Production optimization

by using Nodal Analysis

Sohail Nawab
Lecturer
Institute of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Mehran UET, Jamshoro
[email protected]
Introduction

 First node system was developed and implemented on electrical discipline.

 Similarly, Gilbert followed that approach for Oil and Gas production
optimization.

 Any production well is drilled and completed to move the oil or gas from its
original location in the reservoir to the stock tank or sales line.
 Movement or transport of these fluids requires energy to overcome friction
losses occur in the system and to lift the products to the surface.
 The fluids must travel through the reservoir and the piping system and
ultimately flow into a separator for gas-liquid separation.
 The production system can be relatively simple or can include many
components in which energy or pressure losses occur.
Introduction; Well Productivity

 The productivity of the well depends on an efficient use of the

compressional energy available in the reservoir and reservoir fluids.
 The design of the production system must efficiently utilize this energy.
 Introduction; Nodal Analysis

IPR ?  The performance of a well cannot be analyzed separately from the

OPR? reservoir or from the surface facilities because any change in the flow
conditions of one of these components may change the behavior of the
well.
 Therefore, the entire production system must be analyzed as a unit using
nodal analysis.
 Therefore, emphasis in nodal analysis as a tool for the total system analysis is
made.
POSSIBLE PRESSURE LOSSES IN A
PRODUCTION SYSTEM
 Location of various nodes
1A

3 2
1

1B
4
NODE LOCATION
1 SEPARATOR
2 SURFACE CHOKE
3 WELLHEAD
4 SAFETY VALVE
5 RESTRICTION
6 Pwf
7 Pwfs
5 8 Pr
1A GAS SALES
1B STOCK TANK

6 7 8

For example: a diagram of a complex production system, which illustrates a number of

the components in which pressure losses occur, is shown in Fig.
 POSSIBLE PRESSURE LOSSES IN A PRODUCTION SYSTEM
p8= Pwh-Psep Detail
gas
p6= Pds-Psep
Pwh-Pds = p5

Pwh Pds
Flowline Separator
Psep
Surface choke
Tank
Pdv

Safety valve
p4= Puv-Pdv Puv p1=Pr-Pwfs Loss in porous medium
p2=Pwfs-Pwf Loss across the completion
p3=Pur-Pdr ” ” restriction
Well p4=Puv-Pdv ” ” safety valve
Restriction Pdr p5=Pwh-Pds ” ” choke
p6=Pds-Psep ” in flow line
Pur p7=Pwf-Pwh Total loss in tubing
p3= Pur-Pdr
p8=Pwh-Psep Total loss in flowline

Reservoir Pwf Pwfs Pr Pe

p1=Pr-Pwfs
Pwfs-Pwf = p2
NODAL ANALYSIS CONCEPT
Q Q
INFLOW NODE OUTFLOW

Pu Pn Pd
UPSTREAM DOWNSTREAM
COMPONENTS COMPONENTS

ΔPu ΔPd

ΔP = f (Q)

Pnode = Pu – ΔPupstream components = f1(Q)

Pnode = Pd + ΔPdownstream components = f2(Q)

Graphical solution of the problem

Outflow from node

NODE PRESSURE, Pnode

NODE PRESSURE

Inflow to node

SYSTEM FLOW CAPACITY

FLOW RATE, Q
Nodal analysis application in a simple
production system (NODE SELECTED AT THE WELLHEAD)
ΔP flowline

Horizontal Gas
Pwh Flowline
NODE
Psep Separator

Tank

Inflow to node:
ΔPtubing Pr – ΔPres – ΔPtubing = Pwh
Vertical or inclined tubing

Outflow from node:

Psep + ΔPflowline = Pwh
Pr, k, IPR

Flow through porous media

ΔPres
 Effect of the flowline size (NODE SELECTED AT THE
WELLHEAD)

d1 OR d1

d2 ?
WELLHEAD PRESSURE, Pwh d 2 > d1

OUTFLOW

INFLOW

FLOWRATE, Q
Nodal analysis application in a simple
production system (NODE SELECTED AT THE BOTTOMHOLE)
ΔP flowline

Horizontal Gas
Pwh Flowline

Psep Separator

Tank

Inflow to node:
Pr – ΔPres = Pwf
ΔPtubing
Vertical or inclined tubing
Outflow from node:
Psep + ΔPflowline +
ΔPtubing = Pwf

Pr, k, IPR

Pwf Flow through porous media

NODE
ΔPres
 Effect of the tubing size (NODE SELECTED AT THE
BOTTOMHOLE)

Pr d1

BOTTOMHOLE FLOWING PRESSURE, Pwf

d1 OR
d2 ? d2>d1

INFLOW
IPR

OUTFLOW

0
0
FLOWRATE, Q
Finding optimum tubing size

FLOW RATE, Q

UNSTABLE REGION

DIAMETER FOR
MAXIMUM FLOW RATE

TUBING DIAMETER, d
The Tubing performance curve (TPC) is used with the inflow
performance relationship to predict the performance of a
specific well.
Reservoir needs ?

 ON board.
 Stimulation or
 Artificial lift or Injection pressure is less ?
SIMULTANEOUS EFFECT OF MINIMIZING FLOW RESTRICTIONS
IN THE RESERVOIR AND IN THE PIPING SYSTEM
(NODE AT THE BOTOMHOLE)

d1
Pr EXPLAIN?

BOTTOMOLE FLOWING PRESSURE, Pwf

2*
WELL WITHOUT SKIN EFFECT
d2>d1
1

WELL WITH
SKIN EFFECT

2**

0
0 PRODUCTION INCREASE

FLOW RATE, Q
Effect of perforating density on inflow

N = NUMBER OF PERFORATIONS PER FOOT

BOTTOMHOLE FLOWING PRESSURE, Pwf

Pr
INFLOW
OUTFLOW
N3>N2

N1

N1>N2

0
0
FLOWRATE, Q
Effect of perforating density on flow rate

FLOWRATE, Q

NUMBER OF PERFORATIONS PER FOOT, N

Effect of different Artifical Lift systems
NODAL ANALYSIS APPLICATIONS
 Selecting tubing size.
 Selecting Flowline size.
 Gravel pack design.
 Surface choke sizing.
 Analyzing an existing system for abnormal
 Flow restrictions (production impediments).
 Artificial lift system design.
 Well stimulation evaluation.
 Analyzing effects of perforating density.
 Predicting the effect of depletion on production capacity.
 Allocating injection gas among gas lift wells.
 Analyzing a multiwell producing system.
Suggested procedure for nodal analysis
application

1. Determine which components in the system can be changed.

2. Select one component to be optimized.
3. Select the node location.
4. Develop expressions for the inflow and outflow.
5. Obtain required data to calculate the pressure drop versus flow rate fall
components.
6. Determine the effect of changing the characteristics of the selected
component by plotting inflow versus outflow and reading the intersection.
7. Repeat the procedure for each component that is to be optimized.
Task:
Red line shows bubble point pressure
IPR IS GIVEN (Purple Line)
AND various OPR curves WITH VARYING TUBING SIZES

B
Comments ??
C
Which OPR is
best A / B / C / D
?
D
 Example 1:

History case nodal analysis focused on

artificial lift
GAS LIFT

BOTTOMHOLE FLOWING PRESSURE, Pwf

Pr

ELECTRICAL SUBMERSIBLE
1 PUMP (ESP)

BUBBLE PRESSURE
Pb

Pwf ESP FAILED DUE TO

2
EXCESSIVE GAS RATE
Pwf<<<<Pb
0
0 PRODUCTION
INCREASE
FLOW RATE, Q
 Example 1: CONTINUED

History case nodal analysis focused on

artificial lift
GAS LIFT

BOTTOMHOLE FLOWING PRESSURE, Pwf

Pr
IPR IMPROVED BY
REPERFORATION +
STIMULATION JOB
ELECTRICAL SUBMERSIBLE
1 PUMP (ESP)

3 ZERO GAS IN
THE PUMP
Pwf > Pb
BUBBLE PRESSURE
Pb
WELL WITH A
VERY STRONG
SKIN EFFECT 2

0
0 PRODUCTION INCREASE

FLOW RATE, Q
 Example 2:

History case nodal analysis focused on

inflow reservoir performance

BEAM PUMPING

BOTTOMHOLE FLOWING PRESSURE, Pwf

Pr

VERY SMALL INCREASE

IN PRODUCTION WAS ACHIEVED

0
0
FLOW RATE, Q
 Example 2:CONTINUED

History case nodal analysis focused on

inflow reservoir performance

BEAM PUMPING

BOTTOMHOLE FLOWING PRESSURE, Pwf

Pr
2 WELL STIMULATED WITH
STEAM SOAK
1

VERY SMALL INCREASE

IN PRODUCTION WAS ACHIEVED

0
0
FLOW RATE, Q
 Example 2: CONTINUED

History case nodal analysis focused on

inflow reservoir performance

BEAM PUMPING

BOTTOMHOLE FLOWING PRESSURE, Pwf

Pr

1
ELECTRICAL SUBMERSIBLE
PUMP (ESP)

0 1000 BPD
0 PRODUCTION INCREASE

FLOW RATE, Q
Well restricted by piping system and
near wellbore skin effect

BOTTOM HOLE FLOWING PRESSURE, Pwf

Pr

2 OUTFLOW

1
4

INFLOW
3

0
0
FLOW RATE, Q
A change made in any component in the system would affect the
producing capacity of the total system, Some of the changes that
could be considered are:

 Working over on individual wells

 Placing some wells on artificial lift
 Add new wells
 Shutting in some of the existing wells
 Changes in producing characteristics with time
 Effect of surface line sizes
 Installation of pumps or compressors
 Effect of the final outlet pressure
Analyzing multiwell systems (Inlet Manifold)

Pwf1

PA System
Q1 Capacity
Well 1
A B
QA=Q1+Q2+Q3

Well 2

Pwf2

Q2 Well 3
Pwf3

Q3