Prediction

of well head shut-in pressure

on oil well
(Engineering Method)

Wang Wenqi
EMAIL: wangwenqi@cnlc.cn

Well Testing Company, CNLC

July, 2012

2007 well testing training, Beijing, China

 INTRODUCE MYSELF
• Senior Well Testing Engineer.
• Graduated from Huadong Petroleum Institute in
1982, major: petroleum drilling engineering.
• Worked in
Bohai Oil, CNOOC for 5 years,
Shengli Oilfield, Petrochem for 10 years,
Have been working in CNLC for 16 years.

2007 well testing training, Beijing, China

 content
• Preface
• Estimate the bottom hole pressure
• Calculate the max. well head shut-in pressure

2007 well testing training, Beijing, China

preface

Purposes of prediction
• Base of designing a well test
• Base of choosing well testing equipment:
 Xmas tree or test tree,
 Choke manifold,
 Pipework,
 BOP & lubricator for wireline/slickline job
• Reference of equipment pressure test
• Reference of well site operation

It is very significantive for either client or service

company.
2007 well testing training, Beijing, China
preface

Scope of application
• oil wells
Notice
Only oil with no gas.
If some gas produces with gas the wellhead
pressure will be higher than only oil.

2007 well testing training, Beijing, China

preface

prediction steps

• Estimate the bottom hole pressure

• Calculate the max. well head shut-in pressure

2007 well testing training, Beijing, China

 Estimate the bottom hole pressure

Formation pressure can be obtained or calculated by means of

• Wireline formation test data:
FMT(Formation Multi-tester ） , B. A.
RFT(Repeat Formation Tester ） , Sch.
SFT(Selective Formation Tester ） , SFTT(Selective Formation Test Tool ） ,
Hal.
• Actual weight of drilling fluid
• Designed weight of drilling fluid if the well has not drilled or
completed
• Actually measured data in adjacent well, block or region
• Estimated data in seismic interpretation such as trap height

2007 well testing training, Beijing, China

 Calculate formation pressure
by weight of drilling fluid

Formula:
pw=1.4223·ρ·Lm + 14.7 (1)
Where
pw= estimated bottom hole pressure, psia
ρ=mud weight (S.G.)
Lm=mid depth of reservoir, m

2007 well testing training, Beijing, China

 Calculate the max. well head shut-in pressure

pt=pw—1.4223ρoLm (2)

Where
pt= max. well head shut-in pressure, psia
pw= estimated bottom hole pressure, psia
ρo =oil specific gravity. water=1
ρo =141.5/(131.5+˚API)
Lm=mid depth of reservoir, m

2007 well testing training, Beijing, China

 Thank you

2007 well testing training, Beijing, China