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Evolution of annular gas lift candidates and early results of application in the Delaware Basin. 

Because the flow regimes and drainage geometry of horizontal well are different from those of vertical wells, there is a need to develop a distinct analytical Productivity Index (PI) solution for horizontal well.  There have been several researches in the early 1990's  developing the solutions; however, each solution generates different PI values.  The degree of disparity depends on how...

The fault effects on the build-up pressure distribution of oil wells were investigated by using numerical and analytical approaches. The limitations and benefits of analytical and numerical solutions of the build-up test were listed in the research. The effects of reservoir boundaries on well responses by using analytical solutions were analyzed. Schlumberger software package “ECLIPSE” was used...

The study optimizes the effect of the non-ionic surfactant and slugs of low concentration HCl on the near fracture face matrix permeability of Eagle Ford and Marcellus shale by considering different scenarios for the fracturing treatment design. Constant rate flooding apparatus was used to measure the samples base permeability and the permeability after flooding with either slickwater fluid or...

This paper will present a methodology being applied which examines well heterogeneity, and designs the diversion strategy based on actual reservoir properties.  Estimations of minimum insitu stress at each cluster are combined with estimates of stress shadow effect both from previous stages and between treatment clusters, to determine at which pressure each cluster will accept fluid.  This data is...

The development of horizontal drilling combined with hydraulic fracturing has allowed operators to develop unconventional plays once considered uneconomical. As operators move toward drilling more complex sections in these plays, proper placement of a competent cement plug on the first attempt becomes increasingly challenging. The use of a bottom hole kickoff assembly (BHKA) minimizes risk and...

Decline Curves Analysis commonly ordinarily applied to evaluate the original hydrocarbon in place, hydrocarbon reserves, and forecasting future production performance. The Decline Curves Analysis development was presented by Johnson and Bollens in (1928) and later on (1945) which is called "loss-ratio". Many discussions of the mathematical relationship between the past time, production rate, and...

Decline Curves Analysis commonly ordinarily applied to evaluate the original hydrocarbon in place, hydrocarbon reserves, and forecasting future production performance. The Decline Curves Analysis development was presented by Johnson and Bollens in (1928) and later on (1945) which is called "loss-ratio". Many discussions of the mathematical relationship between the past time, production rate, and...

Contact angles between fluids are important in capillary tube measurements in oil industry.  Contact angle measurements are important to determine both surface and interfacial tension between solids and various fluids. In the oil industry, it is very important to have a water-wet condition on the rock face in order to extract oil. If the rock wettability is oil wet, the oil company will need to...

Paraffin mitigation has been the subject of many case studies involving various chemical blends, treatment frequencies and in some cases down hole tools. All with varying degrees of success, most leave the operator left managing the issue rather than mitigating it. Struggling to find an effective solution for wells in Upton county, Diamondback set out to find a solution beyond the typical...

Oilfield operations are like an intricate time piece, all gears must be moving in perfect synchronization in order for everything to run smooth and for the hands to keep moving.  But when a wrench gets thrown into the gears, how do you know where it came from.   When the flow stops there are a range of issues that can be the culprit such as bacteria, scale, paraffin/asphaltenes, and corrosion....

The Cold Finger Test is the primary test presently used by Chemical Vendors to select Paraffin Inhibitors to prevent paraffin deposition in producing gas and oil wells, gathering systems, treating facilities and pipelines. If a good Test procedure is used to erase the thermal history of  the crude sample to be used and it reproduces the system Temperatures in the area to be treated an effective...

High disposal costs and a limited availability of freshwater have led many industry players in the Permian Basin to reclaim produced water and use it in subsequent well fracturing. This reclamation process typically involves pumping produced water from numerous production batteries to a central location where it is placed in storage in large surface impoundments until such time that it is needed...

The presentation opens by highlighting the Industry’s responsibility for environmentally safe water disposal, then discusses the pros and cons of Vendor Owned / Managed versus Company Owned / Operated water systems. Design considerations for the holistic water management system are as follows:   •         System Capacity and Layout : Evaluate not only current needs, but future needs. Design for...

A new sulfur removal process utilizing traditional iron oxide in a very unique way.  The process produces a highly effective technology to completely remove H2S and eliminate acid gas disposal, liquid chemical management and other environmental challenges.

The process is based on a proprietary granular BrimsorbTM F. The granules are mixed with water to form a slurry that comes into contact with...

Chlorine dioxide has a wide variety of applications in the oilfield, including fracturing, water flood, salt water disposal wells and producing well stimulation.  It is uniquely suited to deal with the core problems of microbiological fouling, H2S, iron sulfide and oil/water emulsions.  The unique attributes of this oxidizing chemical mean that it will not react with hydrocarbons and most amines...

Located on 10 acres of land near the intersection of East Loop 289 and Fourth Street in Lubbock, the Bob L. Herd Department of Petroleum Engineering Oilfield Technology Center (OTC) is designed to serve as a research and teaching facility to give petroleum engineering students a hands-on experience in the design and operation of typical oilfield equipment. This paper will discuss the capabilities...

There are a large number of unconventional wells coming on line every month in the Permian Basin.  Most of these wells will have high bottom-hole pressures and initially flow on their own. However, after the initial flow back phase, pressures and rates decline and the well will begin to liquid load. At this point some type of artificial lift choice needs to be considered. This paper will lay out...

This paper will discuss the two API pump designations the rod pump and the tubing pump. The rod pump is occasionally referred to as an insert pump and has three variations; stationary barrel top anchor, stationary barrel bottom anchor, and traveling barrel bottom anchor. Available modifications that are not covered under API but are commonly used to improve run time or efficiency will be discussed...

Tubing leaks have historically accounted for nearly half of the failures in the Hess Bakken wells. The root cause of these leaks is coupling on tubing wear; the non-metallic guides wear out, which results in spray metal couplings contacting the production tubing. To address this problem, the company installed ToughMet® 3 TS95 sucker rod couplings in over 650 wells, reducing the failure rate in the...

Gas lift is becoming a popular form of artificial lift in the Permian Basin for long horizontal wells that make high gas rates. Unfortunately the decline curves on most horizontal wells are not ideal. As the rates and pressure quickly drop gas lift starts to become inefficient and we are forced to make artificial lift changes in order to preserve base production. Rod pumps have always been the end...

The most common form of artificial lift is sucker-rod pumping.  One of the main elements of rod lift system design is the selection of a downhole pump.  This study examines the various factors that affect the selection and design of downhole rod pumps. Downhole rod pumps are made up of five main components: barrel, plunger, balls and seats, seating assembly, and valve rod or pull tube....

Automation of rod pumping systems has been a part of the oil and gas industry for over 65 years.  Starting with time clocks in the 1950s, the invention of the pump-off controller in the 60s, and variable speed drives in the early 2000s, the amount of technology available to both control and analyze the system has increased and improved drastically. Several of the driving factors to automate...

Rod wear and corrosion have a complex relationship that is often misunderstood of oversimplified.  This paper provides a technical framework and provides empirical evidence of principles that clarify this complex relationship.  In particular, this paper will review stress levels and metal failure mechanisms that dispel many commonly held beliefs.  A better understanding of these principles will...

Downhole sucker rod pump clearance changes from shop conditions to bottom hole conditions due to bottomhole pressure and temperature that the pump components are subjected to. Presented here are equations to estimate the change in dimensions of the plunger and barrel of top and bottom hold down pumps at bottomhole pressure and temperature conditions. The approach uses one equation for cylinder...