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loss occurs.
Packer
Reservoir
How Wells Flow
Fundamental Rules
THP AHP
Rule 1
• Fluid flows in direction of reducing pressure
– If Pbh < Pres fluid will flow from the reservoir > well
• Pressure difference between reservoir > well
THP AHP
Pbh Pres
How Wells Flow
Pressure – Depth Diagram
Pressure In reality:
THP AHP The reservoir pressure dictates
SITHP
the shut-in THP
Pbh = Pres
Pbh Pres
How Wells Flow
Pressure – Depth Diagram
Pressure
THP AHP If we open the tubing flow control valve:
SITHP
…and if the pressure in the flowline /
vessel downstream < SITHP.
• Since fluid flows in the direction of
reducing pressure
D • Well fluids will flow into the
e flowline
p
t
h If we assume the pressure difference between the
wellhead and the bottom hole is constant
• Pbh will fall
Pbh = Pres
Pbh Pres
How Wells Flow
Pressure – Depth Diagram
Pressure
THP AHP
SITHP Once the well starts to flow the pressure
difference between the wellhead and the
bottom hole will not be constant.
It changes due to:
• Fluid friction ( a function of rate)
D
e
p
t • Free gas fraction (a
h function of pressure / temp)
Pbh Pres
Pbh Pres
How Wells Flow
Quantifying Well Flow Performance
For a given:
• Fluid composition
• FTHP
• Tubing geometry
Depth
We can predict the FBHP at a number
Q1 2 3 of production rates Q1, 2 and 3.
Pressure
Q1
Rate
How Wells Flow
Quantifying Well Flow Performance
Impact of
Reducing FTHP
Decrease THP by opening
PRes choke or reducing Psep
FBHP
Rate
How Wells Flow
Quantifying Well Flow Performance
Tubing Size
Changes
If the tubing size is increased
for the same:
• Range of production rates
Depth • Fluid types
• FTHP
Q1 2 3 We can predict a different set of
Pressure FBHP’s
Q1
5 1/2” tubing
P Res
FBHP
IPR
Q (3 1/2”) Q (5 1/2”)
Rate
How Wells Flow
Quantifying Well Flow Performance
Impact of stimulation to
reduce skin
P Res TPC
Improved IPR
(SKIN = 0)
FBHP
Rate
Summary
Nodal Analysis Basic Concepts
• Wells flow in the direction of reducing pressure Q = P x PI
– Critical to understand reservoir and well pressure gradients
– Affected by rate, pressure and temperature
– Well flow performance is depicted on inflow / out flow plots
1. Mach, Joe, Proano, Eduardo, and Brown, Kermit E.: "A Nodal Approach
for Applying Systems Analysis to the Flowing and Artificial Lift Oil or Gas
Well," paper SPE 8025, 1979.