Prod. Handling

Multiphase flow behavior in surface production flowlines significantly affects separator performance, flow assurance, and overall production stability. Among the intermittent flow regimes commonly encountered in oil and gas production systems, slug flow is particularly challenging because of large pressure oscillations, liquid holdup, and unstable operating conditions in surface facilities...

Multiphase flow meters (MPFMs) are transforming well surveillance by enabling continuous, real-time measurement of oil, water, and gas flow without the need for large test separators. This work reviews the physics and field performance of dominant MPFM's, particularly the Venturi differential-pressure and dual-energy gamma densitometry combination, and compares their validated operating envelopes...

This study investigates the feasibility of repurposing produced water as an electrochemically active medium for energy recovery, reframing it as a resource rather than a waste product. An electrochemical “mud battery” system was developed using a semi-solid mixture of produced water and clay-rich soil. The clay matrix provides structural stability while maintaining ionic conductivity, enabling...

For decades, VRUs have been deployed as compliance equipment and treated as commodity hardware – sized on rough estimates, lightly engineered, and minimally monitored. The results have been predictable: inconsistent runtime, chronic loading instability, ever-increasing maintenance costs, and a long-standing belief that VRUs simply “don’t work.” This paper examines why that legacy persists and...

Leveraging advancements in material science, a comprehensive pilot study of the effectiveness of vibrational-energy tools to inhibit asphaltene and paraffin was conducted involving over 40 wells throughout the Permian Basin, encompassing both conventional and unconventional reservoirs. This technical paper provides an in-depth analysis of the tool, which operates on the interaction of specially...

Electrical Resistance (ER) probes offer a continuous, high-resolution method for measuring corrosion rates in oilfield systems. This study demonstrates how ER data can be used to establish baseline corrosion, evaluate corrosion inhibitor performance, and guide product selection under varying produced-water and multiphase conditions. Results show that ER data can quickly distinguish between...

Objectives/Scope: Fracture-driven interactions (FDIs), commonly known as frac hits, are becoming an increasing concern as hydraulic fracturing operations intensify in mature basins. These interactions can introduce foreign solids, crosslinked gels, and formation fines into existing wellbores, significantly impairing well productivity. Traditional mechanical clean-outs, while effective, are costly...

Production operations have traditionally relied on routine well checks and daily to weekly trips to verify well performance and status. While this ensures coverage, it consumes significant field time, fuel, and labor on wells that are already performing as expected. With the vision to transition from a schedule-based to exception-based well management and with the goal to empower operators to...

There has been a recent shift in the Permian across unconventional frac targets in the Delaware Basin stacked play, shifting to shallower formations. As a result, Avalon targets are becoming more common. When comparing key scale risk drivers such as brine compositions, mol% CO2 and H2S of the Avalon formation to more traditional targets such as the Wolfcamp and 2nd & 3rd Bone Springs, not only...

As wells decline and available acreage for new wells lessens in the Permian Basin, it becomes increasingly important that operators capitalize on existing wells and maximize reserves. Scaling is a known issue in the basin, and this paper will address a likely solution. Acid treatments have proven to be effective across different levels, and when diverter is additionally pumped, the effectiveness...