GASCalc™ 5.

0 Calculation Reference
Well Flow Values
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Background Information
Equations
Example Calculation
General Calculation Procedures
Notes & Considerations
Screen Description
See Also

General Calculation Procedures

Flow Rate - To calculate the flow rate associated with a group of other specified parameter values, complete the
following steps:

! Select the Well Flow menu item from the Miscellaneous menu list.

! The Well Flow (Top Hole Curve) calculation screen will appear. Select the Clear command button to set
all of the values to an empty (null) value.

! Select the Base Conditions command button. The Base Conditions screen will appear. On the screen:

! Enter an appropriate base pressure and temperature value.

! Select an appropriate file or the None option from the Gas Properties File list. If the “None”
option is selected, enter the appropriate gas property values.

! Select an appropriate method from the Atmospheric Pressure Method list.

! Select an appropriate method or the None option from the Compressibility Method list.

! Select the Apply command button to save the changes and return to the main calculation screen.

! Click on the Flow Rate label until it is underlined.

! Select the desired dimensional units for all of the data items.

! Enter a value for all known data items.

! Select the Calculate command button.

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Shut-In Pressure - To calculate the shut-in pressure associated with a group of other specified parameter values,
complete the following steps:

! Select the Well Flow menu item from the Miscellaneous menu list.

! The Well Flow (Top Hole Curve) calculation screen will appear. Select the Clear command button to set
all of the values to an empty (null) value.

! Select the Base Conditions command button. The Base Conditions screen will appear. On the screen:

! Enter an appropriate base pressure and temperature value.

! Select an appropriate file or the None option from the Gas Properties File list. If the “None”
option is selected, enter the appropriate gas property values.

! Select an appropriate method from the Atmospheric Pressure Method list.

! Select an appropriate method or the None option from the Compressibility Method list.

! Select the Apply command button to save the changes and return to the main calculation screen.

! Select the Clear command button to set all of the values to an empty (null) value.

! Click on the Shut-In Pressure label until it is underlined.

! Select the desired dimensional units for all of the data items.

! Enter a value for all known data items.

! Select the Calculate command button.

Flowing Pressure - To calculate the flowing wellhead pressure associated with a group of other specified parameter
values, complete the following steps:

! Select the Well Flow menu item from the Miscellaneous menu list.

! The Well Flow (Top Hole Curve) calculation screen will appear. Select the Clear command button to set
all of the values to an empty (null) value.

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! Select the Base Conditions command button. The Base Conditions screen will appear. On the screen:

! Enter an appropriate base pressure and temperature value.

! Select an appropriate file or the None option from the Gas Properties File list. If the “None”
option is selected, enter the appropriate gas property values.

! Select an appropriate method from the Atmospheric Pressure Method list.

! Select an appropriate method or the None option from the Compressibility Method list.

! Select the Apply command button to save the changes and return to the main calculation screen.

! Click on the Flowing Pressure label until it is underlined.

! Select the desired dimensional units for all of the data items.

! Enter a value for all known data items.

! Select the Calculate command button.

Performance Factor - To calculate the performance factor (efficiency) associated with a group of other specified
parameter values, complete the following steps:

! Select the Well Flow menu item from the Miscellaneous menu list.

! The Well Flow (Top Hole Curve) calculation screen will appear. Select the Clear command button to set
all of the values to an empty (null) value.

! Select the Base Conditions command button. The Base Conditions screen will appear. On the screen:

! Enter an appropriate base pressure and temperature value.

! Select an appropriate file or the None option from the Gas Properties File list. If the “None”
option is selected, enter the appropriate gas property values.

! Select an appropriate method from the Atmospheric Pressure Method list.

! Select an appropriate method or the None option from the Compressibility Method list.

! Select the Apply command button to save the changes and return to the main calculation screen.

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! Click on the Performance Factor label until it is underlined.

! Select the desired dimensional units for all of the data items.

! Enter a value for all known data items.

! Select the Calculate command button.

Performance Coefficient - To calculate the performance factor (equation constant) associated with a group of other
specified parameter values, complete the following steps:

! Select the Well Flow menu item from the Miscellaneous menu list.

! The Well Flow (Top Hole Curve) calculation screen will appear. Select the Clear command button to set
all of the values to an empty (null) value.

! Select the Base Conditions command button. The Base Conditions screen will appear. On the screen:

! Enter an appropriate base pressure and temperature value.

! Select an appropriate file or the None option from the Gas Properties File list. If the “None”
option is selected, enter the appropriate gas property values.

! Select an appropriate method from the Atmospheric Pressure Method list.

! Select an appropriate method or the None option from the Compressibility Method list.

! Select the Apply command button to save the changes and return to the main calculation screen.

! Click on the Performance Coefficient label until it is underlined.

! Select the desired dimensional units for all of the data items.

! Enter a value for all known data items.

! Select the Calculate command button.

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Equation Exponent - To calculate the equation exponent associated with a group of other specified parameter values,
complete the following steps:

! Select the Well Flow menu item from the Miscellaneous menu list.

! The Well Flow (Top Hole Curve) calculation screen will appear. Select the Clear command button to set
all of the values to an empty (null) value.

! Select the Base Conditions command button. The Base Conditions screen will appear. On the screen:

! Enter an appropriate base pressure and temperature value.

! Select an appropriate file or the None option from the Use Gas Properties File list. If the “None”
option is selected, enter the appropriate gas property values.

! Select an appropriate method from the Atmospheric Pressure Method list.

! Select an appropriate method or the None option from the Compressibility Method list.

! Select the Apply command button to save the changes and return to the main calculation screen.

! Click on the Equation Exponent label until it is underlined.

! Select the desired dimensional units for all of the data items.

! Enter a value for all known data items.

! Select the Calculate command button.

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Example Calculation

Calculate the flow rate from a single well associated with the following conditions.

Shut-In Pressure = 300 Psig [21 Bar]

Flowing Pressure = 292 Psig [20 Bar]
Wellhead Elevation = 0 Feet [0 Metres]
Performance Factor = 1.0 Decimal
Performance Coefficient = 1161
Equation Exponent = 0.595

Base Pressure = 14.73 Psia [1016 mBar]

Base Temperature = 60 Fahrenheit [15.6 Celsius]
Gas Composition = US Standard sample gas mixture
Atmospheric Pressure Method = AGA
Compressibility Method = None

To perform the calculation, complete the following steps.

! Select the Well Flow menu item from the Miscellaneous menu list.

! The Well Flow (Top Hole Curve) calculation screen will appear. Select the Clear command button.

! Select the Base Conditions command button. The Base Conditions screen will appear. On the screen:

! Enter 14.73 Psi (Abs) [1016 mBar (Abs)] for Pressure.

! Enter 60 Fahrenheit [15.6 Celsius] for Temperature.

! Select us standard.prp from the Gas Properties File list.

! Select AGA from the Atmospheric Pressure Method list.

! Select None from the Compressibility Method list.

! Select the Apply command button.

! In the Operating Data section:

! Click on the Flow Rate label until it is underlined.

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! Select Mcfd [Mm3d] from Flow Rate dimensional units list.

! Enter 300 Psi [21 Bar] for Shut-In Pressure.

! Enter 292 Psi [20 Bar] for Flowing Pressure.

! Enter 0 Feet [0 Metres] for Wellhead Elevation.

! Enter 1.0 Decimal for Performance Factor.

! Enter 1161 for Performance Coefficient.

! Enter 0.595 for Equation Exponent.

! Enter 1 for Number Of Wells.

! Select the Calculate command button.

Results - The results should be similar to the following:

Flow Rate: 4410.23 Mcfd [178.41 Mm3d]

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Screen Description

The various values associated with the flow from a well casing may be calculated using the Well Flow calculation
screen. To perform a calculation, select the Well Flow menu item from the Miscellaneous menu list. The features
associated with the screen are described below.

Data Items

Atmospheric Pressure - A data field used to enter a specific atmospheric pressure value. The item is only displayed
and enabled when the Atmospheric Pressure Method in the Base Conditions is set to “None - Entered Value”. If the
field is displayed and enabled, enter the value by typing it into the box. Ensure the value is expressed in terms of the
selected dimensional unit.

Equation Exponent - A data field used to enter or display the exponent associated with the well flow equation. If
the value is known, enter the value by typing it into the box. Ensure the value is expressed in terms of the selected
dimensional unit.

Flowing Pressure - A data field used to enter or display the pressure at the wellhead under flowing conditions. If
the value is known, enter the value by typing it into the box. Ensure the value is expressed in terms of the assigned
dimensional unit.

Flow Rate - A data field used to enter or display the flow rate from the well. If the value is known, enter the value
by typing it into the box. Ensure the value is expressed in terms of the selected dimensional unit.

Number Of Wells - A data field used to enter the number of similar wells to be included in the calculations. Enter
the value by typing it into the box.

Performance Coefficient - A data field used to enter or display the performance coefficient associated with the well
flow equation. If the value is known, enter the value by typing it into the box.

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Performance Factor - A data field used to enter or display the performance factor (efficiency) associated with the
well flow equation. If the value is known, enter the value by typing it into the box. Ensure the value is expressed in
terms of the selected dimensional unit.

Shut-In Pressure - A data field used to enter or display the static pressure at the wellhead under no-flow or shut-in
conditions. If the value is known, enter the value by typing it into the box. Ensure the value is expressed in terms of
the selected dimensional unit.

Wellhead Elevation - A data field used to enter the average height above mean sea level at the wellhead. The item
is only displayed and enabled when the Atmospheric Pressure Method in the Base Conditions is not set to “None”
or “None - Entered Value”. If the field is displayed and enabled, enter the value by typing it into the box. Ensure the
value is expressed in terms of the selected dimensional unit.

Command Buttons

Base Conditions - A command button used to access the Base Conditions screen. When selected, the Base
Conditions screen will appear. Make any desired changes to the settings, then select the Apply command button to
save the changes.

Calculate - A command button used to calculate the value of the unknown (underlined) parameter.

Cancel - A command button used to close the calculation screen without saving changes.

Clear - A command button used to set the data items to blank (null) values.

Close - A command button used to close the calculation screen and save the current values.

Help - A command button used to display this Calculation Reference.

Notes - A command button used to display the Notes Editor for the current calculation.

Open - A command button used to retrieve a previously saved calculation file. When selected, the File Selection
screen will appear. Select the name of the desired file, then select the Open command button to continue.

Print - A command button used to print the current contents of the calculation screen. When selected, the Print
Control screen will appear. Enter the desired settings, then select the Print command button to continue.

Save - A command button used to save the current values to a calculation file. When selected, the File Selection
screen will appear. Enter the desired name for the calculation file, then select the Save command button to continue.

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Notes & Considerations

! The Notes Editor allows the User to add a specific title and/or notes to the current calculation values.

! The red colored labels indicate which items may be calculated. An underlined label identifies it as the item for
which the value is unknown. Only one item at a time may be selected to be calculated, the remaining items must be
known. To identify which item to calculate, click on the label associated with the desired item until the label is
underlined.

! The Performance Factor item is used similar to the efficiency value in pipe flow equations. In the standard
equation form, the value can be used to increase or decrease the calculated flow.

! The Performance Coefficient item represents the “constant” parameter in the well flow equation. This value is
determined from the results of a well performance test.

! The Equation Exponent item represents the “exponent” parameter in the well flow equation. This value is
determined from the results of a well performance test.

! Pressure values displayed or entered using this calculation screen, are represented in gauge pressure values.

! The flow rate value displayed or entered using this calculation screen represents the value in “standard” volume
units. A standard volume means that the value has been adjusted to the base pressure and temperature specified in
the Base Condition values.

! To specify the number of digits to display to the right of the decimal indicator, double-click in the data field or
panel associated with a data or calculated item. The Decimal Specifications screen will appear. Enter or select the
desired number of digits. Select the Apply command button to save and apply the changes.

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Background Information

The capacity of a well to produce from a wellhead can be estimated using the “well flow” equation. The equation
has two parameters which are determined from a “top hole” or multipoint curve of the well’s performance. The cited
reference describes the method of determining the values for these parameters.

In general, the well flow equation describes the relationship between the flow from the well and the pressure at the
wellhead. The wellhead pressure will increase and decrease in relationship to the pressure in the pipeline that the well
is connected to. As the pipeline pressure increases, the well flow will decrease. As the pipeline pressure decreases,
the flow from the well will increase.

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Equations

Well Flow

As implemented by GASCalc, the well flow calculation uses the following equation. The equation is sometimes
known as the “top hole curve” equation. The Performance Coefficient and Equation Exponent parameters are
calculated from a multi-point fit of the well's performance curve.

Reference 1

References

1. Industrial Press, Gas Engineers Handbook, 1965.

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See Also

Base Conditions Help Reference

Property Table Editor Help Reference

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