SPE 94193
A Novel Method Using Coiled Tubing for Dewatering Gas Wells
J. Misselbrook, SPE, and K. Falk, SPE, BJ Services Co.
Copyright 2005, Society of Petroleum Engineers Inc.
This paper was prepared for presentation at the 2005 SPE/ICoTA Coiled Tubing Conference and
Exhibition held in The Woodlands, Texas, U.S.A., 12 – 13 April 2005.
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Abstract
This paper will present an entirely new process for de-watering
gas wells with liquid loading problems. The process removes
produced liquids via a separate flow path and allows gas
production unhindered by any liquid head. The result is higher
gas production rates arising from increased draw-down and a
reduction of near well-bore liquid saturation. An important
additional benefit is ability to produce these wells at
significantly lower flowing bottomhole pressures, resulting in
an increase in recoverable reserves.
Introduction
As gas reservoirs deplete the problems arising from associated
liquid production increase; in particular when gas velocity is
insufficient to carry entrained liquid droplets to surface, these
wells will “load up” and die.
Many technologies exist to improve liquid removal from
gas wells; some permit continuous flow such as velocity strings
or capillary tubing, while others exploit non-steady state or
intermittent flow such as plunger lift or casing plungers. All
these techniques rely on the reservoir pressure to support the
combined hydrostatic of the gas and liquid plus any frictional
losses associated with the co-mingled flow. Production and
recoverable reserves are essentially limited by the need for the
reservoir energy to lift the produced liquids to surface.
A preferred production solution would be to pump the
produced liquid to surface, independent of the gas flow path. A
proprietary customized jet pump system uniquely satisfies the
demands of this dewatering need.
Unlike alternative mechanical de-watering methods which
use rod pumps, this new process is not affected by gas locking
or solids production. Subsequent servicing activities typically
do not require a rig, further enhancing the economic benefit of
the technology.
Problem Identification
Most viable gas producing formations also produce some liquid,
and therefore operators need a completion design that helps
manage both fluids.
1) Two Phase Flow Issues
Upwards, vertical, or near vertical flow conditions of distinct
liquid and gas phases can be very complex. A number of
parameters are very important for defining the nature of the
flow, and the interaction of the two phases. Ultimately, in a
gas-drive flow path, the gas is moving to surface, both because
of the pressure drive and because of its relatively low density.
The liquid phase can not overcome gravity without enough
BHP drive and enough liquid velocity to help transport it.
Even with gas phase velocities above threshold levels, a
number of parameters will influence the magnitude of the
resultant liquid velocity. Consequently, the nature of the
mixture flow will vary, even along a given length of a distinct
flow path. These mixture flow conditions have been studied by
several researchers, and multiple correlation sets have been
developed to better understand and model them(1). Simple
descriptors have been established to define ranges of these flow
conditions, such as:
Bubble flow
Slug flow
Transition flow
Froth flow
Mist flow
Each of these flow types experience differential flow
velocities, with the liquid phase velocity some percentage less
than the gas phase velocity. Inefficient transport flow will
2 SPE 94193

exhibit a greater differential between the phases, with actual

liquid fall-back occurring when below a threshold required to
sustain liquid transport.
High Velocity
2) Completion Design 2-Phase Flow:
Gas Dominant
The completion design process for these wells requires attention
to the following issues:

Gas flow potential of the formation(s)

BHP / BHT conditions
Drawdown effects (both IPR and pressure decline
issues) Low Velocity
2-Phase Flow:
Water / liquid inflow Liquid Dominant
Surface pressure

What is required is a balance between the desire for large

diameter production tubulars to minimize flow friction, with a
need to restrict the completion size to create sufficiently high
gas velocities for liquid transport. Failure to satisfy the liquid
needs will result in the wellbore becoming hydrostatically Figure 1: Two-Phase Casing Flow
loaded, severely limiting gas flow, if not killing it all together.
This is not to say that the liquid is not moving out of the
3) Cased Interval Flow Issues hole. Instead, the flow reaches something of an equilibrium
which has a retained quantity of liquid in the cased interval,
Even if an optimal production tubular size is chosen, an with a steady in flow of liquid from the perforations, and a
unavoidable completion design compromise arises due to the steady outflow with the high velocity gas in the tubing. At that
height of the overall productive interval. Typically, the end of point the two-phase flow attains enough gas velocity to carry
the production tubing will need to terminate at a reasonable the liquid.
point above the upper most zone, even if the ‘pay zone(s)’ span
a few hundred, or few thousand feet of interval. That means To demonstrate, an industry proven flow simulator(2) will
that a relatively large section of the flow path will consist of be used to model the following gas well conditions:
large diameter casing, rather than ‘size optimized’ tubing. Also,
the lower reaches of this part of the flow path will only 2 ⅞” tubing to 8,500 ft
experience gas flow quantities from the amount of contributing
formation at, and below that point. Therefore there is less 5 ½” casing to 10,000 ft
potential to achieve gas velocities sufficient to carry liquid out 5 sets of perforations @:
of this portion of the hole.
8,600 ft
Computer modeling can easily show that for many water 9,000 ft
producing gas well completions there will be insufficient gas 9,300 ft
velocity in the casing section to lift all the liquid to the tailpipe. 9,600 ft
What results then, is a relatively stable liquid column in the 10,000 ft
casing, with a gas bubbling or percolating through the column.
BHP: 500 psi
WHP: 50 psi
Gas Rate: 500 Mscf (100 Mscf from each perf. set)
Liquid Rate: 50 BPD (10 BPD from each perf. set)

With this sample wellbore set up in the model, the flow

conditions throughout the entire completion can be analyzed to
SPE 94193 3

examine various key flow parameters. For this example, These conditions drive production engineers to
conditions have been chosen based on efficient two-phase flow continuously look for solutions to help the completion maintain
for the existing completion ie. a successful completion design. gas flow.

Figure 2 shows a plot of the liquid and gas phase velocities Conventional Gas Well Dewatering Methods
in the completion.
Operators have employed a number of unique solutions to
350 manage water inflow when the original completion design can
Casing
Flow
no longer keep the well unloaded. Some of the most common
300
Tubing
of these are discussed.
Flow
250
Gas Velocity Strings
Velocity (in/sec)

Velocity
200
A velocity string is simply “the next size down” for the
completion. When a well is new, the production tubing is sized
150
Gas to handle initial gas flow rates and pressures. As wells deplete,
Dominant
pressure and flow rate decline and therefore a reasonable
100
Liquid solution is to similarly reduce the size of the completion to try
50
Liquid Dominant
to maintain the gas velocities required for liquid transport. This
Velocity
is achieved by hanging an appropriately sized coiled tubing
0
string inside the existing completion. Unfortunately, this results
0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000 8,000 9,000 10,000 in a more restrictive completion, which effectively chokes the
Depth (ft) well, reducing the overall flow rate.

Figure 2: Two-Phase Completion Flow Velocities Besides reduced flow capability, velocity strings are only
able to extend the life of a well for a limited period of time. As
We can see that, as expected, there is a dramatic increase in the reservoir further depletes, conditions will eventually drop
both phase velocities as the flow enters the tubing. Below this below those required for sustainable liquid transport in the
point, both velocities are relatively low, with the liquid velocity velocity string, and the well will again become critically loaded
ranging from 0.1 to 2.4 in/sec. With liquid velocities in this
range, this portion of the completion is not sustaining liquid Another issue for conventional velocity string completions
transport in the gas. Therefore the condition would be described is the fact that often the velocity string can not be run across, or
as liquid dominant, with gas percolating through the liquid below the perforations. Many velocity strings that have been
column. run across the producing interval quickly develop holes
wherever there are perforations in the completion. Later in this
There are a few consequences of this flow condition in the paper, further detail will be given on this phenomenon, and a
completion below the end of the tubing. One is that in wells validated solution will be presented.
with long casing intervals, there is significant hydrostatic
penalty due to the inefficient liquid transport characteristics. Velocity strings are simple and effective, but they are not
an ideal solution because they restrict the ultimate gas
Another arises from potential fluid impairment of the formation, production rate.
especially in zones that have been hydraulically fractured. This
phenomenon will be discussed later in this paper. Plunger Lift

4) Maturing Wells Another water management technique for mature gas wells is
the use of plunger lift systems. Plungers are a mechanical
Even with a properly designed completion, maturing gas wells interface between the produced liquids and gas which use the
face the following changes which can seriously alter liquid well's own energy for lift.
transport performance:
This is accomplished through the movement of an
declining gas rates independent piston / plunger traveling from the bottom of the
declining reservoir pressures tubing to the surface. Plunger drive pressure is provided by
formation gas stored in the casing annulus during a shut-in
increasing liquid rates period. When the well is opened, the shut-in tubing pressure is
bled-off and the pressurized gas in the casing annulus expands,
4 SPE 94193
pushing the plunger to the surface. This intermittent plunger
cycling is repeated several times throughout the day.
The main advantage of plunger lift systems is the low cost
of installation. However, there are several factors which restrict
its application. These are:
the need to use the wells drive energy for liquid lift
the tubing needs to be clean and uniform to avoid
plunger hold-up
plunger cycle optimization can be time consuming
Won’t work with low BHP wells
plunger wear
Surfactant Injection Strings
A fairly recent approach to gas well water management has
been to run small diameter (ex: ⅜”; ½”; ⅝”) stainless steel,
capillary tubing strings to depth in wells, in order to inject
foaming agent. Combining with the influent water and gas, and
with enough turbulence, foam is created which ties the liquid
and gas phases together. In this manner, liquid slip becomes
relatively insignificant and the well is better able to transport
the liquid to surface.
Capillary string systems appear to have helped a number of
aging wells to re-establish economic flow, but the well is still
challenged to provide the lift for the fluid hydrostatic that enters
the wellbore. Also, the intention of the process is to create
foam, but foam flow properties inherently create higher flow
friction conditions than equivalent rates of two-phase liquid and
gas flow.
The challenge of the foaming process is to reduce
hydrostatic pressure by eliminating liquid / gas slip while
maintaining foam rheological properties that avoid excessive
friction. The resulting solution is necessarily a compromise,
and well production is therefore sub-optimal.
Some operators have reported problems resulting from
significant foam volumes entering their production facilities.
Rod Pumps
Ideally, if the liquid portion of the inflow can be driven to
surface independent of the gas stream, the well will be able to
perform closer to its full potential. That is, as long as the
mechanical method does not in itself significantly interfere with
the gas flow path.
Rod pumps have been used to accomplish this with some
success. However, using conventional ‘sucker rods’ require
that they be run inside of a tubing string to conduct the
produced water; with a second annulus needed for the gas flow
path. Therefore, these completions are typically restricted to
applications where the gas can be produced up the casing
annulus.
Another challenge that this method faces is gas-locking of
the pump. As rod pumps are sensitive to gas-locking, it is
important that the intake of the pump be sufficiently below the
lowest gas entry point in the well to prevent gas ingestion.
Installing any type of tubular or mechanical component
across perforations requires special considerations, which will
be addressed in the Corrosion section of this paper.
CT Pump Strings
A recent initiative to use CT as a mechanical pump string
showed some promise. The benefit of using CT as the pump
string is that it can be configured such that the liquid travels up
the CT pump string, and therefore the gas flows up the resultant
annulus(3,4). Considering CT sizes as small as 1¼”, the system
was run in completions as small as 2 ⅜”.
While de-watering success was achieved using this
technique, a difficulty was encountered maintaining a reliable
anchor for the pump. Without a hydrostatic-filled annulus, the
pumps were installed with a variety of mechanical slip anchors.
While these worked well at first, in time, when sand would get
into the pump and start to bind the plunger / barrel assembly,
the anchors would eventual pound out of place. Repeated
servicing requirements therefore limited the expansion of this
technology.
Improved Dewatering System
What is required is a pumping technology that does not suffer
the limitations of reciprocating pumps, is easily serviced and
can be retrofitted inside the existing small diameter well-bores
that are commonly encountered in North American onshore gas
wells. The technology must also be economical when set in the
context of de-watering pressure depleted gas wells with
relatively low productivity. Fortunately, such wells produce
limited amounts of water, typically in the range of 10 to 50
barrels/day, and thus the power requirements to lift such
volumes are relatively low. This turns out to be a key factor in
the viability of the solution.
Jet Pumps
Jet pumps have been around for a long time but they have
typically been used for pumping large fluid volumes from oil
wells and occasionally for dewatering coal bed methane wells
with large water production.
In it’s simplest form a jet pump is a high-pressure nozzle
that directs high velocity liquid into a shaped conduit that
SPE 94193
reconverts the kinetic energy of the flowing liquid to potential
energy in the form of pressure. As the high velocity liquid
stream exits the nozzle it generates a venturi suction effect
which draws well-bore fluid into the jet stream. The co-mingled
jet stream enters the shaped conduit where the regained
potential energy drives the co-mingled fluid stream to surface.
The high velocity liquid called “power fluid” is provided by a
surface pump (typically a triplex pump) and is delivered
through a dedicated conduit to the down-hole jet pump. The
produced fluid in the wellbore is drawn into the power fluid
stream where they co-mingle and flow to surface in the annulus
outside the delivery conduit. The preferred choice of power
fluid is the produced liquid.
Jet pumps are simple; they have no moving parts and their
design allows the internal parts exposed to the high velocity jet
stream to be removed for servicing without having to pull the
completion with a service rig. Because of their simplicity they
are tolerant to the presence of solids in the fluid being produced.
Jet pumps offer many advantages, but they do have one
limitation, namely that the kinetic energy/potential energy
conversion efficiency through the device is typically less than
25%, and often significantly lower. For large volume pumping
operations this can be a significant limitation unless the
pressure requirements to lift the liquid are very low for
example, in shallow depth wells.
However, many of the North American gas wells with
liquid loading problems are only producing relatively small
volumes of liquid and thus the power requirements of a jet
pump can be quite small and despite efficiency limitations are
still economically viable.
Adaptation for Gas Well De-watering
Leveraging off of the technical advantages of jet pumps, a
unique solution has been devised to solve gas well liquid
loading problems – referred to here as the Jet Pump Dewatering
System (JPWS).
Since jet pumps need two liquid conduits (one for the
power fluid and a second for the co-mingled fluid returns) it
follows that an installation in a gas well will need three separate
flow paths, since a third path is needed for the produced gas. As
space is at premium in small diameter completions, one solution
is to convey the jet pump on concentric coiled tubing. This
allows for use of relatively small tubing sizes, and eliminates
collars.
In this configuration, the inner coiled tubing string carries
the power fluid and the annulus between the inner and outer
coiled tubing strings conveys the co-mingled fluid return flow.
The annulus between the outer coiled tubing string and the
well completion provides the flow path for the produced gas.
5
Because many gas wells with liquid loading problems are
pressure depleted it follows that the available flow area for the
gas production flow-path must be as large as practical to
minimize friction losses and allow optimum production rates.
This in turn requires the concentric coiled tubing string to be as
small as practical but consistent with handling the produced
water volumes and the power fluid volumes required to operate
a jet pump. Balancing these demands requires optimization
between the gas production rate versus the power expended to
drive the jet pump.
Many tubing size configurations are available, but a
practical combination that covers a significant number of
potential candidate wells uses 1” CT inside 1 ¾” CT.
Pump Design
A key element behind the choice of jet pumps for low
productivity gas wells is the need to have a liquid removal
method that is reliable and has low operating and servicing
costs. Therefore pump serviceability must be easy and
inexpensive. This is achieved by designing the working part of
the pump (the carrier – Figure 3) to be retrieved from the well
by reversing the direction of the power fluid and circulating the
“carrier” to surface for redress or replacement.
The outside dimensions of the carrier must therefore be
able to pass through the inside of the 1” coiled tubing string
with sufficient clearance, allowing diameter & wall thickness
variations, ovality and most importantly the longitudinal seam
weld.
Figure 3: JPDS Carrier Assembly with Nozzle / Throat Inserts
The preferred installation method is to attach the jet pump
and it’s housing to the concentric coiled tubing on surface so
the whole system can be tested before deploying it in the well.
To allow efficient deployment in the field therefore requires
that the pump assembly be no larger than the diameter of the
outer CT string so that it can be stabbed through the injector and
tubing hanger. This sets the outside diameter limit for the pump
housing at 1 ¾” which in turn determines the dimensions of the
pump body in which the carrier sits (Figure 4).
6 SPE 94193
The geometry constraints listed above precluded the use of
any existing jet pump designs and necessitated the development
of a custom jet pump. The design also included optimization of
the pump suction geometry in a further effort to improve pump
efficiency and minimize horsepower requirements.
Gas
Flow
Figure 4: JPDS Completion Details
Pump Depth
In order to effectively pump produced water from a gas well it
is necessary to immerse the suction of the pump in liquid. This
requires the pump suction preferably to be located below the
perforations. However, previous instances of landing coiled
tubing velocity strings across the perforated interval in gas
wells have resulted in numerous reported failures of the coiled
tubing. A solution to this problem was therefore required.
Samples of failed coiled tubing previously retrieved from
velocity string service have displayed numerous, regularly
spaced, round holes along the length of that section of the coiled
tubing that had been run opposite the perforations. Operators
had reported that the holes were caused by erosion but no
serious investigation of this claim had been undertaken until the
jet pump de-watering concept was proposed. Subsequent
calculations of fluid velocity in the perforation tunnels did not
support the claim that erosion was the damage mechanism.
Figure 5: Samples of CO2 Corrosion Holes in CT
If erosion was not the culprit then it seemed likely that
corrosion was the damage mechanism, despite numerous
statements by Operators that their wells did not exhibit any
signs of corrosion.
A sample of gas analyses from various Operators
uncovered the fact that all the wells evaluated had low levels of
carbon dioxide; although apparently no evidence of corrosion in
the well tubulars. Since the liquid volumes and velocities were
very low the conclusion was that reduced pH formation brine
exiting the perforations and impinging directly on the coiled
tubing was the cause of the damage.
Jet Impingement Corrosion
A jet impingement test program was accordingly devised to test
the hypothesis that coiled tubing steel was susceptible to jet
impingement corrosion and also to test the performance of
chrome alloy coiled tubing under identical corrosion conditions.
The test fixture is shown in Figure 6.
Figure 6: Corrosion Test Apparatus & Corrosion Cell (inset)
It is not the purpose of this paper to provide detailed results
of the test program but only to summarize the important
findings. Corrosion rates on the 80 grade steel used for the jet
impingement test electrode increased with increasing wall shear
stress values but were generally in the range of 150 to 200 mpy.
This clearly supports previous reports of coiled tubing
performance life of only a few months when located opposite
producing perforations.
SPE 94193 7

Impingement tests on the chrome alloy showed no pitting scale inhibitors in the power fluid the tests were conducted with
and a calculated average wall loss of 7 mpy. these additives present.

Chrome alloy coiled tubing therefore seems suitable to be At the time of writing, these tests were still underway but
landed across a perforated interval for the range of brine and early results are encouraging.
CO2 conditions tested.
Surface Equipment
Other Corrosion Issues
The JPDS system requires a surface package to both deliver
Since both the pump and the lower end of the coiled tubing power fluid to the down hole jet pump and handle fluid returns
string will be immersed in produced formation brine it was also to surface. The fluid return system comprises a low pressure
necessary to test both for resistance to crevice & pitting attack separator which feeds the suction of the power fluid pump,
in low flow or stagnant conditions. The pump material and the while filtering solids and feeding produced liquid to surface
chrome alloy both performed well under these conditions. storage. Power fluid is typically supplied using a small triplex
pump, which is powered by casing gas, diesel fuel or electricity.
For economic reasons it is proposed to run the jet pump
system using produced water which means the inside of the
concentric coiled tubing strings will be continuously exposed to
reduced pH formation brine. For precautionary reasons and
unless individual tests determine otherwise it is proposed to
treat the power fluid with corrosion and scale inhibitors. These
production chemicals might typically be run at levels around 50
ppm and since the produced liquid volumes are so low the
chemical costs are minimal.

Mixed Material Strings

Understandably the cost of chrome alloy coiled tubing is

noticeably more than conventional coiled tubing and thus a
potential limitation to the viability of the technology. This has
driven the development team to seek a cost reduction strategy.

Velocity strings that have been run in many reduced pH

formation brines do not display any significant internal
corrosion. Thus, it is proposed to use coiled tubing strings
composed of regular grade steel in the top section of the string
and chrome alloy only for the lower section of the string located
opposite perforations. In this way the cost of the more
expensive chrome alloy string can be limited to the length of the
perforated interval with a few extra feet as a margin for safety
for operational reasons.
Figure 7: Typical Surface Pump Package
Production Performance Benefits
Preliminary indications are that there are three distinct ways in
which JPDS technology will improve gas well performance.
Two of these relate directly to daily production rate increases,
the third addresses overall recoverable reserve potential.

The manufacturer of the chrome alloy coiled tubing
developed the welding procedures to join chrome alloy to
conventional grade material. The test program included a series
of bend fatigue tests on the weld as part of the weld
characterization. A procedure was developed that gave
performance comparable to existing girth welds on regular
grades of coiled tubing.
1) Completion Flow Efficiency
Previously, we have discussed the issues associated with two-
phase flow in gas wells, and the resultant inefficiency created
due to hydrostatic loading and liquid slip. The JPDS has been
shown to provide a means of removing water from the gas flow
path, achieving ‘dry gas flow’ conditions.

Finally, a series of galvanic corrosion tests have been
undertaken to test the suitability of attaching chrome alloy
coiled tubing to regular grade coiled tubing. Certain types of
corrosion inhibitor have been shown to promote conditions for
galvanic corrosion. Since it is proposed to use corrosion &
The benefit of this is best shown comparing IPR / TPR
analysis for a sample well.
For demonstration purposes, consider a sample well with
the following parameters:
8 SPE 94193

2 ⅞” tubing to 8,500 ft IPR & TPR Analysis:

Current IPR Completion TPR 1.5” CT TPR
5 ½” casing to 9,000 ft 1.25” CT TPR
1000
800 psi BHPstatic

Bottom Hole Flowing Pressure [psi]

900

300 psi BHPflowing 800

700
300 Mscf/day 600

35 BPD water 500

400
70 psi WHP 300
200
Estimating an inflow performance relationship curve (IPR)
100
for this well, we can then plot a tubing performance relationship
0
curve (TPR) for the completion. Overlaying the two allows for 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40 0.45 0.50 0.55 0.60

evaluation of the liquid-lift performance of the well. Gas Production Rate [MMscf/day]

Figure 9: IPR / TPR Analysis - Velocity Strings

Figure 8 shows this plot for the above well. The right-hand
intercept of the IPR-TPR curves indicates the two-phase flow
performance. In this case, the slope of the TPR at this point is Assessing these results, we can see that the 1.5” CT
negative, thereby indicating that the completion will not be able velocity string TPR intercept has a neutral, or a zero slope,
to achieve stable two-phase flow. Therefore the well will not indicating that it is not a very effective solution in this case.
keep itself unloaded. Looking at the 1.25” TPR intercept, the slope is positive, but it
is still close to the bottom inflection point. This indicates that
IPR & TPR Analysis: using a 1.25” velocity string should work, but as the well IPR
Current IPR Completion TPR continues to decline, the new completion will soon become
hydrostatically unstable as well.
1000
Bottom Hole Flowing Pressure [psi]

900
Now, assessing JPDS for this case, the system removes
800
liquid from the wellbore through a separate flow path, allowing
700
near-dry gas flow up the CCT / tubing annulus.
600
500
Modeling this condition to obtain a TPR, we can see the
400
following IPR / TPR relationship:
300
200 IPR & TPR Analysis:
100 Current IPR Completion TPR 1.5” CT TPR AquaLift TPR
0
1.25” CT TPR
0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40 0.45 0.50 0.55 0.60 1000
Bottom Hole Flowing Pressure [psi]

Gas Production Rate [MMscf/day] 900

Figure 8: IPR / TPR Analysis - Completion 800

700
600
Typically in these cases the customer will start to look for 500
completion alternatives to create a stable flow condition. 400
300
Often, the approach will be to run a velocity string. An
200
engineered approach for velocity string selection involves
100
repeating the above IPR-TPR analysis methodology for the
0
various CT sizes being considered. Figure 9 shows the plot 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40 0.45 0.50 0.55 0.60

with two CT TPR plots included (for 1.5” and 1.25” CT): Gas Production Rate [MMscf/day]

Figure 10: IPR / TPR Analysis - JPDS

If liquid is not present in any significant form in the gas

stream because of the de-watering system, the well will not face
loading issues and will continue to flow gas to surface even
SPE 94193
with significant on-going future decline in the IPR (as shown by
the green TPR line above).
Still working with the above example, we can see that the
only two viable completion options are the 1.25” velocity string
(limited lifespan), and the JPDS. However, the production rate
for the 1.25” string is showing to only reach about 170
Mscf/day, whereas the JPDS provides about 360 Mscf/day. The
difference is 190 Mscf/day, or more than double the rate of the
velocity string.
Overall, as a result of removing completion liquid loading
and liquid slip problems, more efficient flow is achieved.
Near Dry Gas Flow
The above analysis was based on the claim that the JPDS
creates near-dry gas flow conditions in the tubing. A more
detailed analysis is required to fully prove that, in most
situations, little, if any liquid will be present in the tubing gas
flow, but the following rationalization can be considered to help
support this claim.
We have already looked at the two-phase flow conditions
in the casing interval and have seen that typically, because of
low liquid velocities, the interval is liquid dominant, and gas is
percolating through the slow moving liquid column. As a
result, in a conventional gas well completion, we do see liquid
pick-up and transport in the tubing because it is supported by
the column of fluid in the casing.
Using the JPDS, the casing liquid column is drawn down
well below the end of the tubing; even down below the lowest
set of perforations. Therefore there will be little encouragement
for any significant quantity of liquid to be transported up to the
high velocity gas flow in the tubing.
2) Proppant Fracture Performance
It was previously shown that even with efficient two-phase flow
in the production tubing, it is common that in the cased interval
below the end of the tubing, there will be a liquid dominant
condition with gas streaming through the liquid column. This
means that over this interval, the perforations will be
submerged, as will any proppant fractured intervals. Other
studies have identified this condition and have determined that
the resultant flow condition is that of gas flow through the top
of the proppant fractured interval, with near-static liquid in the
bottom. “Consequently, water (or oil) saturation in rock
immediately adjacent to the faces of the affected part of the
fracture will be very high and relative permeability to gas may
be zero in the case of low reservoir permeability”(5). This
condition will result in a pseudo-skin, limiting overall well
production.
9
At this time, it is expected that the JPDS will reduce or
even eliminate this flow impairment. Additional study and
testing will be required to fully validate this claim.
3) Increased Recoverable Reserves
Earlier in this paper, the benefit of JPDS was shown with
respect to IPR decline (Figure 10). Taking liquid out of the gas
stream, allows these wells to continue to produce even with
significantly reduced IPR characteristics, which results in
greater reserve recovery. Any improvement in recoverable
reserve ratios will have a significant economic impact.
Applications for JPDS
As the JPDS is a new use for jet pump technology, the range of
applications has yet to be fully explored. Based on what has
been seen so far, there appear to be a number of completion
types that should benefit greatly from its use.
Slimhole / Tubing completed Wells
The design of the JPDS has been adapted to allow installation in
small diameter completions. The current downhole pump can be
operated with 1” inner CT and 1.75” outer CT – while still
permitting the nozzle / throat carrier to be circulated to surface.
In most cases, this size configuration will suit completions of 2
⅞" and larger.
In some cases, this completion system can be run in 2 ⅜”,
but the flow friction of the gas starts to become significant.
Ideally, if the initial trial phase of this technology continues to
show success, a smaller downhole pump configuration is
planned, which will allow the use a ⅞” inner / 1.5” outer CCT
string, while still maintaining the ability to circulate the carrier
to surface.
Casing Completions
Although the JPDS has been adapted for small diameter
completions, it is well suited for use in completion sizes larger
than 2 7/8”. A number of pending applications are planned for
casing completions. Some of these will still utilize a CCT
string, while others will combine CT and production tubing for
the final completion.
Horizontal Wells
There are aspects of the JPDS that should allow it to be applied
in horizontal wells.
First of all, jet pumps function the same, whether orientated
vertically or horizontally - unlike rod pumps. There are no
down hole moving parts, and the pump’s power is delivered
through fluid energy, eliminating the problems with rods run
through a build section.
10
Jet pumps are also much more ‘forgiving’ for gas ingestion.
Rod pumps can easily get gas-locked when gas enters the
intake, but up to a point, jet pumps will continue to perform.
While still being evaluated, it is anticipated that the best
candidate wells will have been drilled ‘down-dip’, with the
pump installed at the toe of the well. This will provide an
effective gravity separation interval, creating a sump for the
pump to work in.
Other candidates have been evaluated which have been
drilled up-dip. In these cases it is anticipated that the pump will
work best if landed in the lowest inflection point of the well. In
these cases it may be found that the system will work best if
operated intermittently, allowing a reasonable volume of fluid
to build up prior to start-up.
New Wells
Most discussions about gas well dewatering have focused on
aging, or maturing wells. However, given the unique fluid
management solution that JPDS has shown, there is significant
justification for consideration of the system in new completions.
Completion design in new wells is still a compromise
between gas flow maximization and liquid transport
performance. Typically, tubing is selected to achieve this
compromise, but the fact is that the flow performance will
always be suppressed by flow hydrostatics and friction. As
well, it has already been shown that the flow dynamics in the
perforated / casing interval of the well will in most cases be a
liquid dominant two-phase mixture, both increasing the
hydrostatic flow penalty, and hampering the frac performance.
Because the JPDS is run to a point below the perforations,
both of these conditions will be eliminated. This allows the
well to deliver gas at its ideal maximum rate, through its entire
life span. Also, it has been shown that we anticipate that the
JPDS will greatly increase the economic life span of a gas well.
Test Well Results
Early in the development of the JPDS, a test installation was run
in an East Texas gas well for evaluation.
The well had a dual completion and the side that the JPDS
was installed in had 2 ⅞” and was unable to sustain flow. The
JPDS string consisted of 1” CT inside of 1.75” CT, and was run
below the last set of perforations at about 7,500 ft.
The JPDS was activated and immediately started
dewatering the well at a rate of about 40 BPD. Quickly the well
started to produce gas at about 250 Mscf/day, and within 18
days was up to 275 Mscf/day. Unfortunately, at that point the
operator decided to change out the surface pump package from
SPE 94193
a test package, to a permanent installation. During that process,
debris was accidentally left in one of the new surface lines, and
when it was pumped downhole, it plugged the jet pump
assembly. This being an early test well, a conventional,
commercially available jet pump was used. This did not allow
the carrier to be reversed up 1” CT, and therefore the system
was temporarily suspended pending a work-over to install the
new generation jet pump.
A number of commercial applications are being engineered
and planned, but at the time of writing this paper, they had not
yet been installed.
Conclusion
The JPDS has shown great early promise to deal with the
problem of gas well liquid loading. Benefits for this new
system include:
1. Lifting water through a separate flow path allows for
increased gas production rates
2. Near-dry gas flow results in extended well production
performance, even as the reservoir continues to deplete
(higher reserve recovery)
3. Mixed-material strings allow JPDS completions to be
installed below perforations
4. Ability to handle solids
5. Ability to handle gas (won’t gas-lock)
6. Dewater casing and frac wings
7. Basic pump service operations can be performed without
needing rig (pump carrier circulated to surface)
8. In the event that production operations require the well to
be shut in, the new process can be immediately restarted
without needing blow down, or any other form of
intervention to re-initiate production
9. Can be applied to a wide range of gas well completion
types
SPE 94193 11

Acknowledgements

The Authors would like to acknowledge the following

individuals and organizations for their assistance: ; David
Doland with Devon Energy; Rob Tyre, Matt Turner & Dave
Cramer, with BJ Services; Roland Jackson with J&J Technical
Services; John Martin & Don Van Arnam with Quality Tubing.
We would also like to thank BJ Services for their permission to
publish this paper.

References

1. Beggs, H.D., Production Optimization Using Nodal Analysis,

OGCI, February 1999

2. Misselbrook, J., Wilde, G., Falk, K., “The Development and Use
of a Coiled-Tubing Simulator for Horizontal Applications”, SPE
22822 presented at the Annual Technical Conference and
Exhibition, Dallas, TX, 6-9 October 1991

3. Falk, K., Rowland, S, Stewart, J., Birkelbach, L., Leniek, H.,

“Artificial Lift Solutions Using Coiled Tubing”, SPE / ICoTA
74832 presented at the Coiled Tubing Conference and Exhibition,
Houston, TX April 9-10, 2002

4. Ayestaran, L., Yang, S., Leniek, H., “Coiled Tubing Replaces

Sucker Rod in Beam Pumping Test”, O&G Journal, Nov. 1999

5. Cramer, D., “Analyzing Well Performance in Hydraulically

Fractured Gas Wells: Non-Ideal Cases”, SPE 90777 presented at
the Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Houston, TX,
26-29 September 2004