Download Papers

In many applications, an important aspect of beam and sucker rod pumping operation and analysis has been generally unrecognized. This paper reviews and emphasizes not only this deficiency, but also the intrinsic value of several classes of dynamometer card shapes and slopes, to certain pumping unit geometries and applications. A basic understanding of the nature, character and shape of the polished rod dynagraph, and its relationship to the particular pumping unit geometry selected - coupled with the modern analytical techniques of S. G.

A number of pilot waterfloods in carbonate reservoirs have been studied. There is a wide variation in the performance of these pilot waterfloods.

Unlike many other commodities, however, crude oil, by its heterogeneous nature, presents some very unique problems in measurement. This is especially true in the oil-field close to the wellhead

Drilling Contracts have evolved over the years with turnkey contracts becoming more popular in the most recent downturn in the up and down rig utilization cycle. Most contract writer experience extends only to the 1970's early 1980's boom. Expectations of contracting parties are changed as are Operator-Contractor relations. Though some provisions are more important to one party then the other some are of universal concerns.

A new federal air quality rule governing midstream and upstream activity is in effect. The rule, also known by its more formal citation 40 CFR Part 60 Subpart OOOO, or

It is well known that a computer can help engineers to be more productive. Currently, there are multitudes of hardware and software available on the market. Communications capabilities now exist to provide a link between the well site and the computer. The paper focuses on the current availability of software and communications to provide access to large core programs from the well site, the benefit to the engineer of this expanded computer power, and some specific examples of the software.

Dr. Webb, in answer to his critics, has stated his intent to aid the people of this area in understanding and adjusting to the environment in which they live. Although they may not fully agree with Dr. Webb's description of their area, they must be prepared to recognize that water is a priceless and essential resource of seriously limited supply in much of West Texas. Recognition of this fact leads to the conclusion that West Texans must be prepared to utilize any available source of water for waterflood no matter how unfavorable it may be.

This paper presents a case study in developing a method for cleaning out wellbores of shallow, low pressure, low rate Southeast New Mexico Eumont gas wells. These wells have inherent problems that were addressed utilizing different approaches with some interesting results. The methodology is discussed along with the successes and failures.

Many factors are involved in successful completion of a well. It is well accepted that the best cement hob possible is of prime importance. For a good cement job, the contamination of the cement by the drilling fluid should be minimized so that the cement can develop its desired properties. In addition, the drilling fluid should be thoroughly displaced from the annulus so that a competent sheath of cement can form a bond to both the pipe and the formation.

Permeability reduction in the critical zone (one to three feet) surrounding the well bore will seriously reduce production of liquid or gas. The permeability reduction can be caused by such things as mud and cement contamination, migration of formation particles, and deposition of material from water or oil. The removal of the damage and the restoration of the permeability in this critical zone requires the use of special acids and additives. It is first necessary to determine the cause of permeability reduction.

In 1982 Texaco USA initiated a study of producing field automation in the Midland Producing Division. As a result of the study, all facets of one producing field were automated. Based on acquired knowledge from this project, Texaco's Midland Producing Division and our Houston Information Technology Department (In>) initiated the construction of a sucker rod pump-off controller based on available off-the-shelf remote terminal unit (RTU) components. This paper will explain some of the choices associated with the POC application and discuss future RTU applications.

Reservoir stimulation procedures that perform well for pressure depletion reservoirs are often inadequate for the effective modeling of water of gas injection operations. Special capabilities are required to handle the upward and downward transition through a bubble point that varies depending upon injection material and stage of depletion. Also, the ability to track the front or fronts requires additional features to prevent serious error. Tests showing the importance of these phenomena are included.

In this day of specialism it is only natural the oil well pump manufacturers should follow this normal trend by supplying pumps which are designed for specific application. Heretofore, the oil producer has been obliged to utilize available pump assemblies in an effort to combat unfavorable well conditions. In doing so the volumetric efficiency of the pumping system has been considerably lessened. Our discussion concerns two such pumps which are designed for specific applications, the Double Volume and the Two-Stage.

The double displacement type pump is of relatively recent vintage. It was primarily designed to provide an economical method of producing oil under certain conditions. As "slim hole" completions became more and more common, it became obvious that production requirements could not always be met with an insert or tubing pump. This was especially true in areas where water encroachment had become a problem, or a water flood program had become a problem, or a water flood program had been initiated.

Traces development of requirements for special tubular products for wells. Describes manufacture, heat treatment, testing and inspection of tubular goods for use in critical well services requiring high strength materials or involving corrosion, corrosion cracking or embrittlement in the presence of hydrogen sulfide. Discusses yield strength and hardness limits. Proposes specifications for special tubular products.

The Spectralog is a tool that measures radioactive formations. In the past, all radioactive kicks on a conventional gamma ray have been considered shale. With this new tool, we are able to determine that these radioactive kicks are not all truly shale but formations that are oil or gas bearing in certain areas. We are able to find additional hydrocarbons that conventional logs have missed. This paper will show many examples in which this has happened.

This study uses actual production data to determine the optimum characteristics of fracture treatments in the Spraberry Trend of West Texas. The details of 116 fracture treatments along with corresponding production decline curves are utilized. The paper uses production data to characterize treatments on the basis of fluid volumes, proppant volumes, fluid type, and injection rate. After isolation of the best fluid We * the treatments are then compared on perforated height, limited entry effects, proppant type and proppant concentration.

The Wickett Field in the Permian Basin, located 40 miles West of Odessa in Ward County, Texas, is a mature field where squeeze operations occur approximately once per week on each workover rig. Historically, squeeze designs and success ratios have been evaluated individually on a "job by job" basis; this has maintained squeeze cementing costs at a very high level for both the operator and the service company.

Production in the West Texas area is primarily from carbonate (dolomite and limestone) reservoirs. This environment presents a special set of conditions in the realm of squeeze cementing. Techniques have been modified in recognition of these features. As a result, a formerly poor squeeze record in the area has seen noticeable improvement. A major problem in this carbonate background is the existence of fracture network systems. These fractures occur naturally, are created inadvertently during drilling and completion, or result from well stimulation efforts.

For over twenty years the industry has been concerned with problems of gelation and suspension of solids in packer fluids. In recent years considerable attention has been given to corrosion aspects. This paper discusses types of water-base packer fluids used in the past and difficulties encountered. It presents laboratory data comparing suspension agents for oil muds and cites field examples of oil muds used successfully to suspend weighting material and to protect against corrosion. Corrosion protection when using clear liquids as packer fluids is also discussed.

Stable foam meets the need for a light weight, non-polluting, space-saving fluid with the lifting characteristics of a 50 sec viscosity mud. The foam weighs 0.5 lb/gal and has a pressure gradient of 0.026 psi/ft while in circulation. Stable foam has been used successfully in workovers in West Texas, New Mexico, the Rocky Mountains and the West Coast in some 500 wells with high success ratios and a substantial reduction in cost. The application is best suited to deepening, coring, drilling or foamout of obstructions such as sand bridges, scale, cement and junk.

Conventional three-stage separation is relatively simple. Mechanical low temperature separation can be expected to recover more condensate, but is inherently more complex and requires close supervision. This paper discusses economics and operating problems of these two methods of gas-condensate separation which have gained acceptance in West Texas.

When fracture stimulating a well, maximum wellhead pressure can be reached seconds after the high-pressure pumps are stopped following a rapid pressure increase during a "screenout" or other sudden flow stoppage. This maximum pressure is caused by a water-hammer effect. When this effect is ignored, maximum allowable wellhead and downhole pressures can be exceeded, even if pumping stops before reaching the maximum allowable pressure. This paper provides a method to calculate the water-hammer pressure.

Acid and sand fracture stimulations are critical to economic production rates in many wells, particularly in the Permian Basin. Production rates from one well to its offsets often vary. The difference in rates may be due to the heterogeneity in the reservoir or due to the design or execution of the stimulation. Conoco and BJ Services jointly implemented a system to standardize testing and reporting procedures for Conoco's Midland Division. The goal of this system is to simplify post job evaluations. ensure that well tiles contain complete information and to continuously improve job quality.

Automation of artificial lift systems is essential for effective management of deliquification for gas wells. There are at least fifteen forms of artificial lift in use for gas well deliquification. Often more than one method must be used in a given field because some methods are preferable earlier in a well's life and others are better later in a well's life. Production Operators must have effective tools for gas well operation, surveillance, problem detection, control, and optimization.