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The use of polymer additives to obtain lower friction pressures in tubular goods has long been an accepted practice which has focused attention on friction-pressure drop as a major factor in job design," Pressure limits set by pipe strength, as well as economic limits on horsepower, often determine the maximum obtainable rate. This rate may not be sufficient to give the most efficient stimulation treatment.

Efficient removal of liquids from gas wells is accompanied by a system using gas lift valves and a subsurface liquid diverter. The mechanics of the system make it adaptable for use in high ratio oil wells. Case histories are used to illustrate the effectiveness of the system in several areas and well types. Surface and subsurface pressure records are used to explain the operation of the system and its components. Application limits of the system and design criteria are described.

A San Andres Task Force Group was initiated by Halliburton Services in January 1972, with the primary objective being to improve production stimulation results for the San Andres formation of the Permian Basin. A scientific approach was envisioned to combine lithology with engineering, laboratory and field date to determine the best type of treatment for San Andres wells. This study was divided into three parts. Phase I of this project was an organizational and data-gathering phase. Phase II was primarily a data and sample analysis phase.

With the advent of large volume frac treatments, interest has increased in obtaining in situ rock properties for use in well-treatment design. Also studies have been made relating acoustic properties of formations to lithology." When techniques are being applied for these purposes using well logs, the presence of gas is observed to distort the usual relation between compressive and shear velocity for the particular lithology.

This presentation discusses the utilization of the digital computer for load-flow analysis and optimization in computer-owned electrical distribution systems. Discussed are: A) Program Utility, B) Program Construction, C) Input Format, D) Output Format, E) Interpretation, F) Options.

This paper focuses on such energy alternatives as fossil fuels, municipal and agricultural wastes, solar energy, and nuclear energy. It also describes recent choices of alternative energy resources selected by Southwestern for close examination.

Applying horizontal well technology to improve oil recovery in reservoirs undergoing active water flooding continues to evolve with improving success. Development of remaining unswept oil reserves with horizontal wells as a method to improve conformance is a significant challenge. Evaluating and optimizing well performance to achieve economic results in a waterflood setting is a critical step in maximizing the success of a horizontal well project.

Since the day of its inception, artificial lifting of crude oil has confronted producers with many and varied problems. In the early days of oil production a special type sucker, or wooden branch, fitted with iron connections, was used in pumping operations. Many shallow water wells use similar equipment even today. Failures in this type of sucker rod invariably resulted from rotting, swelling, unscrewing of connections and splitting in the bradded areas.

Placement of plugging agents or stimulation fluids by mechanical means is usually unsuccessful. Fractures, erosion, behind-pipe communication delimit in-hole packers. Diverters often seal the formation face but permit unwanted vertical fluid movement. Temperature and R/A techniques provide "after the fact" data. Plugging and squeeze operations often damage the zone, requiring recompletion of the well. This paper presents the adaption of an otherwise obsolete injection profiling technique that allows continuous monitoring and control of fluid placement resulting in a properly conditioned well.

Log-derived determination of residual oil saturation (ROS) for enhanced oil recovery projects requires accurate and reliable techniques. Therefore, special considerations have to be given to both the logging operation and associated interpretation methods. Since the statistical uncertainty limits of conventional open - and cased - hole logging techniques are not sufficient for reliable ROS values, a key parameter in the evaluation of EOR candidates, several log-inject-log (LIL) techniques based on multiple repeat logging runs are available to provide more reliable ROS values.

Formidable technical and operational problems arise in the course of drilling, testing, and producing wells which contain appreciable amounts of hydrogen sulfide. Though not the worst of such problems, wireline operations are certainly rendered more difficult and dangerous. Logging equipment is designed to perform properly in the high temperatures and pressures found in oil and gas wells. The presence of hydrogen sulfide has thrust forward a new hostile environment problem.

Mineral scale formation is a problem for oil and gas operators that can result in deterioration of assets, increased lifting costs and lost production. Scale which forms in or at the perforations can only be prevented by placing scale inhibitor in the producing formation via some type of reservoir displacement technique commonly referred to as a squeeze. Operators desire inhibition that will last as long as possible and minimize the production interruption for treatment.

Loss of drilling fluid to the formation is one of the most costly problems that drillers face during well construction. Common methods used in the past involved incorporating materials in the fluid or in pills to bridge permeable or fractured formations and create filter cake over these bridges. Current technology enables a comprehensive approach that complements these methods but emphasizes other aspects of the drilling operation.

The Lovington San Andres Pool is located in central Lea County, New Mexico, approximately 10 miles northwest of the city of Hobbs. The 2400-acre pool was discovered by the completion of Skelly Oil Co.

Data gathering and alarm systems have historically been priced out of reach of the small oil producer. This paper deals with systems affordable to the independent operator. It explains specifications offered by suppliers and requirements needed to operate different applications. It also touches on different types of software and when it should be incorporated into the system.

Cementing production casing in partially depleted reservoirs is a common problem in the Permian Basin. The industry is continually looking for alternative slurry designs to lower annular pressures during cementing while maintaining the material properties needed for stimulation and zonal isolation. In order to be viable, the resulting technology must decrease density while preserving compressive strength, fluid loss and free water properties of the cement. Cement slurries using foam or hollow spheres are capable of meeting these requirements.

Two West Texas pumping gas wells were equipped with belt drive high efficiency C-25-30-54 pumping units, small diameter fiberglass sucker rods, and small diameter downhole pumps set at 3300 feet. These installations where originally powered by 1hp 460 volt electric motors to determine the exact power requirements. Two sources of alternative electrical energy are being tested, one is solar and the other is a thermocouple system burning well head gas. The experience gained will provide technology to go to deeper depths and larger volumes.

Beam pumping systems are now operated in high speed and corrosive environments due to the ever increasing demand to produce oil in a faster and more efficient manner. Customer feedback indicates failures due to over, under, and loss of displacement. There has been significant amount of issues raised regarding the displacement values, the choice of lubricant used, and other critical factors affecting the displacement values. This paper describes the testing of various thread lubricants for Sucker rod/Coupling make up.

The Levelland and Slaughter fields combined have produced over 1.6 billion bbls from 6000 wells and currently produce 6% of the oil in Texas. Most of the field is under water and CO2 flood operations. This paper investigates reservoir and petrophysical characteristics of various areas in the Levelland Slaughter field in order to assess relation to performance of secondary and tertiary recovery. The benefits would be to use this relationship to identify depositional environment/facies and relate them to flood performance.

This is a 1-hour presentation to meet the 1 hr. ethics requirement for re-certification for Professional Engineers as required by the state of Texas Board of Professional Engineers. The course covers several aspects of ethics pertaining to the engineering profession and directs the attendee to additional sources of ethics information. Basic guidelines suggested by the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) and the Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers (SPEE) will be presented along with case histories.

The primary object of this paper is to stress the importance in obtaining, through proper maintenance programming, the proper engine operation, performance, and reliability. For these operational problems to be seen one must have a thorough understanding of multicylinder engines. The two basic categories that should be emphasized to insure trouble-free performance with a minimum of down time are operational procedure and engine components maintenance.

The purpose of this paper is to provoke a discussion with field operating personnel in the hope of providing constructive instruction relative to low speed gas engine operation. An internal combustion engine is composed of several complete systems, all of which contribute to the engine's operation. Breaking down these systems into general headings will simplify the discussion and present field problems which you, as an operator, control.

When it becomes necessary to put an oil well on the pump, the operator is usually faced with an investment of many thousands of dollars in some means of artificial lift. By far the most successful and the most generally accepted type of artificial lift is the beam type pumping unit. Many years of research and testing have gone into the design and development of the modern pumping unit. Advancements in metallurgy and the most up-to-date machine tools go into its manufacture.

Codes and standards as promulgated by the various agencies governing oil and gas production equipment have changed so dramatically since 1934 that most manufacturing companies and production companies have little or no idea what is required. These changes started with the advent of OSHA as passed into law in 1970. This paper will address the changes that have occurred since the advent of OSHA to the present day as pertaining to pressure vessels.

Tubing make-up involves the joining of two threaded joints of tubing to form a leak tight structural connection. This activity is recognized as being an important part of the effort required to produce hydrocarbons. This paper seeks to identify factors that can affect the success of the make-up process. Having identified these factors, a brief review of their impact on connection make-up is presented. With this understanding, an effective running procedure can be developed.