Introduction to Liquid Loading &

Recognizing Liquid Loading in

Gas Wells

Mist Annular Slug Bubble

Gas
Flow

Decreasing Gas Velocity

Well Declines, Holdup Increases, May

Die or Produce as Low Rate

1
 •Bubble Flow – The tubing is almost
Flow Regimes for completely filled with liquid. Free gas is
present as small bubbles, rising in the
Multiphase Flow liquid. Liquid contacts the wall surface and
the bubbles serve only to reduce the
in Gas Wells density.

•Slug Flow - Gas bubbles expand as they

rise and coalesce into larger bubbles, then
slugs. Liquid phase is still the continuous
phase. The liquid film around the slugs may
fall downward. Both gas and liquid
significantly affect the pressure gradient.

•Slug-Annular Transition – The flow

changes from continuous liquid to
continuous gas phase. Some liquid may be
entrained as droplets in the gas. Gas
dominates the pressure gradient, but liquid
is still significant.

•Annular-Mist Flow - Gas phase is

continuous and most of liquid is entrained
in the gas as a mist. The pipe wall is coated
with a thin film of liquid but pressure
gradient is determined predominately from3
the gas flow.

What is Liquid Loading?

The gas velocity slow. Liquid
droplets no longer rise due to the
gas velocity dragging them
upward.
Liquids begin to accumulate in the
tubing with a greater % of tubing
volume occupied by liquids. This
puts more pressure on the
formation and less flow results. 4

2
 Problems from Liquid Loading?
Less or no production.
Possible damage or a water block on
formation.
More corrosion.
Requires artificial lift or other
remedial measures and associated
expense.
5

Well Analysis

3
Tubing and Casing Pressures
(with open annulus)

100 PSI 100 PSI 100 PSI 100 PSI

130 PSI 220 PSI 100 PSI 80 psi

220 psi

x
x

Normal Loaded Tubing Casing

7
Leak Leak

Measures to Extend Life of Gas

Well
Flow at a high velocity to stay
-

in mist flow (smaller tubing,

lower surface pressure)
-Pump, gaslift or plunger (many
variations)
-Attempt to foam the liquids so
the gas will more easily
carry them out of the well
-Inject the liquids into a
disposal zone
-Take measures to prevent
liquid formation or
production into the well 8

4
 SOURCE OF LIQUIDS?:
1. PRODUCED ALONG WITH GAS
2. PRODUCED FROM SEPARATE
WATER ZONE
3. CONDENSED FROM THE
SATURATED GAS
4. CONED INTO GAS ZONE WITH
TIME
9

RECOGNIZING LIQUID
LOADING

a) Producing Symptoms
b) Critical Velocity
c) Nodal Analysis
10

5
 (a) Field Indications or
Symptoms of Liquid
Loading

11

Production
of slugs of
liquid when
previously
not present.

12

6
 Slugs
reduced but
still present

13

Loading Can Accelerate the Decline

Typical Gas Well Smooth
Normal
Decline Decline

Gas
Rate
Loading drops
decline below
normal decline
or may kill the
well
14
Time

7
Increase of Casing Minus Tubing
Pressure with Time

Increase in Casing
minus Tubing Pressure Tubing Pressure
vs. time indicates
loading

Casing
Pressure

Csg – Tbg Psi

Time

15

Pressure Survey Reveals

Gradients in Tubing Pressure

Results of Pressure Survey

Pressure
Depth

Gas

Liquid

16

8
 What is Happening in Below
Measured Tubing Gradient??
Tubing Pressure

Condensation
Depth

Gradient

Gas & liquid vapor

gradient

Liquid over the

perforations

Pressure 17

Other Methods of Detecting

Loading
• Slugging through gas measurement
device
• Increasing difference between casing
and tubing pressure
• Pressure survey
• Sharp drop in decline curve

18

9
 Recognize and Predict
Loading by using
(b) “CRITICAL VELOCITY”
AND “CRITICAL RATE”
CONCEPTS

19

Determine Liquid Loading from

“Critical Velocity”

Buoyant
weight of
droplet in gas
Droplet in
flowing gas

Drag from
flowing gas
tending to lift
the droplet
20

10
 “Critical Velocity” Simplified in
Terms of Local Pressure
Using Turner’ s simplifed assumptions of 20 and 60 dynes/cm
surface tensions for condensate and water, 45 and 67 lbm/cu.ft.
densities, gas gravity of 0.6 and 120 F for temperature gives:

( ρ − .0031 p )1/ 4
v gas ,critical =C
(.0031 p )1/ 2

Turner: C= 5.34 water, or 4.02, condensate, P≈>1000 psi

Coleman: C= 4.43, water, or, 3.37, condensate, P≈< 1000 psi

21

Critical
Velocity

1.593 σ 1/ 4 ( ρ l − ρ g )1/ 4
Vt = ft / sec
ρ g 1/ 2

4.02(45 − 0.0031 p )
1/ 4
v gcond = ft / sec
(0.0031 p )1 / 2

5.34(67 − 0.0031 p )
1/ 4
v gwater = ft / sec
22
(0.0031 p )1/ 2

11
”Critical Velocity” can be cast as
“Critical Rate”
3.06 p Avgas ,critical
Qg ,crit ( MMscf / D ) =
(T + 460 ) z
where:
A = area, ft 2
p = psia
T =o F
z = compressibility − factor 23

Turner Critical Rate

3.067 PV g A
qg = MMscf / D
(T + 460 ) Z
2
.0676 P d ti ( 45 − .0031P )1/ 4
qt ,condensate ( MMscf / D ) =
(T + 460) Z (.0031P )1/ 2

2
.0890 P d ti (67 − .0031P )1 / 4
q t , water ( MMscf / D ) =
(T + 460) Z (.0031P )1 / 2
24

12
 TURNER
NUMBER IS
NOT THAT
GOOD:
SOME
SCATTER IN
DATA

25

Above “Critical” at Surface Conditions

Does NOT mean you are above critical at
all locations downhole!!

Critical Flow Rate - Pressure with Gray

Depth (1000 ft MD)
0
Pfwh 312 psig
Formation Gas Rate 2153 Mscfd
1 Condensate .0 bbl/MMscf
Water .5 bbl/MMscf
2 Tubing String 1

3 ACTUAL
4

9
800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000 2200 2400 2600 2800 3000 3200 3400 3600
Gas Rate (Mscfd)
prob2
26

13
 Turner (water) in Simplified
Graph(Critical Rate)
Divide rate by 1.2 for
Exxon correlation
which is really better
for pressures lower
Turner Unloading Rate for Well Producing Water than 1000 psi

3000
4-1/2 OD 3.958 ID
3-1/2 2.992
2500
2-7/8 2.441
2-3/8 1.995
2000 2-1/16 1.751
Rate (Mcfd)

1500

1000

500

0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500

Flowing Pressure (psi)

27

Example: Using Turner, 2 3/8’s,

100 psi, read~320 Mscf/D
Turner Unloading Rate for Well Producing Water
3000
4-1/2 OD 3.958 ID
3-1/2 2.992
2500
2-7/8 2.441
2-3/8 1.995
2000 2-1/16 1.751
Rate (Mcfd)

1500

1000

500

0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500

Flowing Pressure (psi) 28

14
 Quiz 1

Based on the unloading curve from

critical velocity concepts, should you
choke a well to prevent loading?

29

Not Choked Choked

Coleman Unloading Rate for Well producing Water

2500

2000
4-1/2 OD 3.958 ID
3-1/2 2.992
2-7/8 2.441
2-3/8 1.995
1500
Rate (Mcfd)

2-1/16 1.751

1000

500

0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500

Flowing Pressure (psi)

30

15
 Quiz 2

Does a well load up when flowing or

shut-in?

Does a well load up in the tubing,

casing, or both?

31

Coleman Unloading Rate for Well producing Water

2500

2000
4-1/2 OD 3.958 ID
3-1/2 2.992
2-7/8 2.441
2-3/8 1.995
1500
Rate (Mcfd)

2-1/16 1.751

1000

500

0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500

Flowing Pressure (psi)

32

16
 Coleman Unloading Rate for Well Producing Water
Coiled Tubing
1000

900 2.875 OD 2.499 ID

2.375 2.063
800
2.00 1.732

700
1.50 1.25

1.25 1.06
600
Rate (Mcfd)

500

400

300

200

100

0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500

Flowing Pressure (psi)

33

Turner Unloading Rate for Well Producing Water

3000

4-1/2 OD 3.958 ID
3-1/2 2.992
2500
2-7/8 2.441
2-3/8 1.995
2000
2-1/16 1.751
Rate (Mcfd)

1500

1000

500

0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500

Flowing Pressure (psi)

34

17
 Turner Unloading Rate for Well Producing Water
Coiled Tubing
1200

2.875 OD 2.499 ID
1000
2.375 2.063
2.00 1.732
1.50 1.25
800
1.25 1.06
Rate (Mcfd)

600

400

200

0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500

Flowing Pressure (psi)

35

Comparing Actual to Turner (2)

Turner Ratio vs Best Fit Combination of A and FTHP

4.00 Examples
3.50 A=1 & FTHP=5 bara: TR=2.61
A=100 & FTHP=100 bara: TR=1.05
3.00

2.50
TR (-)

2.00 y = 3.4441x-0.1717
R2 = 0.2085
1.50

1.00

0.50

0.00
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000
0.5
A x FTHP

36
Turner Ratio is actual stable rate over Turner Prediction

18
 37

There must be a
balance between liquid
loading and friction.
You need enough
velocity to be above
critical velocity but not
so much as to have too
much friction. 38

19
”Critical Facts”: Which Statement
is True????

1. Producing below the “Critical Rate” will cause

the well to load up and quit flowing.
2. Producing below the “Critical Rate” will cause
the well to continue to flow but at a lower rate.
3. Producing below the “Critical Rate” will
damage the formation.
4. Producing below the “Critical Rate” will not
affect the production.
5. Producing below the “Critical Rate” will create
a higher pressure loss in the tubing and the
well will either produce at a lower rate or could
load up and die.
39

What About Flow Below the

Critical???
•Exxon said on average with their data, production was
40% less
•Sutton, et al., Marathon, SPE 80887 modeled flow with gas
bubbling through static liquid column.

40

20
 Nodal Analysis ™ :
A Model of the Well

41

(C) Use Nodal Analysis to

Recognize Liquid Loading

42

21
 Typical IPR Curve for a Gas Well
800 Q=C(Pr^2 – Pwf^2)^2 is the back
pressure equation to describe gas well
700
Flowing Pressure,

IPR using test data.

600
500
psia

400
300
200
100
0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Rate, m cfd 43

Loaded Well Effects on IPR

100 PSI 100 PSI

130 PSI 300 PSI

Phillips & Listiak,

SWPSC, 2002

Normal Loaded
44

22
Typical IPR Curve for a Gas Well
400 Phillips & Listiak,

350 SWPSC, 2002

Flowing Pressure,

300
250
psia

200
150
100
50
0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Rate, m cfd 45

Nodal Analysis ™ (Schlumberger)

Inflow to the node
PR – ∆P (upstream components press drop’s) = Pnode
Outflow from the node
Psep + ∆ P (downstream components press drop’s) = Pnode

Inflow
Outflow
Pressure

Rate 46

23
Nodal Analysis ™ (Schlumberger)

At low rates, liquid builds up in the tubing

and requires more pressure to flow

Tubing J-Curve
Down-hole pressure

(Use various correlations, Gray, etc. )

Liquid Friction
Buildup

Rate 47

Nodal Analysis : Stability

Stability

A B
Down-hole pressure

Rate

48

24
 Liquid Loading
Loading in Casing Below Tubing
End
Critical Gas Rate - Pressure with Gray
Depth (1000 ft MD)
0
Pfwh 125 psig
1 Gas Rate 2000 mscf/d
Cond .0 bbl/MMscf
2 Water 15.0 bbl/MMscf
Unloading 2.375" at 10000 ft
3
Gray Correlation
4

6
Current Rate
7

9
Loading
10

11
0 800 1600 2400 3200 4000 4800 5600 6400 7200
Rate (mscf/d)

J. Lea

Liquid Loading
Effect of Tubing String
S1 - Tubing Flow - Ptbg = 500 psig S2 - Tubing Flow - Ptbg = 500 psig
Nodal Plot S3 - Tubing Flow - Ptbg = 500 psig
Pbar = 1250 psia
Pbar = 1450 psia
Pbar = 1050 psia
Stable Flow
PSIA
1800
Cond .0 bbl/MMscf
Water 15.0 bbl/MMscf
1600
S1 - 2.375" at 10000 ft
S2 - 1.9" at 10000 ft
1400
S3 - 1.66" at 10000 ft
Gray Correlation
1200

1000

800

600

400

200

00 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300
Gas Rate (mscf/d)
J. Lea

25
Nodal Analysis : Effects such as
Size of the Tubing Diameter vs.
Flow Rate can be studied

51

Nodal “Turn-Up” Point is BIGGEST ERROR in

Multiphase Flow Predictions

52

26
 Effects of Diameter and Time
Effects of Diameter
Inflow D1>D2>D3

D3
D2
Pressure

D1
Effects of Time
Time 1
Rate

Down-hole pressure Time 2

Time 3

53
Rate

Nodal Analysis : Summary

Other sensitivities can be studied:
1. Effects of diameter size
2. Effects of surface pressure (compression)
3. Effects of where to land the tubing
4. Effects of flow line pressure drop
5. Effects of adding artificial lift such as gaslift or
pumping methods
6. Effects of completion such as Shots-Per-Foot for
a perforation job
7. Etc.

54

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