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An easy-to-understand method of analyzing the performance of existing waterfloods is presented and its is demonstrated with examples from West Texas and other areas. Example projects having both favorable and poor performance are shown. The recommended technique requires a detailed description of reservoir properties such as net thickness, porosity, oil and gas saturation, and compilation of individual wells' production and injection history. Graphic displays are used to define efficiency of individual flood elements.

A basic decision faced by all oil field investors, since reserves are continually being depleted through production, is to either add reserves through drilling, enhancement and/or acquisition, or go out of business. The data available on finding costs indicate that it has usually been cheaper to buy rather than drill for reserves in recent years. This comparison may be distorted since the true finding cost is not known until the discovery is fully developed, which usually takes years. However, it is obvious from the data that the current decision is normally to buy, not drill.

Electric Submersible Pumping Systems are being specified more frequently as the means of artificial lift for both new and existing wells. With this increased use, many operators may not understand the proper selection, installation, operation, maintenance and troubleshooting related to the Electric Submersible Pumping System. This understanding is important in assuring a successful Submersible Pump operation.

In recent years, the use of foam has proven to be successful in drilling underpressured formations where conventional drilling fluids have been unsatisfactory. On the E. 0. Reed Well No. I-A, foam was successfully used by Getty to drill and complete an underpressured formation at a depth of over 22,000 ft. This presentation includes a discussion on the background of the E. 0. Reed I-A and how foam was selected as a drilling fluid.

Failure control is a critical path to optimizing operations in today's petroleum industry. Failure control in its simplest form is failure analysis with the goal of achieving corrective action. Accurate records and meaningful reports are a key part of any failure control program This paper is the third in a series involving the data gathering and processing system used by Atlantic Richfield to optimize production operations and discusses the new PC system version. Application is demonstrated by identifying some rod pumping problems, suggested solutions, and results.

A full-scale, transparent, laboratory, instrumented sucker-rod pump has been constructed to aid in designing a downhole, instrumented pump. The laboratory pump has demonstrated that key to the understanding of sucker-rod pumping is compression-chamber pressure. Laboratory data will be used to demonstrate real-time analysis techniques that will be used with the downhole, instrumented pump to differentiate between a gas-locked or a pumped-off well using compression-chamber pressure.

The oilfield has long been known for doing things "the way we have always done it". This approach can change dramatically using new technologies and analysis methods. New technologies and analysis methods can be used to determine what is wrong with an artificial lift system; the operator no longer need to assume and take action based on a faulty assumption. Fluid level data is acquired throughout the patch, only proper analysis and use of the data allows the operator to exploit the well to its fullest potential.

A common error in utilizing gas lift as a means of artificial lift is the failure to properly analyze the completed installation. This, of course, has resulted in low efficiencies, and poor operations. Quite often the operator finds that excessive gas is being used or that production is low on a particular lease. However, it may be that a complete analysis of required injection gas has never been made. A common tendency for the field operator is to increase injection gas rates in an attempt to move more oil from the well. This may actually result in decreased production.

This paper presents results from a study to analyze the performance and failures of the sucker rod/sinkerbar string used in beam-pumping operations through metallography, structural finite element analysis, and detailed failure data collection. Metallography has demonstrated that the microstructure of the steel bar stock needs to be considered to improve the fatigue resistance of the sucker rod strings.

This presentation discusses the major types of packaged vapor recovery techniques and their application. The bulk of the paper is concerned with methods of analyzing the economics for installation of each method.

In recent years, a mathematical technique has been developed to analyze pumping-well performance using a digital computer to determine load-displacement conditions at the downhole pump and at intermediate depths in the rod string. Subsurface dynagraphs generated by the computer program are used to evaluate: pump intake pressures; gas interference or fluid pound; mechanical malfunctions in the pump, packer or tubing anchor; stresses at junction points in tapered rod strings; to name a few applications.

Methods for analyzing gas well performance are presented. Inflow, outflow, and tubing performance curves are defined and examples of each are given. The concept of "fIowpoint" and its importance is explained. How these gas well surveillance tools can be used to evaluate compressor installations and tubing size changes are covered. The determination of an accurate reservoir abandonment pressure is also discussed.

This paper addresses the widespread need of oil field operators to continually verity that wells are being produced as close to their optimum capacity as possible, and in the most cost-effective manner. The analysis is to be made based on data obtained at the surface without entering the wellbore and must yield an accurate representation of conditions that exist within the wellbore, at the bottom of the well, at the sandface and within the reservoir.

Analyzing well performance is an important step toward increasing profits by improving production techniques. Generally the analysis is made by field observations and examination of well data. The acoustic liquid level instrument offers valuable supplemental information since downhole pressures can be determined from the depth to liquid measurement.

Three significant conditions existed in the oil industry in 2000. First we had the best oil prices we had seen in years, second we didn't know how long they were going to last and third many of the major oil companies were investing in overseas growth opportunities leaving less capital for domestic projects. Aggressive operators, with the ability to respond quickly, wanted to take advantage of the high oil prices by increasing production (make hay while the sun shines). Discerning operators wanted to hedge their spending on projects that would payout before the price fell back.

A review of the many types of gas anchors and their principles should be of interest to those who are concerned with pumping oil wells. The fact that free gas reduces pumping efficiency was discovered early on. An obviously better way to produce most such wells was to flow the gas up the casing annulus and pump only the liquids (oil and water). Some down-hole equipment arrangements were found to be better than others. As a result, many operators began investigating ways to improve pumping. A U.S. patent for a gas anchor was issued in 1881 to Crowley.

We will look at the advantages of the vee-wire sand screen, which is a well known as well as popular in the filtration industry. It is easily adapted for down-hole rod pumps. We will look at it use on the Pump itself as well as it's use on the tubing. In rod pumps it is used in replacement of the gas anchor, which can reduce sand failures by eliminating the heavier frac sand from our production tubing. The Vee-wire screen can be manufactured in different lengths, sizes and slot sizes.

A new type of anti-biofoulant corrosion inhibitor (ABF) has been developed that lays down a unique, smooth film that resists the adhesion of sessile bacteria and iron sulfide, thereby reducing the formation of biomass that initiates under deposit corrosion cells. This inhibitor, formulated with special surfactancy, can help penetrate existing biomass and lay down an inhibitor film. The ABF corrosion inhibitors coupled with a practical methodology can control corrosion due to sulfate reducing bacteria.

If gas and particulates (sand & iron-sulfide) are becoming a problem for your API Pump, consider the rugged Two- Stage Hollow Valve Rod Pump. Which is the most popular and successful pump ever produced. This pump has several benefits and can be designed for numerous pump configurations. This paper will give a basic understanding of the sequence of operation of the Two-Stage Hollow Valve Rod Pump and its application.

Presents latest API standard 11E. Explanation is given of ratings on structure as well as gear reducers. Design considerations and safety factors included in current designs are presented.

American Petroleum Institute (API) proposed Recommended Practices (RP)' present standards of performance to be used in testing of floating equipment that is used in oil and gas well completions. Extensive laboratory testing has been done following API proposed procedures. Testing at levels beyond API standards have also been accomplished. A paper has been prepared to present data resulting from API tests conducted. Procedures used and test results gained from testing at more stringent standards are also presented.

The successful application of threaded and coupled rods (i.e. sucker rods, drive strings, etc) to provide power to lift downhole fluids is critically dependent on using proper makeup procedures. This is applicable whether the pump is a reciprocating, positive displacement, subsurface pump or a rotary driven, progressing cavity pump.

This paper discusses the techniques used to size available submersible pumping equipment to pump in a variable speed, constant head mode. Effects of variable speed, constant head operation on the pump and motor are described with their relation to optimum system performance. Energy-usage calculations for a conventional, constant-speed submersible pump and a variable-speed, constant-head submersible pump are compared. Finally, the economics of the variable speed submersible system are analyzed.

While not applicable to all existing well conditions and requirements, submersible pumps, properly selected and applied, offer a useful tool to the oil industry. Ultimate economic efficiency

A non-intrusive flow meter which directly measures mass has been commercially available for seven years. This meter, sometimes known as a Coriolis or gyroscopic flow meter, measures the force imparted to a vibrating tube by the mass of a fluid as it passes through the tube. This allows the measurement of mass flow without compensation for fluid properties. This paper will present the operating principles of this device and its applicability to the measurement of carbon dioxide, with methods and techniques for mass calibration.