Roller cone bits have long dominated the drilling in the Spraberry field of West Texas. Experience and/or drilling log information have indicated that the formation is typically drilled with an insert type roller cone bit. Conical type insert bits are usually chosen because of the durability of their cutting structure. Typical intervals are from the surface casing to 9000 ft. The formations are usually drilled with two to three insert bits. Conical type insert bits, IADC 527 and 537, are usually chosen because of the durability of their cutting structure in drilling interbedded shale and limestone. Development and applications of a new type of fixed cutter bit, which is able to drill very efficiently through interbedded formations, incorporates new cutter technology with enhanced drillability, durability, and reduced vibration. Trials show an increase in penetration rates compared to the best roller cone run in the field.

This paper will discuss how to choose a communications system for your Scada system, in depth discussion of different technologies and how to combine technologies myths and legends that surround communications systems, and how to tell the truth from the myth. What are the key critical success factors to installing a reliable Scada communication system?

Downhole gas separators are often the most inefficient part of a sucker rod pump system. This paper presents laboratory data on the performance of 5 different gas separator designs. Continuous flow and intermittent flow were studied. Field data is presented on one of the designs. The field data indicates that success or failure of the gas separator is dependent upon the fluids and wellbore pressures as well as the mechanical design of the gas separator. Successful and unsuccessful examples of gas separator performance in the field are shown along with field fluid data properties. Videos will be shown at the presentation of the continuous and intermittent flow of water and air through the transparent gas separators placed in transparent casing

It has been reported in the literature that the presence of soluble iron significantly increases the minimum inhibitor level for effective control of calcium carbonate and calcium sulfate scales. When confronted with developing a scale inhibitor for application in water containing 500 milligrams per liter soluble iron, the prospects of finding a scale inhibitor were daunting. Because the produced water was near saturation, compatibility of the scale inhibitor was of concern. Also, it was required that the scale inhibitor should be compatible with any corrosion inhibitor, biocide, coagulants, polyelectrolytes, scavengers, etc., which could be present in the system. Presented are the details of the laboratory investigation leading to the development of two scale inhibitors for calcium sulfate. Included are both the mechanical and chemical evaluations. Also, a case history successfully utilizing one of the inhibitors is discussed.

Many oil and gas producing reservoirs produce brine water, which is near or at saturation with respect to sodium chloride salt. During the process of producing these fluids, salt crystals form and grow to the point that a "salt block" is formed in the well and/or flowline. The mechanisms of this salt block formation vary, but most often it is due to one of two scenarios. (1) Temperature reduction of the fluids as they are transported from the reservoir to the surface. Such cooling decreases the capacity of the water to retain the salt in solution and thereby precipitation of the salt occurs. (2) In the case of gas production, the brine produced is striped of its water by the gas stream, concentrating the brine solution in the wellbore. This paper will describe laboratory testing, field application methods and case history results of the application of salt inhibiting treatments in several applications.

The cementing design process has been improved by utilizing up-to-date technology to predict actual down-hole conditions, allowing both the service company and the operator to manage fluid positions, critical circulating pressures and surface parameters while cementing under stringent conditions. This paper will explain how design data and Real Time Simulation can be utilized in making detailed predictions of many well parameters and make real-time adjustments during the operation to alter the outcome of the job. These tools can allow the operator and service provider to more accurately predict cement tops, change casing programs, control flow-back rates and pressures, monitor equivalent circulating density (ECD) on specific zones, or just prepare a better design for the next well in the field.

The Geared Centrifugal Pump (GCP) is a high volume artificial lift system consisting of a progressive cavity pump style rotating rod string driving a bottom intake ESP style multi-stage centrifugal pump via a downhole speed increasing transmission.

An operator was experiencing a fast decline in hydrocarbon production in one of their Clearfork Formation CO2 WAG flood patterns due to fracture communications between injectors and offset producers near Littlefield, Texas. In identified wells giving very poor sweep performance, injected Carbon Dioxide (CO2) freely communicated and broke through into offset producers. Following performing diagnostics to determine the extent and magnitude of the existing problem, designs and simulation analysis were developed on an identified well displaying a dominant fracture communication. A foamed Pozzolan slurry squeeze treatment was performed and monitored for purposes of drastically reducing if not completely eliminating the major injected flow entry in the well's open-hole interval and communicating via the reservoir to the offset producer. Elimination and or reduction in CO2 cycling through this eroded communicating fracture conduit has significantly benefited the sweep on hydrocarbon and improved the economics in this section of the WAG Unit.

More and more directional wells are being drilled to maximize hydrocarbon recovery and overcome environmental restriction. Today's state of art predictive software for rod pumping can be used to design and optimize rod pumping in deviated wells as well as vertical wells. Previously, traditional methods including wave equation techniques assume that the wellbore is vertical. Applying these methods to rod pumping in deviated wells will result in substantial errors and cause inappropriate design. The new technique considers a deviation survey for the 3-D borehole trajectory and rod/tubing drag in the predictive design method. The paper examines a real case for a severely deviated well by using the new software, showing best practices, sensitivity analysis and optimization.

Wells used for gas production can present many problems for ESP systems. Extended duration gas slugs can cause pumps to lose prime and cycle on and off. This paper deals with one lease holder's attempts to produce gas with an ESP system in place. New Dominion has wells with gas slugs lasting one to three minutes and longer. Working with a manufacturer, a solution was developed that (when properly sized) can balance the well and allow production of gas without constant system shutdowns. This paper examines two case histories involving inverted shrouds as long as 450". While producing as little as 900BWPD, output rose to 600MCFD of gas before leveling off at 400MCFD. This information will be beneficial to anyone wishing to use ESPs who is having problems with gas slugs in vertical or horizontal applications.

At the 50th Annual Southwestern Short Course in 2003, a paper was presented titled "New Design API Modified Sucker Rod Connection and Methods and Systems for Precise Sucker Rod Connection Makeup". This paper is an information update of continuing development and field applications of the four part api modified connection system in pcp and beam pumping wells. The paper also includes a study of in-plant single end coupling makeups on the three part standard api couplings employing the "precision coupling makeup system" where volumes of used inspected api number one class sucker rods of all sizes and grades were returned to field service. The study also contains an analysis of the mechanical and economical benefits of receiving the rods at the rig site with the couplings properly made up on one end and performing a single end makeup with the rod tongs at the workover rig, as opposed to the standard practice of the "floating coupling" or double end connection makeup.

The objective of this paper is to review applications of horizontal wells, discuss their successes and failures, and summarize the key parameters for economic success. Horizontal wells have been used in 1) thin payzones, 2) naturally fractured reservoirs, 3) formations with gas and/or water coning problems, 4) gas reservoirs and 5) EOR applications. Based upon field results, the paper summarizes the following key parameters for economic success: 1) fracture intensity and direction, 2) hydrocarbon payzone thickness, 3) well spacing, 4) areal anisotropy, 5) vertical permeability, 6) formation damage and post drilling clean-up, 7) necessity of multi-well prospect and, 8) geological control. This paper includes discussions on these parameters. Also, whenever possible, pertinent field histories are presented. Available field results indicate that the success rate of horizontal wells in reducing water coning is much higher than in reducing gas coning, especially in low permeability reservoirs.

The objective of this paper is to review applications of horizontal wells, discuss their successes and failures, and summarize the key parameters for economic success. Horizontal wells have been used in 1) thin payzones, 2) naturally fractured reservoirs, 3) formations with gas and/or water coning problems, 4) gas reservoirs and 5) EOR applications. Based upon field results, the paper summarizes the following key parameters for economic success: 1) fracture intensity and direction, 2) hydrocarbon payzone thickness, 3) well spacing, 4) areal anisotropy, 5) vertical permeability, 6) formation damage and post drilling clean-up, 7) necessity of multiwell prospect and, 8) geological control. This paper includes discussions on these parameters. Also, whenever possible, pertinent field histories are presented. Available field results indicate that the success rate of horizontal wells in reducing water coning is much higher than in reducing gas coning, especially in low permeability reservoirs.

Many treatises have been written on the subject of knowledge absorption although not under this specific title. Many of these treatises cover narrow as well as broad areas related to methods of teaching specific subject matter as evidenced by numerous articles which have appeared in the Journal of the American Society for Engineering Education as well as in other publications. Most of these publications have dealt with methods of presenting subject matter and have neglected to some extent the final result of the efforts of the instructor, that is the amount of knowledge imparted by the instructor and absorbed by the audience. Generally speaking, it is axiomatic that excellent teaching should lead to a high rate of knowledge absorption. However, there is one factor often beyond the control of the instructor; namely, the desire on the part of the individual to acquire knowledge which will be beneficial to him in furthering his professional accomplishments.

Losses while drilling is the one of the severe challenges faced by the well construction team. The area for improvement lies in a better understanding of how different products solve losses and which should be used under what condition. A fracture test device was built to study the effectiveness of different lost circulation materials such as gunk, calcium carbonate, graphite and mica. The variables investigated were the fracture size, lost circulation material type, concentration and size. In addition to the conventional lost circulation materials, different chemical systems were tested. Effect of oil based and water based drilling fluid was also investigated in this study. Results from the detailed investigation of the effectiveness of different materials to solve loss circulation challenge is discussed and presented in this paper. Based on the results, mechanisms by which different products solve losses and procedures to implement the solution are presented. The work can help in identifying the attributes of the lost circulation and applying the most appropriate solution.

Pump slippage is an important part of the operation of a rod pumped well. A number of companies along with Texas Tech University have been conducting research on pump slippage in order to better understand the factors that effect slippage and derive a new slippage formula. This research was performed using the Red Raider # 1, a 4006" test well operated by Texas Tech. This presentation will be an update on what has been learned so far during the slippage test.

Smart plunger technology allows producers to receive fast and reliable down hole pressure and temperature information from a plunger equipped with an internal pressure and temperature gauge. The smart plunger is dropped down hole like any other plunger. Normal cyclical operation of the well returns the plunger to surface without the use of wireline, rig, and crew. When the plunger is retrieved at surface, the pressure vs. time data is downloaded to the operator's laptop or PC for display to operators and engineers. The smart plunger is capable of logging normal rise and fall plunger runs, shut in build up tests; as well as, stationary down hole flowing applications. The smart plunger can be utilized as a plunger lift optimization tool. Knowing exactly how long it takes a plunger to hit fluid and bottom, allows operators to decrease fall times and increase sales times. The smart plunger can be used as a surveillance tool. If an operator suspects they have a hole in the tubing, they can simply drop the smart plunger. The smart plunger sampling pressure and temperature every second will log the dramatic temperature change in the tubing, confirming a whole in the tubing.

The historical parameters, which have been used to calculate the sinker bar weight for artificially lifted rod-pumped wells, have been based on what is called the z-factor. This factor was derived using the physical dimensions of the lapped area of the sealing surface of the seat in the traveling valve of a rod-drawn pump. This paper describes testing which was done recently at EVI Oil Tools, Trico Industries, Inc. location, at San Marcos, Texas in the Hydraulic Test Lab.

The economical exploitation of domestic oil and gas reserves has become more and more difficult to achieve as the quantity and quality of available reservoirs has declined. Under these marginal conditions, the implementation of optimum completion practices will make the difference between economic success and failure. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the role of laboratory testing in optimizing completion practices. The laboratory tests that are useful in optimizing completion practices include reservoir description, drilling fluid, cement, perforating fluid and kill fluid compatibility tests as well as acidizing and fracturing fluid interaction tests. All of the above are discussed as well as recent research efforts in the area of matrix and fracture acidizing, which are aimed at determining parameters such as mass transfer and diffusion coefficients, which are commonly estimated. In the area of hydraulic fracturing, recent findings and research efforts in the area of rheology, proppant transport, leakoff and conductivity of proppants are discussed. Large scale laboratory equipment is shown that simulates downhole conditions for each phase of testing. The work emphasizes the need to use laboratory testing to provide answers that can be implemented in field operations to immediately improve completion design and thus optimize production. Finally, the concept of consortia to leverage research dollars to achieve workable answers to difficult completion problems is addressed.

Typically, channels or streaks of high permeability develop after a period of time in CO2 injection programs. To help prevent injected CO and water from bypassing Recoverable oil polymer is injected which alters permeability to permit injected CO2 and water to contact previously bypassed oil-bearing formation. With the development of the laboratory apparatus described in this paper, significant improvements have been made in analyzing and designing polymer injection strategies to improve conformance control. The apparatus consists of a parallel series of cores of varying permeability to simulate variations in formation permeability. These cores are subjected to sequential injection of CO2 and water, followed by polymer injection. Effects of polymer injection on formation permeability are then evaluated. Results of studies conducted using this laboratory apparatus have led to findings regarding: 1. Selection of a nonionic organic crosslinked polyacrylamide polymer which is stable in the low pH environment of supercritical CO2. 2. Determination of an optimum treatment size to preferentially alter permeability to improve conformance control. 3. Long term effects of the CO2 environment on stability of injected polymer.

The economically successful exploitation of oil and gas resources has become more and more difficult to achieve as the quality of the reservoirs available for exploration have declined. In the last decade much of the activity on-shore in the lower 48 states has concentrated on previously by-passed lower quality reservoirs and in intensive in-field drilling programs in mature fields. Tertiary recovery projects have been emphasized but typically do not compete with well conceived primary production projects. Under these marginal economic conditions, the implementation of optimum completion practices will often make the difference between economic success and failure. The purpose of this paper is first to relate several well histories to demonstrate some important observations about the influence of completion parameters on well productivity. Secondly, it will demonstrate the role of laboratory studies in optimizing completion practices. Finally, it will emphasize the need to fully understand the necessity of using laboratory tests, and ensuring that the tests employed can provide field implementable answers and not just laboratory data from routine tests.

The economically successful exploitation of oil and gas resources has become more and more difficult to achieve as the quality of the reservoirs available for exploration have declined. In the last decade much of the activity on-shore in the lower 48 states has concentrated on previously by-passed lower quality reservoirs and in intensive in-field drilling programs in mature fields. Tertiary recovery projects have been emphasized but typically do not compete with well conceived primary production projects. Under these marginal economic conditions, the implementation of optimum completion practices will often make the difference between economic success and failure. The purpose of this paper is first to relate several well histories to demonstrate some important observations about the influence of completion parameters on well productivity. Secondly, it will demonstrate the role of laboratory studies in optimizing completion practices. Finally, it will emphasize the need to fully understand the necessity of using laboratory tests, and ensuring that the tests employed can provide field implementable answers and not just laboratory data from routine tests.

This paper reviews the features and laboratory tests for a unique downhole gas-solids-liquid separator that has been designed. The objective of this project was to develop a gas separator that would perform efficiently at high fluid flow rates and could be also used in combination with a solids separator. The device attaches to the inlet of progressing cavity and beam pumps. With electrical submersible pumps a shroud is used. Scale-model tests were used to evaluate the design at high fluid flow rates.

A discussion of the LACT, as viewed by the pipeliner is presented. Requirements of measurement, tolerance of performance and general examination of this new facility is included.

The drop in oil prices has required everyone to reevaluate their operations to reduce operating costs and improve profit. One potential way to maximize a lease's profit is to ensure that a LACT Unit is properly built, maintained, operated, and proved. ARC0 Oil and Gas Company (AOGC) recently revised their LACT Unit Design and Operation Standards to address these issues. This paper briefly discusses several sections of those new standards which have a significant impact on measurement quality.