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Correlations

This document discusses how to calculate pressure losses during natural flow through tubing by integrating the performance of the formation, wellbore, and choke. There are seven key variables that affect pressure losses in a flowing well. Pressure loss curves have been published that show pressure profiles for different flow rates. The objective is to predict performance under various conditions to optimize design. This is done by starting with the initial production rate curve, subtracting vertical pressure losses to get tubing head pressure, and then integrating with choke performance to determine achievable flow rates.

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Tsani Sabila
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27 views17 pages

Correlations

This document discusses how to calculate pressure losses during natural flow through tubing by integrating the performance of the formation, wellbore, and choke. There are seven key variables that affect pressure losses in a flowing well. Pressure loss curves have been published that show pressure profiles for different flow rates. The objective is to predict performance under various conditions to optimize design. This is done by starting with the initial production rate curve, subtracting vertical pressure losses to get tubing head pressure, and then integrating with choke performance to determine achievable flow rates.

Uploaded by

Tsani Sabila
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Correlations

• necessary to be able to calculate the pressure


drop which exists between the bottom hole
and the surface during natural flow.
• These correlations take into account the seven
important variables that affect the pressure
losses of a flowing well. These variables are
tubing size, flow rate, fluid viscosity, fluid
density, gas-liquid ratio (GLR), water-oil ratio
(WOR), and, finally, the effect of slippage.
• Investigators have analyzed the effect of each
of the above variables on the vertical pressure
profile of a well.
• In addition, a number of pressure gradient or
pressure traverse curves, have been published
for use in the field.
• These curves show depth on the vertical axis
and pressure along the horizontal axis.
• Since a separate curve is needed for each set
or well and flowing conditions, there are a
large number of published curves.
• Our objective in calculating pressure losses
during natural flow through tubing is to
predict the performance of our production
system under various equipment and
operating conditions and thereby develop an
optimal design.
We start with IPR curve
• Using the value of the bottomhole flowing
pressure at a specific production rate, we
subtract the vertical pressure loss obtained
from vertical profile curves or computer
programs for that production rate.
• Subtracting the vertical pressure loss from the
bottomhole flowing pressure at that flow rate
gives the value for the tubing head pressure at
that rate.
• The appropriate value of tubing head
pressure, referred to as ptf, is now plotted on
the graph as shown.
• Another flow rate is then assumed, the
calculation repeated, and a second tubing
head pressure is determined.
• The difference vertically between the IPR and
the tubing head pressure curve is the pressure
loss in the tubing at each production rate.
• We shall refer to this as the THP curve.
Surface Control
• Wellhead choke - provides control at the
surface.
• The choke or bean is used to ensure that the
flow from the well is reasonably steady.
• The size of the orifice is usually chosen so that
variations in wellhead pressure do not affect
the pressure of separators, lines and other
surface equipment.
• To ensure that downstream pressure
variations are not transmitted to the upstream
side of the choke the flow through the orifice
must attain critical flow velocity.
• In practice we have found that this critical flow
velocity is achieved under most circumstances
when the upstream or the tubing head
pressure is at least double the downstream or
flow-line pressure.
• During the critical flow of fluids
through an orifice, the tubing
head pressure is a linear or
almost linear function of the
liquid-flow rate.
• This means that if we plot the
tubing head pressure (Ptf) on the
vertical axis and the flow rate (q)
corresponding to critical flow on
the horizontal axis, the choke
performance plots as a straight
line.
• This is limited by the fact that as
the tubing head pressure
approaches the downstream line
pressure the flow rate goes to
zero through the origin.
Integrating the IPR, THP and Choke Performance

• To determine flow conditions for the well on


the downstream side of the choke, we must
integrate the performance of the three
components of the flowing well system: the
formation, the vertical wellbore, and the
choke itself.
• To do this we begin with the IPR curve, then
add first the THP curve as we did earlier and
finally the choke performance line.
• The intersection of the THP and choke lines
gives the production rate attainable from the
well under these flow conditions.
• With a larger choke size the flow rate will be
higher, but the tubing head pressure at the
higher rate will be lower.
• We may say that the flow rate is controlled by
the choke size.

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