to correct the rates obtained from
Chaney's curves for the actual values of fluid and rock properties by the following
equation:
0 .00333 k o ( ρw − ρo )
qc= X qcurve
μo β o
Where
w -o = Density difference between water and oil, g/cc.
βo = Oil formation volume factor, RB/STB.
8
Fig(3) Critical Rate by Chaney's Curves

Previous critical rate curve for sand thickness of 12.5 ft., well radius of 3 in., and
drainage radius of 1,000 ft. Water coning curves: O, open hole; perforated interval
A, 1.25 ft. B, 2.5 ft ; C, 3.75 ft ; D, 5.00 ft and E, 6.25 ft.
9
Fig(4) Critical Rate by Chaney's Curves

Previous critical rate curve for sand thickness of 25 ft., well radius of 3 in., and
drainage radius of 1,000 ft. Water coning curves: O, open hole; perforated interval
A, 2.5 ft. B, 5 ft ; C, 7.5 ft ; D, 10 ft and E, 12.5 ft.
10
Factors Affecting on Water Coning
The effect of various reservoir parameters on water coning behavior was

investigated as follows:
 Ratio of vertical to horizontal permeability (Kv/Kh).

 Perforated interval.
 Production rate.
 Mobility ratio.
Water Coning Treatment
Current State of Gel Technology

 Gel systems are available that can be used for near wellbore
treatments (both injection well and
 production well) for a wide variety of reservoir conditions.
 Each gel system has limitations based on temperature range, salinity,
hardness, pH and capability of treating matrix or fractures.
 Relatively small volume treatments are effective in some
applications.
Gel behavior mechanism for reducing water production:

 Blocking the high permeability zones and gel blocking.
 Profile modification.
 Reduction in water to oil mobility.
11
Gel Placement
Fig(5) Gelant only enters Zones With high Water Saturations
Fig(6) Gelant only enters all open zones.
12
Fig(7) Cross flow Between layers In water zone only..
Critical rate by producing testing
The above shows that different correlations might give different results. The
engineering has to choose the correlation to be used in field application. In this
case there is no right or wrong critical rate correlation. If production testing
data is available, one can easily choose an approximated correlation that fits
the field data. Each well that is producing water can be chocked down. In
practice, this can be done by:
1. Reducing choke size.
2. Reducing gas injection in gas lift operation.
3. Reducing pump rate or flow capacity for a pumping well, choking the well down
increasing the bottom hole producing pressure, the well can be allowed to
stabilize and water cut can be measures at new rate.
Water Breakthrough Time
13
The breakthrough occurs when the cone shaped profile become unstable due to
high pressure draw down around well bore. in many time Critical flow rate
calculations frequently show low rates that, for economic reasons, cannot be
imposed on production wells. Therefore, if a well produces above its critical rate,
the cone will break through after a given time period. This time is called time to
breakthrough tBT. Two of the most widely used correlations are documented below.
The Sobocinski-Cornelius Method

Sobocinski and Cornelius (1965) developed a correlation for predicting water
breakthrough time based on laboratory data and modeling results. The authors
correlated the breakthrough time with two dimensionless groups of reservoir and
fluid properties, production rate and well characteristics, the dimensionless cone
height and the dimensionless breakthrough time. Those two dimensionless groups
are defined by the following expressions:
Dimensionless cone height Z
−4
0.492×10 ( ρw −ρo ) k h h( h−h p)
Z=
μo β o Q o
Where
ρ = density, lb/ft3.
Kh = horizontal permeability, md.
Qo = oil production rate, STB/day.
hp = perforated interval, ft.
h = oil column thickness, ft.
Dimensionless breakthrough time (tD) BT
14
2 3
4 Z +1.75 Z −0.75 Z
(t D ) BT =
7−2 Z
The authors proposed the following expression for predicting time to

breakthrough from the calculated value of the dimensionless breakthrough time
(tD) BT:
20325 μO h ∅ (t D )BT
t BT = α
( ρw−ρo ) k v (1+ M )
Where:
tBT= time of breakthrough, day.
Φ= porosity, fraction.
Kv= vertical permeability, md.
M= water oil mobility and is defined by:
M=
[ ][ ]
(k rw ) sor μ o
(k ro ) swc μ w
Where:
(kro)swc= oil relative permeability at connate water saturation.

(krw)sor= water relative permeability at residual oil saturation.
α= 0.5 for M=1
α= 0.6 for 1˂ M=10
Joshi (1991) observed by examining Equation (13) that if Z=3.5 or greater, there
will be no water breakthrough, with Z= 3.5 to give an expression for calculating
the critical oil flow rate.
Qoc =0.141 ×10−4 ×

[ ( ρw− ρo ) k h h ( h−h p )
μo β o ]
15
The Bournazel-Jeanson Method
Based on experimental data, Bournazel and Jeanson (1971) developed a

methodology that uses the same dimensionless groups proposed in the Sobocinski-
Cornelius method. The procedure of calculating the time to breakthrough is given
below.
Step1. Calculate the dimensionless core height (Z) from Equation (12).
Step2. Calculate the dimensionless breakthrough time by applying the following

expression:
Z
(t D ) BT =
3−0.7 × Z
Step3. Solve for the time to breakthrough (tBT) by substituting the above-calculated
dimensionless breakthrough time into Equation (14), i.e.,
20325 μO h ∅ (t D )BT
t BT = α
( ρw−ρo ) k v (1+ M )
As pointed out by Joshi (1991), Breakthrough occurs if Z ¿ 4.286 gives a

relationship for determining Qoc.
Qoc =0.1148 ×10−4 ×

[ ( ρ w −ρo ) k h h ( h−h p )
μo βo ] Z=
Z
3−0.7 Z
Performance After Breakthrough
Once the water breakthrough occurs, it is important to predict the performance of

water production as a function of time. Normally, using numerical radial models
solves such a problem. Currently, no simple analytical solution exists to predict the
16
performance of the vertical well after breakthrough. As the oil is recovered the oil
water contact will rise and the limiting value for water cut will increase to take into
account, Kuo and Desbrisay (1983) applied the material balance equation to
predict the rise in the oil-water contact in a homogeneous reservoir and correlated
their numerical results in terms of the following dimensionless parameters:
• Dimensionless water cut (fw)D.

• Dimensionless breakthrough time tDBT
• Dimensionless limiting water cut (WC) limit
The specific steps of the proposed procedure are given below:
Step1. Calculate the time to breakthrough tBT by using the Sobocinski- Cornelius
method or the Bournazel-Jeanson correlation.
Step2. Assume any time t after breakthrough.
Step3. Calculate the dimensionless breakthrough time ratio tDBT from:

t
(t D ) BT =
t BT
Step4. Compute the dimensionless limiting water cut from:
M
(WC )limt=
M +¿ ¿
With the parameters as defined below:
M=
[ ][ ]
(k rw ) sor μ o
(k ro ) swc μ w
h=H o (1−R)
h w =H w + H o R
17
R=
[
N P 1−s wc
N 1−s¿ −swc
R=
]
N P 1−s wc
N 1−s¿ −swc[R=
N P 1−s wc
]
N 1−s¿ −swc [ ]
Where:
(WC)limt = current limiting value for water cut.

M = mobility ratio.
(krw)sor = water relative permeability at residual oil saturation.
(kro)swc = oil relative permeability at connate water saturation.
µo, µw = oil and water viscosity, cp.
ho = initial oil zone thickness, ft.
hw = initial water zone thickness, ft.
h = current oil zone thickness, ft.
hw = current water zone thickness, ft.
NP =cumulative oil production, STB.
N = initial oil in place.
Step 5. Calculate the dimensionless water cut (fw)D based upon the dimensionless
breakthrough time ratio as given by the following relationships:
(f w )D =0.29+0.94 log (t D )BT for 0.5 ≤(t D )BT ≤ 5.7
( f w )D =1 for(t D) BT >5.7
Step 6. Calculate the actual water cut fw from the expression:
f w =(f w ) D ¿
Step7. Calculate water and oil flow rate by using the following expressions:
Qw =f w QT
Qo =Q T −Q w
Where:
Qw, Qo, QT are the water, oil, and total flow rates, respectively.
18
It should be pointed out that as oil is recovered, the oil-water contact will rise and
the limiting value for water cut will change. It also should be noted the limiting
water cut value (WC) limit lags behind one time step when calculating future water
cut.
Field Case ( Belhedan Oil Field)
The Belhedan oil Field is located in the Sirte Basin .The Belhedan structure,
located on the south-eastern edge of the Beda Platform, is a small horst block
which trends north-northeast.
The primary zone of interest is the Belhedan Gargaf reservoir which was
discovered in 1962 by Waha Oil Company when the first exploratory Well V1 was
drilled in this field. Development drilling which was started immediately after the
first discovery.
The reservoir development started early after first discovery in 1962 when the
well V-1 tested commercial oil production, Belhedan field started commercial
production in October 1963. The reservoir was developed to produce under the
mechanism of natural bottom water drive.
Field development has continued since its discovery, as of December 31, 2008, a
total of 40 wells have been drilled in Belhedan field and the field had produced
179.840 million barrels, with substantial reserves are still remaining in the main
development area of the field. Presently, all wells are being produced by ESP. As
of December 31st 2008, The field average oil production rate was 24691 BOPD,
with 27.4% WC.
The Belhedan structure, located on the southeastern edge of the Beda Platform, is
a small horst block, which trends north-northeast. The field is bounded by a local
graben to the west that separates the field from the Samah and Balat Fields.
19
The Gargaf section may be subdivided into two parts Upper more sandy and
Lower more Silty and shally interval and most of the hydrocarbon production
come from the Upper weathered part of Gargaf. The reservoir sequence was found
at an average depth of 6800 ft below sea level.
Main average fluid & rock properties
Fluid Properties
Table (2) The Average Fluid Properties of Belhedan Oil Field
Fluid Properties Symbol Value

Saturation Pressure Pb 536 Psig
Gas Oil Ratio GOR 110 scf/stb
Oil Formation Factor Boi 1.135 bbl/stb
Oil Viscosity µo 1.575 cp
Oil Gravity @ 60ºF ºAPI 36.0
1.6.2 Average Rock Properties

Table (3) The Average Rock Properties of Belhedan Oil Field
Rock properties Symbol Value
Porosity φ 8.0%
Horizontal Permeability K 10-100 md
Water Saturation Swi 36%
20
Fig (8) The location map of wells V4,V23,V26 in Belhedan Oil Field.
Critical Rate Results
21
Results of well V4
Table (4) The results of critical rate by all methods in well V4
Method Critical rate (STB/Day)
The Meyer and Garder 1668
Chaney et al 1764
Schols 1231
Chaperon 1750
Fig (9) The Results of Well V4.
Results of well V23
22
Chaney et al 1430
Schols 1181
Chaperon 1609
Results of well V26
23
Chaney et al 2876
Schols 2478
Chaperon 3591
Summary of critical rate analysis
24
The critical rate analysis of Belhedan wells V4,V23 and V26 using several
correlations namely (Meyer-Garder, Chaney et al, Schols and Chaperson) has
shown that, the V23 well was produced with a production rates higher than the
specific critical production rate for each well Producing wells at higher rates,
results in water coning and channeling problems.
Reference
25
1. Mohamed.M.Al Amari, Suleiman .J. Al Baruni, Supervised By

Dr.Shaban.A.El Usta ,Production Optimization of Heavily Faulted &
Fractured Reservoir, Al Fateh University, Petroleum Engineering
Department (2010).
2. T.Ahmed & P.D.Mckinney, Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Elsevier
inc, Oxford, (2005).
3. Thomas O. Allen & Alan P. Roberts, Production Operations, Second
Edition, Oil & Gas Consultants Inc, Oklahoma,USA, (1982).
4. Jonathan Bellarby, Well Completion Design, Elsevier, First Edition ,
Amsterdam, Netherlands, (2009).
26

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Water Coning Petroleum Seminar

 Critical rate definition.

 Critical rate correlations.

 Factors effecting on water coning.

 Water coning treatment.

 Critical rate by production testing.

 Water breakthrough time.

 Performance after breakthrough.

 Field Case (Belhedan Oil Field)

Coning is a term used to describe the mechanism underlying the upward

Water coning formation oil reservoirs is scientific problem with direct

Increasing water saturation around the well

The specific problems of water a coning are listed below:

• Costly added water handling.

A field engineer involved with coning studies is interested in knowing three

Critical Rate Definition

Water cone formation in oil reservoirs is a scientific problem with direct

Fig(1) Water Coning in Vertical Wells.

Fig(2) Water Coning in perforated zones.

Critical Rate Calculations

The Meyer-Garder Method

qc = Critical production rate , STB/D.

w -o = Density difference between water and oil, Lb/ft3

h = Oil zone thickness, ft.

D = Perforated interval, ft.

µo = Oil viscosity, cp.

βo = Oil formation volume factor, RB/STB

re = Drainage radius, ft.

rw = Wellbore radius, ft.

qc = Critical production rate , STB/D.

w -o = Density difference between water and oil, g/cc

h = Oil zone thickness, ft.

D = Perforated interval, ft.

µo = Oil viscosity, cp.

βo = Oil formation volume factor, RB/STB

re = Drainage radius, ft.

rw = Wellbore radius, ft.

(qc*) is a function of (reD) given by:

And, the dimensionless drainage radius, reD, is defined by:

q curve =0 .1313 ( h2−D 2 )−23 . 2

qcurve = Critical production rate from Chaney’s curves, RB/D

h = Zone thickness, ft.

D = Perforated interval, ft.

w -o = Density difference between water and oil, g/cc.

µo = Oil viscosity, cp.

βo = Oil formation volume factor, RB/STB.

Fig(3) Critical Rate by Chaney's Curves

Fig(4) Critical Rate by Chaney's Curves

Factors Affecting on Water Coning

The effect of various reservoir parameters on water coning behavior was

 Ratio of vertical to horizontal permeability (Kv/Kh).

Water Coning Treatment

Current State of Gel Technology

Gel behavior mechanism for reducing water production:

Fig(5) Gelant only enters Zones With high Water Saturations

Fig(6) Gelant only enters all open zones.

Fig(7) Cross flow Between layers In water zone only..

Critical rate by producing testing

Water Breakthrough Time

The Sobocinski-Cornelius Method

Dimensionless cone height Z

Dimensionless breakthrough time (tD) BT

The authors proposed the following expression for predicting time to

(kro)swc= oil relative permeability at connate water saturation.