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BP Permian's Sprabeny production consists of 400 rod pumped wells located primarily in Midland, Martin, and Glasscock Counties. Of these, the Spraberry Core Production Area located in Glasscock County includes 80 wells, which have been producing for 30+ years. Development of the Wildfire Production Area in Midland and Martin Counties began in 1996. Wells in both areas are typically completed to about 9500" through the Sprabeny, Dean, and Wolfcamp formations. Pump depths fluctuate from 7600" to 9700" through the field.

Paraffin wax treatment in the Spraberry has been around since development began in the 50"s. Hot oiling and hot water have been the method of choice for many years. Chemical treatment and a combination of chemical with hot oil or water have also been alternate methods. The purpose of this paper is not to determine the best method or methods, but to attempt to define and extend the frequency of the treatment necessary to control the paraffin wax. Current treating schedules are 30, 45, 60 and 90 day.

Proper design of high-volume pumping systems is essential in waterflood operations. An analysis of all the problems hampering efficient sucker rod pumping systems is necessary to arrive at the best design. Techniques of sucker rod selection, unit selection utilizing dynamometer analysis, permissible load diagrams, etc., will be discussed with a correlation of all components composing the complete high-volume sucker rod system

Intermittent gas lift is a cyclic operation where the wellbore fluids are produced in individual piston-type slugs. A design technique was developed for practical application in a South American oil field to produce fast depleting solution gas reservoirs. The design principle is based on controlled valve loading and is not affected by tubing size, thereby eliminating diminishing valve spacing with increased valve depth. An advantage of this type design is that it eliminates the possibility of not being able to work to bottom valve because of improper design.

The importance of properly diverting stimulation treatments was recognized as early as the 1930"s. However, each new technique or material developed has carried with it limitations in applicability. It has become evident that a universally effective diverting agent is unlikely. This paper will deal almost exclusively with recent Shell Oil Company experience in the use of "solid" diverting agents in the fracture treatments. The popularity of these materials is a measure of their effectiveness.

A basic approach to the correct installation, operation and maintenance of orifice meters as used in oil and gas production. Orifice plate sizing will be demonstrated.

This paper discusses detailed aspects of organization of and operating agreements for cooperative salt water disposal systems.

The subject matter of this paper will describe organoborate fluid systems in combination with guar specific enzyme breakers. Their application, and how they were used to improve production in the Grayburg-Jackson field of SE New Mexico. Furthermore, the paper will discuss the completion objectives in the Grayburg-Jackson field as they relate to stimulation treatments and explain how wells were normalized for the purpose of this study.

Understanding of the near wellbore stress distribution is critical to implement effective fracturing strategies. Reservoir quality variations, mixed lithologies with plastic behavior will alter the near wellbore stress distribution reducing the compressive stress of the rock. Thus, constant stress gradients (0.1 psi/ft.) are misleading and rock mechanical properties measurements may prove to be of extreme importance. This work discusses the development of criteria for orienting perforating/fracturing strategies.

There is an ever-increasing use of variable speed drives in submersible pump applications. However with all new applications new problems can be encountered. The long cable lengths associated with submersible pump equipment have limited the effectiveness of variable speed drives. Many drives have to use external filters, inductors and conditioners to keep from damaging the cable and motor. The extra costs associated with this equipment, as well as the custom use, limit the overall effectiveness.

Beam pumping systems are the most commonly applied world wide artificial lift method. This paper reviews many of the concerns that operators face when using the sucker rod pumping system. The beam pump concerns are introduced with a review of the advantages/disadvantages of the system.

The Dynapump is a means of artificial lift that has been gaining recognition in West Texas and Eastern New Mexico over the past two years. The Dynapump is a hydraulic, ultra long stroke pumping unit that has heavy lift capabilities. The use of solid-state electronics and computerization lower energy costs while giving new flexibility to the artificial lift process. The pumping cycle is optimized through consistent feedback of surface and down hole conditions.

Plunger lifts are used widely to remove liquids from gas wells. The Pacemaker plunger is a new approach to this traditional method of artificial lift. Traditional plunger lifts require shut-in time for the plunger to fall and to build pressure to drive the plunger to surface. Shut-in time equates to lost production and forces liquids back into the formation. The Pacemaker normally only requires 5-10 seconds of shut-in time per cycle, and little or no pressure build-up time. The plunger operates as two interdependent pieces. Each fall separately and can do so against significant gas rates.

A study of the requirements for gathering, metering, compressing, processing and the marketing of products from liquid hydrocarbon recovery units is presented. Costs of installations and payout periods are discussed.

Since the cost of producing oil is continually increasing, oil operators have found themselves in a position of having to determine more economical production methods in order to make a profit. One of the first steps in this direction was the dual completion which enabled the operator to produce two zones, isolated from each other, through the same well bore, at the same time. Although the dual completion is not necessarily new, vast improvements have been made both in technique and equipment and a present day dual completion, producing through parallel strings of tubing is quite commonplace.

The discussion this afternoon will be on the methods of artificially lifting multiple completed wells. I"m the moderator, Medford McCoy, Continental Oil Company. Mr. Smith, assisted by My Gallian, will discuss the merits of rod pumping; Mr. Morgan, assisted by Mr. Elner, will discuss the merits of gas lift installations for producing multiple completed wells.

When permitted by State and/or Federal law regulations, the pipeline will receive crude oil on the basis of unattended custody transfer measurement so long as it is satisfied as to the accuracy of the measurement and the ability of the facility to sustain this accuracy. Facilities for unattended custody transfer measurement may consist of positive displacement meters, weir tanks or dump tanks.

Each member of the panel will be allowed ten minutes to express his opinions. The next forty minutes will be devoted to the members of the panel questioning each other and we will set a five minute time limit on each question and answer. The remainder of the time will be devoted to question from the floor.

Paraffin control is a major operating problem with practically all oil producing companies in the Mid-Continent Area. It is generally so in the Permian Basin and particularly so in certain pools or fields in this area. Fields particularly troublesome, from a paraffin control standpoint in this area, are Levelland, Slaughter, Vacuum, Foster, North Cowden, Spraberry Trend and many others.

The accumulation of paraffin in both pumping and flowing wells has been a major problem to the production of crude oil since the very beginning of the petroleum industry. During recent years much progress has been made in methods of removing paraffin from these wells, some of the methods noted are chemical solvents, hot oil treatment, steaming and etc. These methods usually involve wells shut down, lost time, extra labor, special equipment and much expense to the operator.

Recent technology has contributed many breakthroughs in the use of electromagnetic technology in the industrial, medical, automotive, and commercial marketplace. Among these applications are electromagnetic brakes and clutches, magnetic resonance in the medical field, flow meters, electromagnetic polarization, etc. Ener-Tee was formed in 1977, solely to develop the technology of applied electromagnetic polarization to liquids, gases, and solids (fluid stabilization). The first product, a Linear Kinetic Cell (LKC), was introduced in 1978 as an effective means of scale control in water systems.

This presentation deals with five aspects of paraffin in oil wells. The text discusses the chemistry of paraffin, the mechanism of paraffin deposition in oil wells, physical means of reducing paraffin deposits, paraffin control with chemical inhibitors, and common paraffin removal practices. Fundamentals are stressed so that preventive or removal methods may be more carefully engineered.

Forty crude oils having 10% or less paraffin content were examined for their potential to deposit paraffin. The deposition was then correlated against several crude oil characteristics. It was found that the paraffin cloud point and the paraffin content were the two most important factors which dictated deposition potential. Viscosity versus temperature plots allow estimation of both paraffin cloud point and paraffin content. Pour point was not a factor in dictating deposition.

Paraffin problems exist in the majority of petroleum producing areas. The chemistry of paraffin and methods of analysis are discussed. Asphaltenes are also described and differentiated from paraffin. Three types of chemical treatment for paraffin problems are compared: paraffin inhibitors, paraffin dispersants, and paraffin detergents. Each has advantages, and factors are given which would influence the choice of one method over the other. Recent developments and possible pitfalls in paraffin treatment are discussed.

A study was initiated to establish a uniform method of removing paraffin from wells completed in the San Andres formation in Hockley and Cochran Counties, Texas. Several methods of paraffin removal, including hot-oiling, batch treating with chemical, paraffin inhibitor squeezes, and batch treating with paraffin-eating bacteria, were evaluated and the results reported. Each year thousands of dollars are spent removing paraffin from tubing and flow lines in San Andres wells. The best methods for optimizing paraffin removal while minimizing lease expense will be discussed.