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Introducing Pseudo Steady State Nitrogen Lifting Rate in Coiled Tubing

Unloading Operations Based on Numerical Methods

Conference Paper · September 2020

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The 11th International Chemical Engineering Congress & Exhibition (IChEC 2020)
Fouman, Iran, 28- 30 October, 2020

Introducing Pseudo Steady State Nitrogen Lifting Rate in Coiled

Tubing Unloading Operations Based on Numerical Methods

N. Zand1,2, Y. Arjmand 2 ,M. J. Ameri 2*

1
Coiled Tubing Service Supervisor,International Petro Offshore Niam Kish
2
Amir Kabir University of Technology(Tehran Poly Technic)
ameri@aut.ac.ir

Abstract
One of the most widely applications of coiled tubing is unloading the heavy weight fluids by
nitrogen gas. Dynamic time dependent simulations give accurate results, but reasons like
availability, run time,and etc.,cause them to be ignored for field simulations. Controlling the
nitrogen injection rate in dynamic simulations results are difficult regarding, too many
disturbances and field limitations. On the other hand steady state software may cause failure of
well intervention and not reliable due to in-dependency of time and transient. Disturbances
affected by viscosity and density changes is the main problem. By considering changes in fluid
characteristic parameters, calculating unloading time, disturbances trend and fluctuations can be
figured out from beginning to stability of well head pressure with numerical methods. Simulation
has been implemented with the help of Multi phase transient flow simulator too. Both Transient
and pseudo steady state methods are compared with operation results. Transient flow simulator
results illustrated about 5% deviation from real operation ,How ever error comes to about 10%
when using pseudo steady state numerical method .On the other hand simulation with dynamic
multi phase flow simulator is time suffering and contain operational constraint and limitations
.Therefor using pseudo steady state method may be capable to estimate the amount of nitrogen
volume in shorter time and calculations. Comparing Method differences for nitrogen consumption
is calculated to be about 5% .Since the transient time dependent flow simulator and pseudo steady
state method compared with real operation to estimate transient disturbance caused by fluid
properties changes.

Keywords: CoiledTubing, Unloading, Nitrogen lift, Well intervention ,Two Phase Flow, Sludge
Removal

Introduction
Coiled tubing has an inevitable roll in well intervention with highly growth of operations in
production or new drilled wells. The most application nowadays is unloading regarding large
number of production wells and few numbers of units not only in Iranian oilfields but also
around the world energy industry. Long time producing wells face different type of problems
to be solved by different type intervention programme like acidizing, sludge, oil-water
emulsion, mud removal, and etc .
Sludge ,emulsion and mud removal are the most common cases for unloading. Acid-oil tight
emulsion and asphaltic sludge formation are usual during acid treatment of asphaltenic oil
reservoir when the crude oil is exposed to the acid.[1] Operational problems in downstream
surface facilities and well bore caused by mentioned items are costly and challenging for well
The 11th International Chemical Engineering Congress & Exhibition (IChEC 2020)
Fouman, Iran, 28- 30 October, 2020
intervention.All mentioned programmes need specific unloading operation with different
nitrogen rates during removal of heavy fluids based on physical properties changes of well
fluids during operation. Since unloading phenomena has a close relationship with multi phase
flow regime, nitrogen injection rate design has a significant role for appropriate unloading and
stability of well head pressure. From multi phase point of view implications of coiled tubing
unloading operation can be described as follow with dominant intentions.

Theory and Methodology

Coiled tubing operation pressure variables while unloading with gas can be described as
accounting total pressure loss from inside to outside of coiled tubing an surface as hydrostatic
pressure loss (ΔPh), friction pressure loss (ΔPf), and acceleration pressure loss (ΔPa).The
magnitude range of each term is affected by viscosity and density within a well or coiled
tubing .Survays determined more pressure loss on reel drum on surface than tubing inside
well.[2] Overall pressure loss in a coiled tubing unloading operation is expressed as Eq.1 :

∆𝑃𝑃𝑔𝑔 = ∆𝑃𝑃ℎ + ∆𝑃𝑃𝑓𝑓 + ∆𝑃𝑃𝑎𝑎 Eq.1

If normal pressure and flow in two phase conduit is considered as q and p and disturbance of
fluctuations are considered as p* and q*, then with the help of Taylor expansion correlation
the simplified as linear p,q, p*and q* which can be Represented as Eq.2 to Eq. 4:
𝑝𝑝0 + 𝑝𝑝∗ = 𝑓𝑓(𝑞𝑞0 + 𝑞𝑞 ∗ ) 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑝𝑝0 + 𝑝𝑝∗ = 𝑔𝑔(𝑞𝑞0 + 𝑞𝑞 ∗ ) Eq.2
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑑𝑑 2 𝑓𝑓
𝑓𝑓(𝑞𝑞0 ) + ( )𝑞𝑞=𝑞𝑞0 × (𝑞𝑞 − 𝑞𝑞0 ) + 1�2 � 2 � × (𝑞𝑞 − 𝑞𝑞0 )2 + ⋯ Eq.3
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 1 𝑑𝑑2 𝑔𝑔
𝑔𝑔(𝑞𝑞0 + ( )𝑞𝑞=𝑞𝑞0 × − 𝑞𝑞0 + �2 � 2 � × (𝑞𝑞 − 𝑞𝑞0 )2 + ⋯
) (𝑞𝑞 ) Eq.4
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
Slope of pseudo Steady state function curve depend on each section of unloading and fluid
property can be derived as a differential of each Eq. 5:
𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅 𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅
𝒇𝒇′ = ( )𝒒𝒒=𝒒𝒒𝟎𝟎 𝒂𝒂𝒂𝒂𝒂𝒂 𝒈𝒈′ = ( )𝒒𝒒=𝒒𝒒𝟎𝟎 Eq.5
𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅 𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅
Were the f and q can be described by Eq. 6:
𝐩𝐩∗ = 𝐟𝐟 ′ . 𝐪𝐪∗ 𝐚𝐚𝐚𝐚𝐚𝐚 𝐩𝐩∗ = 𝐠𝐠 ′ . 𝐪𝐪∗ Eq.6
f, represents pressure drop and g represents operation point (nitrogen injection rate) and can
be paraphrased as time dependency by change in parameters in each section of unloading
during operation for pressure and Nitrogen rate as Eq.7&Eq.8 where fin and gin shows the
injection rate and inflow rate of fluid described by Jasen (2017) [3].
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 ∗ 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 ∗
𝑓𝑓 ′ 𝑞𝑞 ∗ − 𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 = 𝑔𝑔′ . 𝑞𝑞 ∗ + 𝑔𝑔𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 Eq.7
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 ∗ 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
(𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 + 𝑔𝑔𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 ) −(𝑓𝑓 ′ − 𝑔𝑔′ ). 𝑞𝑞 ∗ = 0 Eq.8
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
Finally, with solving the Eq.7&8, results can be derived as Eq. 9, and then modified with
changing the viscosity and density during unloading with nitrogen gas by coiled tubing
operation. Time of operation is an important factor, if there is enough amount of nitrogen for
intervention. It is important to have a good prediction of the well stability time.
𝑓𝑓′ −𝑔𝑔′
∗ ( 𝑡𝑡) Eq.9
𝑞𝑞 = 𝐶𝐶 . 𝑒𝑒 𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 +𝑔𝑔𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖

Discrimination between steady or unsteady state, static or dynamic simulation choice is

categorized in many related surveys. Some related studies of transient conditions are reviewed
The 11th International Chemical Engineering Congress & Exhibition (IChEC 2020)
Fouman, Iran, 28- 30 October, 2020
in continue. Mass transport model of coiled tubing was developed by Gu and Walton (1994)
based transient code and Discussed undesired aspects of transient unloading operation with
coiled tubing. [4] Stopping injection procedure due to any pendulum results of dynamic time
dependent software is not possible on well site operation or may cause more time in
comparison of pseudo Steady state nitrogen injection rate programme. Unfortunately,
determining technical, nitrogen injection Rate in steady state method, does not necessarily
give the best result in optimizing well stability time. [5] While stability time could only be
recognized by studying the flow disturbances based on accurate simulations. Introduced
method can be used with less simulation time and more accurate results based on pseudo
Steady state approach. Main challenge of the case is reaction of acid and oil with producing
induced sludge which causes difficulties to remove spent acid. Well head pressure after
flowing and unloading acidizing induced sludge pressure stability after 3 days is predicted to
be 500 psi. Increasing nitrogen flow rate in coiled tubing increases gas pressure. By
default,180 K Ambient nitrogen unit has a pressure limit of 3800 psi for safe gas discharge,
then if the nitrogen injection pressure inside the 1.5-inch coiled tubing exceeds the allowable
range in each candidate depths, it should be neglected and removed from simulation.[6]
Therefore results in both methods need to be approved by pressure restriction range for
validating the application of method on well site if needed.

Pseudo Steady state and Transient Simulation:

Nitrogen rate and corresponding depth were increased corresponding to viscosity. With
calculating velocities (ug , ul ) ,pressure drop through coiled tubing path and considering hold
up(HL) as a converging variable in try and error in developed multi-phase flow software in
any section(𝑄𝑄𝑙𝑙° ) with related flow regime during transport in conduit (At),there are specific
fractions of gas and liquid (Eg) and EL) in any conditions and the volume of unloaded heavy
liquid within well is calculated.
𝐴𝐴𝑔𝑔
𝐸𝐸𝑔𝑔 = Eq.10
At
𝐴𝐴𝑙𝑙
𝐸𝐸𝑙𝑙 = Eq.11
𝐴𝐴𝑡𝑡
𝐴𝐴𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 = 𝐴𝐴𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 + 𝐴𝐴𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺 Eq.12
𝐿𝐿
𝐴𝐴𝑡𝑡 . 𝐸𝐸𝑙𝑙 . 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝐻𝐻𝑙𝑙 = � Eq.13
At . ∆L
0
𝐻𝐻𝑔𝑔 = 1 − 𝐻𝐻l Eq.14
𝑄𝑄𝑔𝑔°
𝑢𝑢𝑔𝑔 = Eq.15
𝐴𝐴𝑡𝑡 . 𝐻𝐻𝑔𝑔
𝑄𝑄𝑙𝑙°
𝑢𝑢𝑙𝑙 = Eq.16
𝐴𝐴𝑡𝑡 . 𝐻𝐻𝑙𝑙
Well is also modelled with Vogel equation with considering increase in GOR from initial
condition to stability point with considering pressure losses in conduit Vogel equation can be
represented as Eq.17:
𝑞𝑞 𝑃𝑃𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤 𝑃𝑃𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤 2
= 1 − 0.2( ) − 0.8( ) Eq.17
𝑞𝑞𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑃𝑃𝑅𝑅 𝑃𝑃𝑅𝑅
Variation of friction forces can be calculated with pwf and unloaded volume from surface at
any condition till stability point. Mechanistic model of Hasan & Kabir (1998), [7], is used
The 11th International Chemical Engineering Congress & Exhibition (IChEC 2020)
Fouman, Iran, 28- 30 October, 2020
for two phase flow pseudo Steady State calculations in volume sections. linear relationship
between the shear stress (τ) and shear rate (γ) in fluids can be considered as Newtonian
fluids. Mathematically, the relationship can be described as Eq.18:
τ = μ(t). γ Eq.18
Sludge is non-Newtonian, but during two phase flow almost reacts like general fluids while
moving in well conduit as a fraction of high viscous Newtonian fluid. Therefore, heavy fluids
unloaded from step N=1 and removed in step N= Ni. While volume and related time in step
N=n, all cases completely remove the heavy viscose fluid and well pressure is stabilized with
sand face oil pressure and reaches to surface well pressure. Variation of any parameters in
each step assumed to be constant in any time step and effect of time in each step is ignored.
This assumption has the advantage of solving each step equations linearly to reduce
calculations and analyze time for each well according to be applicable for real job analysis
time deficiency. Pseudo Steady State method obviously has some errors but results show the
capability of method to determine appropriate answers. Results have to be calculated
simultaneously and plotted during change of parameters and while Fluid properties are
changing

Results and discussion

Dynamic time dependent and pseudo Steady State nitrogen injection rate is plotted as follow
in Fig.1 during first day similarity of transient and real time data is more than pseudo Steady
State method. This variation of data regarding time step calculations illustrates delay in
nitrogen rate changes while using pseudo Steady State comparing with real data, as shown in
figure1. Mentioned Delay in well response for pseudo steady state method can be described as
effect of sludge on permeability blockage in near well bore caused by induced sludge. Curve
and trends show porous media congestion caused by cohesion of sludge mixture to target
rock. Slow tendency of rock to remove sludge as shown in Figure2. Where in first 1.5 day
well unloading liquids and well head pressure is struggling to overcome the skin effect by
sludge cohesion.

Figure1: Pseudo-Steady State, Transient and real Operation Rate Results in Simulation
Between 0.5 to 1.5 day, unloading illustrates unloading liquid with fluctuations which can be
considered as the effect of viscose sludge. Therefore, required rate increases corresponding
with extreme higher viscosity change. Some peaks in dynamic time dependent results show
high fluctuations between 0.5 to 1.5 days by the effect of sludge cohesion to well path and
trapping bubbles of nitrogen gas. With inflow of oil from reservoir to well, Gas-Oil ratio
affects the well path and helps the unloading procedure with participation of hydrocarbon
produced gases. After 1.5 days and removing almost the whole sludge correspondence
required rate of nitrogen is reduced and signs of stability in well head pressure occurs after 2
days.
The 11th International Chemical Engineering Congress & Exhibition (IChEC 2020)
Fouman, Iran, 28- 30 October, 2020

Figure2: Pseudo-Steady State Rate and Discharged Liquid versus Time

Pseudo Steady State nitrogen injection rate during sludge removal shows smoother and less
variety in comparison with Transient simulation and its trend is similar to real time curve with
lagging time delay to well response. Both methods show the same behaviour to sludge
removal trend but with delay in Pseudo steady state curve. In transient plot some results are
not capable for well programme operation due to limitations and constraints. The amount of
consumed nitrogen in mentioned methods are almost the same but the effect of priming and
loss of vaporized nitrogen for more consumption caused higher amount in real operation
results. Differences between real operation and simulations are introduced as error curves in
Figure 3:
Table1: Nitrogen consumption in explained methods
Transient pseudo-Steady Real
Method
Simulation State Simulation operation
Consumption
20129.49 19078.65 21283.99
(Gal)
Fig. 3 illustrates the error curve results with same trend and acceptable criteria.

Figure3: Simulation Error Curve

Results of error for data validation in Mean Percentage Error (APRE), Mean absolute
percentage error (AAPRE), root mean square error, Regression and standard deviation is
calculated in Table2.Approximately about 5% nitrogen is wasted for cool down of unit. In this
order exact error results for mean percentage error can be considered to be 5% in Pseudo
Steady State and 2.5% in Transient nitrogen consumption.

Table2: Comparing Errors calculated in Different Methods

 The 11th International Chemical Engineering Congress & Exhibition (IChEC 2020)
Fouman, Iran, 28- 30 October, 2020

Acid
induced Nitrogen Consumption
sludge Error
Method of Dynamic Pseudo
Error Time Steady
Calculation dependent State
Method
AAPRE 0.054 0.103
APRE -0.054 -0.103
2
R 0.947 0.896
RMSE 0.543 1.037
SD 0.118 0.328

Conclusions
Changes in viscosity and density, while unloading with nitrogen is the main cause of
disturbances in two phase flow even more dominant than fluid regime. Results for emulsion
case showed more sensitivity to temperature more than the other cases. Ignoring temperature
leads to high error in Dynamic and pseudo Steady State time dependant nitrogen rate. Pulse of
injection rate in dynamic simulation shows higher fluctuations than pseudo-Steady State
results Operational restrictions, equipment limitations and costs have to be taken into
considerations in addition to depth and rate of nitrogen for a simulation. Unified fluid
properties, with less changes, leads to more accurate results. Effect of viscosity in high ranges
is more dominant than flow path regime for lifting the liquids within the well. Disturbances
caused by viscosity during well unloading behave with greater sinusoidal periods with higher
required nitrogen rates in comparison with lower viscose fluids.

References
[1] Mohammadzadeh Shirazi, M., Ayatollahi, S., Ghotbi, C.,'' Damage evaluation of acid-oil emulsion
and asphaltic sludge formation caused by acidizing of asphaltenic oil reservoir'',JPSE (2018) .
[2] Y. Arjmand," drilling fluid flow simulation using OLGA Software", B.Sc. thesis, Amir Kabir
University of Technology, Tehran, Iran (2018).
[3] Jansen Jan Dirk, Nodal Analysis of Oil and Gas Production Systems 2nd ed. SPE, 564-8, (2017))
[4] Gu, H.;Walton,I.C.'' Computer Wellbore Simulator for CT Operation'' SPE 3642-6.(1994)
[5] Zand, N., Arjmand,Y., MotamedKia, M.R. ,Pour Bahador, M.R ,''Economic Equation and
Optimization of Artificial Gas Lift with Coil Tubing Based on Dynamic Simulation in one of Iranian
Offshore Fields'' IJNC,(2020). DOI: 10.22034/ijnc.2020.118493.1072.
[6] N.Zand,''Determination of optimized parameters of N2 Injection for Coiled Tubing with analytical
& matematical calculations with breif introduction to process, M.Sc. thesis, Amir Kabir University
of Technology, Tehran, Iran (2015).
[7] Rashid, Hasan & Kabir ,Shah 2nd Ed., SPE, 545-7,2nd ed. ,(2018) .

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