13304

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING I
PETROLEUM ENGINEERING
FACULTY OF EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY
YEAR 2021/2022
GAS WELL
• Darcy’s Law for Oil flow is also used in equation of gas flow
• The solution of partial differential equation from combination of
The Continuity and Darcy’s Law for radial flow
• The unit of variables:
• Pr : reservoir pressure, psia
• Pwf : flowing bottom hole pressure, psia
• k = permeability, md
• h = formation thickness, ft
• TR : reservoir temperature, oR
GAS WELL
gas reservoir
Pr Specific assumptions:
Pressure

➢ the compressibility and the viscosity

of the fluid can’t be considered as
constant

➢ the flow rate is high → turbulence

→ more pressure losses

➢ the liquid fraction is neglected

Pwf

Temperature
GAS WELL

Qs, in SCF/day (standard conditions)

Basic Equation Gas Flow in Porous Medium

q sc =
(
0.703x10 −6 kh Pr2 − Pwf2 ) • Z : gas compressibility
  re   • re : draiange radius, ft
 g TR Z ln   − 0.75
  rw   • rw : wellbore radius, ft
• qsc : gas production rate,
0.703x10 −6 kh MMSCF/d
C=
  re   • C : performance constant of well
g TR Z ln   − 0.75
  rw  

(
q sc = C P − Pr
2 2
wf )
MODELS

In the case of stabilized high flow rates, 2 main types of gas well
behaviours:

First back pressure Equation Second back pressure Equation

aqg +b−
(P
r
2
− Pwf2 )
=0 (
qg = C P − P 2 2
)
n
r wf
qg

2 parameters to characterize the well behaviour:

(a ; b) or (C ; n) determined from well tests
KATZ’S TEST
Pwf

Pwf initial = Pr Prm

Pwf1 stabilized pressure

Pwf2
Pwf3
Pwf5
Pwf4

q
q5
q4
q3
q2
q1

t1i t1f t2i t2f t3i t3f t4i t4f Time

t tbu  tbu t tbu t

t
In this test, Pwfi and q are unstable values
IDENTIFICATION OF BOTH BACK PRESSURE EQUATIONS FROM WELL TESTS

First Back Pressure Equation

aq + b −
(Pr
2
− Pwf2 )=0 aq + b =
(P r
2
− Pwf2 )
q q

Second Back Pressure Equation

(
qg = C P − P
r
2 2 n
wf ) (
log qg = log C + n log Pr2 − Pwf2 )

can be written as linear functions

CASE OF STABILIZED WELL TEST

example of the identification of the second back pressure equation

log-log plot
(
log qg = log C + n log Pr2 − Pwf2 )
log qg
n
n = slope of the
linear regression

( 2
log Prm − Pwf2 )
logC logC = intersection between the linear
regression and the logq axis
CASE OF NON STABILIZED WELL TESTS

example of the identification of the second back pressure equation

points obtained
log q during drawdown periods
(Pwfi,qi) , i = 1..4

point obtained
with (Pwf5,q5) = stabilized point

(
log Prm2 − Pwf2 )
logC

(
qg = C P − P r
2
)
2 n
wf
 METHOD TO IDENTIFY MODEL PARAMETERS
WITH WELL TESTS MEASUREMENTS
With well tests, we measure 4 or 5 times q and Pwf

Back Pressure 1 Back Pressure 2

()
log Pr2m −Pw2f

We calculate
(Pr
2
− Pwf2 ) We calculate log q and (
log Prm2 − Pwf2 ) ()
log Pr2m −Pw2f

We plot q versus
(Pr
2
− Pwf2 ) (
log Prm2 − Pwf2 )
()
log Pr2m −Pw2f
We plot log q versus ()
log Pr2m −Pw2f

q
linear regression (+ use of stabilized (q,Pwf)) linear regression (+ use of stabilized (q,Pwf))

a and b determination n and logC determination

model 1 model 2
ABSOLUTE OPEN FLOW POTENTIAL

AOFP represents the case of production where Pwf = 0.

In this case, P1 is maximum, because :

P1 = PrShutIn − Pwf
0
Then, the production rate is maximum
(by considering only the reservoir point of view).

example : The 2nd back pressure equation : (

qg = C P − P
r
2
)
2 n
wf

can be written : AOFP = C P 2 (

rShutIn )
n
INFLOW – EXERCISE7 : MODELING OF A GAS WELL
BEHAVIOUR
A dry gas well was tested at various flow rates with back pressure tests :
Flow rate (Mcfd) Bottom hole pressure (psia)

Shut in 3120
7800 2870
10590 2750
13960 2588
17615 2389

questions:
•By using the back pressure equations, build both models and give the AOFP of the well. Choose
the adequate model.
•The well is flowed at 25% of the AOFP. In this case, what is the bottom hole pressure?
•The reservoir pressure declines to 2980 psia, what is the new AOFP ? Assume n and C in the back
pressure equation remain constant.
INFLOW – EXERCISE7 : MODELING OF A GAS WELL BEHAVIOUR

Back pressure 1: (Pr2 – Pwf2) / q = aq + b

plot (Pr2 – Pwf2)/q versus q and directly determine a and b

Back pressure 2: q = C (Pr2 – Pwf2)n => log q = log C + n log (Pr2 – Pwf2)
plot log q vs. log (Pr2 – Pwf2) and directly determine n and logC, hence C

Plot Test Data Pr (psi) = 3120

X mod1 q (Mcfd) 7800 10590 13960 17615
Pwf (psi) 2870 2750 2588 2389
Pr2 - Pwf2 1497500 2171900 3036656 4027079
2 2
Y mod1 (Pr - Pwf )/q 192 205 218 229
2 2
X mod2 log(Pr - Pwf ) 6.18 6.34 6.48 6.60
Y mod2 log(q) 3.89 4.02 4.14 4.25
mod1 = Back pressure 1 model plot mod2 = Back pressure 2 model plot
 INFLOW – EXERCISE7 : MODELING OF A GAS WELL BEHAVIOUR

Back pressure 1 model Back pressure 2 model

230 4,3
y = 0,0037x + 164,5 y = 0,8236x - 1,1937

(Pr2 - Pwf2)/q
4,2
220
4,1

Log q
210 Data
4,0 Data
200 Linear (Data)
3,9 Linear (Data)

190 3,8
5000 10000 15000 20000 6,1 6,2 6,3 6,4 6,5 6,6 6,7

q Log (Pr2 – Pwf2)

Back pressure 1 model: does not yield a perfect fit

Plot determines directly (Pr2 - Pwf2)/q = 0.0037q + 164.5
q @ Pwf = 0 => AOFP = 33.7 MMscfd
Back pressure 2 model achieves a better fit with test data in this case
y = 0.8236x –1.1937 => log q = 0.8236 log (Pr2 – Pwf2) –1.1937
n = 0.8236 and logC =-1.1937 => C = 0.064

IPR relationship:
27 (
q = 0.064 31202 − Pwf2 ) 0.8236
27
INFLOW – EXERCISE7 : MODELING OF A GAS WELL BEHAVIOUR

• Absolute Open Flow Potential

AOFP = 0.064(9734400) = 36.4MMscf / d

0.8236

• Pwf for the well flowing at 25% AOFP

q = 0.25 * 36.4 = 9.1MMscf / d

1 1
q n  9114  0.8236
Pwf = Pr2 −   = 3120 2 −   = 2815 psia
C   0.064 

• AOFP after depletion

AOFP = 0.064 2980 2( )

0.8236
= 33.8MMscf / d
IPR Gas Well
• In the case of gas wells, the velocity of the flow generates turbulences, which are
represented in the models by a specific skin.
• Consequently, the relationship between the production rate and the drawdown isn't linear.
• We dispose on different models, and more particularly the two back pressure equations.
These models are generic, and can be adapted to each case of well by estimating their 2
parameters (a and b, or C and n) with help from well test analysis.
• The model used by default is the second back pressure equation, which is more often the
most representative of the actual behaviour of the gas well. In this model, n is the factor of
turbulence : when it is close to 0.5, the flow is very turbulent. When it is close to 1, the
turbulences are very low.

29
INFLOW PERFORMANCE RELATIONSHIP
Pwf
(psi)
case of gas wells
not linear – mainly due to
Pr turbulence

0 q
AOFP (Mscf/day)
IPR curve (gas well)
• In a case of a gas well, the IPR is a curve. Mainly two models can be used to represent the
behaviour of the gas flowing in the reservoir : the 2 back pressure equations.

• The parameters of these models can be determined with help from isochronal well test
results. The most adequate model is the one which is the closest to the measurements.

• The default model is the second back pressure equation. In this equation, n is all the more
close to 0.5 that the flow is turbulent.