Download Papers

Wells are produced via rod/pump with generally an oil to water ratio of less than 1:4 being experienced. Under these conditions, it is generally accepted that a "water wet

In drilling applications the two most common drive mechanisms are rotary and the positive displacement motor (PDM), each of these having been employed for over a century. The theory behind PDM's is to increase the amount of mechanical power at the bit using the drilling fluid to generate power. This has proven to be a very efficient means of drilling.There is another drive mechanism that is commonly disregarded, the turbodrill. Turbodrills operate on the same principle as PDM"s, by using the drilling fluid to generate power to drive the bit.

Ignition systems for initiating in situ combustion are reviewed with emphasis on electrical ignition and gas flame ignition. Related surface and down-hole equipment are discussed in detail, as well as the mechanical completion features of ignition wells. Typical ignition operations are discussed and techniques for detecting ignition are presented.

Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), working in close cooperation with several other companies, is developing and testing a remote, automatic, intelligent ESP system for Oman's challenging operations. This progress report describes the system concepts, expected benefits, and current status. PDO operates nearly 600 ESPs; this number is continuously growing. Many are located in very remote areas; many produce from sandy formations; many produce significant amounts of gas; most use fixed speed drives.

A pipeline efficiency value of 90% is routinely used as a "rule of thumb" to estimate the production costs associated with gas-gathering systems. The 90% efficiency is appropriate for the development of new gas fields. However, conditions in mature or developing gas fields can dramatically reduce pipeline efficiency and gas-gathering system capacity. These conditions are often overlooked until a significant reduction in daily production has occurred.

The example is from a subsea infrastructure that was experiencing flow assurance challenges due to both hydrate and paraffin formation. The condensate had a paraffin content of 14.5 wt%. Paraffin control chemicals were being deployed with limited success. This paper gives a detailed description of the flow assurance root cause failure analysis in a Gulf of Mexico production system that was experiencing severe hydrate and paraffin failure. Details are given on the experimental work performed to develop new products, as well as results of the field applications.

The Tertiary Oil Recovery Project (TORP) at the University of Kansas has been in existence since 1974. The Project is state supported and was established to conduct research on enhanced recovery processes which are applicable in Kansas and the Mid-Continent area. TORP has been investigating gelled polymer technology, which was developed to improve sweep efficiency in waterflooding and other displacement processes. The technology has been tested in several field pilot projects in the State.

Currently downhole cards can be computed from surface cards by solving the one dimensional damped wave equation with finite differences and an iteration on the damping factor or dual iteration on the damping factors. The one dimensional damped wave equation only takes into consideration friction of a viscous nature and ignores any type of mechanical friction. However, when dealing with a deviated or horizontal well, the mechanical friction in between the rods, couplings and tubing is no longer negligible.

It is the purpose of this paper to (1) present a partial list of the types of data required and indicate their sources and applications and (2) to impress all personnel concerned with obtaining data that their work is extremely valuable since most calculations made by engineers and many decisions made by management are based on the reliability of their work.

Presents pumping unit geometrical and torque factors and how they are affected by direction of unit rotation. Permissible load calculations and diagrams are shown confirming conclusions.

Is the proper orientation of an orifice plate with a bevel important? The importance depends upon whether gas is being bought or sold. Volumetric gas rates were measured at two meter tube pressure levels using orifice plate bore sizes from l/2- through 1-l/4-inch in two 3-inch commercial meter tubes in series. The orifice plates were tested in the correct orientation with the sharp edge upstream and then reversed with the bevel upstream. The differences in the calculated gas rates for proper and improper orifice plate orientation are significant.

Through the drilling industry's efforts to drill faster and deeper has come the application of three types of mechanical separators for processing drilling muds-the fine-screen shaker, hydrocyclone separator and the decanting centrifuge. These mechanical separators are necessary in today's drilling to maintain both low and high-weight drilling muds economically. With proper application, installation and operation, these machines can help reduce overall drilling costs by improving penetration rate and reducing mud treating costs.

Proper consideration of all pertinent factors when designing a pump station, especially pump suction requirements, pays big dividends throughout the life of the project. Savings will be realized through increased pump efficiency and reduction of maintenance expense. This paper deals primarily with suction head requirements, suction and discharge piping and pulsation dampeners and is aimed particularly at reciprocating pumps; however, most of the engineering principles and practices described should be observed in the design of any pump installation.

A new and patented technology has recently been introduced to the petroleum industry that reduces the lifting cost per barrel of fluid by containing the abrasive particles that damage the rod pump. This technology is a stainless steel membrane (screen), with specifically tailored micron openings. The membrane is engineered specifically to the pump manufacturers tolerance between the plunger and barrel under operators field conditions. A durable down hole pump protector can now provide more pumping days between workover cycles.

A computerized system has been developed for acquisition, processing and analysis of acoustic data used to determine the distance to the liquid level in the casing annulus of a well. The system utilizes a gun-micro hone assembly such as has been used in the past. However, the analog signals from the microphone are digitized by a high speed analog to digital converter and stored in a lap-top computer, allowing much greater versatility in signal processing and analysis.

A computerized system has been developed for acquisition, processing and analysis of acoustic data used to determine the distance to the liquid level in the casing annulus of a well. The system utilizes a gun-microphone assembly such as has been used in the past. However, the analog signals from the microphone are digitized by a high speed analog to digital converter and stored in a lap-top computer, allowing much greater versatility in signal processing and analysis.

A new acoustic instrument has been developed for measuring the distance to the liquid level in the casing annulus of a well. The instrument features modem analog/digital technology to acquire and record acoustic reflections on a strip chart. The dual channel instrument accents the liquid level on a low frequency channel. Collars are accented and recorded on a second channel using automatic gain control to ease the counting of the number of tubing collars from the surface to the liquid level.

Cement bonding to the formation and subsequent isolation of productive intervals from non-productive intervals are essential to achieve the optimum results in stimulation and production of oil and gas. This paper describes a number of factors which cause poor bonding to pipe and formation and which can contribute to poor zone isolation and therefore ineffective stimulation treatments. A cementing system is described which combines the advantages of expansive properties with the other desirable properties of conventional cementing systems.

Poor bond logs and high water production have plagued a certain development field. Introduction of a unique expansive admix has brought a dramatic switch from failure to success in this trouble area. This has resulted in good bond logs, reduced water production, and is expected to decrease future problems with casing corrosion. All components necessary for chemical expansion are included in the admix to make it more versatile than standard chemical expansion additives. Field results will be used to document the positive results achieved in this development field.

Two of the major factors affecting cement slurry performance are the concentration of additives and their distribution throughout the dry cement blend. Consisto-meter thickening time tests on one or two batches of the cement are used to monitor the cement blends. Studies conducted have proven that these tests do not necessarily reflect the uniformity or the correct concentration of additives in the blend. To improve the quality of the bulk blending of cement, researchers developed on-site methods to verify the additive concentrations of each batch blended for uniformity and accuracy.

This work focuses on the testing of foamed cements which resulted in the determination of the relationship between compressive strength and acoustic impedance for foamed cements. Tests conducted on API standard cubes of varying composition and density indicated a significantly different trend for foamed cement as compared to standard cement slurries. Measurements of acoustic impedance and compressive strength led to the development of an improved algorithm for predicting compressive strength in foamed cements using PET logs.

The increasing emphasis on enhanced oil recovery is producing the need for improved methods of monitoring and controlling the injection process. The economics of injection materials, personnel and equipment reinforce the requirement for efficient management of injection systems. The application of existing technology in combination with improved hardware and new developments provides the basis for a viable injection control system. The ability to meet the stringent requirements of field control is due in a large part to developments outside the oil industry.

This paper will discuss how higher surface equipment efficiencies and higher overall pumping efficiencies are obtained from this slow, long stroke pumping unit. This unique pumping unit extends the limits of sucker rod pumping to volumes and depths previously not possible with traditional sucker rod pumping.

The theoretical efficiencies of slow, long pump strokes have been discussed for over 40 years, and at least ten companies have attempted to market some form of slow, long stroke pumping unit, being either mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, or a combination of these. These units have generally been unsuccessful due to rather complicated designs which often incorporated short life components or required considerably more maintenance than did beam type pumping units. Unique engineering and simplicity are the reasons for the success of this 100% mechanical slow, long stroke pumping unit.

Hundreds of wells have been tested using power measurement equipment, dynamometers and acoustic liquid level instruments. Many of these wells were operating at less than 30% efficiency. Often, the main cause of inefficient operations is an inefficient downhole gas separator. Inefficient gas separators can be identified by obtaining an acoustic liquid level test which indicates a high gaseous liquid column above the pump and the analysis of dynamometer data which indicates incomplete pump fillage.