NODAL SYSTEM ANALYSIS

Subject : Production Engineering-1

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 WHY NODAL ANALYSIS?

The deliverability or production through the well can be restricted due

to the performance of only one component in the system.

If the effect of each component on the total system performance can be

isolated, the system performance can be optimized in most economical
way.

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(Source: Nodal analysis , Weatherford) 2
 WHAT IS NODAL ANALYSIS?
The method for analyzing the well which will allow determination of
producing capacity of any combination of components.

Nodal analysis can be used for following,

a) To determine location of excessive flow resistance.
b) To determine location of excessive pressure drop.
c) To determine the effect of changing any component on the total
well performance.

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(Source: Nodal analysis , Weatherford) 3
 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.

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(Source: Nodal analysis , Weatherford) 4
 PROCEDURE FOR NODAL ANALYSIS
Q Q
INFLOW NODE OUTFLOW

Pu UPSTREAM Pn DOWNSTREAM Pd
COMPONENTS COMPONENTS

ΔPu ΔPd

ΔP = f (Q)

Pnode = Pu – ΔPupstream components (1) = f1(Q)

Pnode = Pd + ΔPdownstream components (2) = f 2(Q)

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(Source: Nodal analysis , Weatherford) 5
 SELECTION OF NODE

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(Source: Nodal analysis , Weatherford) 6
 PRESSURE Vs FLOW RATE PLOT

(2) Outflow from node

PRESSURE, P

NODE PRESSURE

(1) Inflow to node

SYSTEM FLOW CAPACITY

FLOW RATE, Q

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(Source: Nodal analysis , Weatherford) 7
 ANALYSIS FOR WELLHEAD NODE

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(Source: Nodal analysis , Weatherford) 8
 EFFECT OF FLOWLINE SIZE

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 ANNALYSIS FOR BOTTOMHOLE NODE

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(Source: Nodal analysis , Weatherford) 10
 EFFECT OF TUBING SIZE

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(Source: Nodal analysis , Weatherford)
 SELECTING OPTIMUM TUBING SIZE

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(Source: Nodal analysis , Weatherford) 12
 EFFECT OF STIMULATION AND MINIMIZING
THE FLOW RESTRICTIONS IN TUBING

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(Source: Nodal analysis , Weatherford) 13
 GAS LIFT WELL PERFORMANCE

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(Source: Nodal analysis , Weatherford) 14
 EFFECT OF PERFORATING DENSITY ON INFLOW

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(Source: Nodal analysis , Weatherford) 15
EFFECT OF PERFORATING DENSITY ON FLOW RATE

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(Source: Nodal analysis , Weatherford) 16
 SUMMARY OF PROCEDURE
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 Inflow and Outflow.
5. Obtain required data to calculate the pressure drop vs. flow rate fall components.
6. Determine the effect of changing the characteristics of the selected component
by plotting inflow vs. outflow and reading the intersection.
7. Repeat the procedure for each component that is to be optimized.

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(Source: Nodal analysis , Weatherford) 17
 EXCERCISE

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(Source: Nodal analysis , Weatherford) 18
 SOLUTION
Q ∆P1 ∆P2 (for 2 inch dia) ∆P (for 3 inch dia)

2500 19.54733 74.21875 9.773662551

3000 28.14815 106.875 14.07407407

3500 38.31276 145.46875 19.1563786

5000 78.1893 296.875 39.09465021

5500 94.60905 359.21875 47.30452675

6000 112.5926 427.5 56.2962963

Inflow Outflow (for 2 inch dia) Outflow (for 3 inch dia)

180.4527 134.21875 69.77366255
171.8519 166.875 74.07407407
161.6872 205.46875 79.1563786
121.8107 356.875 99.09465021
105.3909 419.21875 107.3045267
87.40741 487.5 116.2962963

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 GRAPHICAL SOLUTION
600

500

400
Pressure, P

300
Inflow
Outflow (for 2 Inch Dia)
200
Outflow (for 3 inch Dia)

100

0
000 500 000 500 000 500 000 500 000 500
2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6
Flow Rate, Q
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 CONCLUSIONS DRIVEN
• Change in pressure loss in upstream will not affect the outflow curve
(vice-versa)
• Change in constant pressures at either side, will shift the respective
curve location.

(b) Need of artificial lift, both

the curves are shifting in
(a) No need of Artificial lift undesired direction
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• Best condition: inflow curve shifts upper side and outflow curve
shifts lower side.

(1) Changed tubing size (2) Changed flowline size

19/12/2024 (Source: H. Dale Beggs ,Production optimization using NODAL analysis) 22

• If too much pressure drop occurs in one component or module, there
may be insufficient pressure drop remaining for efficient performance
of the other modules.
• (a) If excellent reservoir inflow, but poor completion design.
• (b) If excellent completion design but poor inflow performance.

(a)
(b)
(Source: H. Dale Beggs ,Production optimization using NODAL analysis)
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EXAMPLE ILLUSTRATING THE EFFECT OF CHOKE

 The following well is to be equipped with surface choke operating at critical flow. Determine well
operating conditions for following:
1. No choke
2. Choke at wellhead
3. Choke at separator
Well depth=7000 ft Flowline length=3000 ft
Tubing size=1.995 in. Flowline size=2 in.
Pr(avg)=2500 psia GLR=500 scf/STB
fw=0 Psep=120 psig
C=0.0023 STB/day*psia n=0.85

(Source: H. Dale Beggs ,Production optimization using NODAL analysis)

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 FOR INFLOW

From Gilbert’s plots for a given well

condition find the THP.

(Source: H. Dale Beggs ,Production optimization using NODAL analysis)

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 TABLE FOR INFLOW
Q, STB/day Pwf, psia Pwh, psig
400 2188 560
600 1973 430
800 1716 280
1000 1397 100

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 GILBERT’S PLOT FOR THP DETERMINATION

560 2188

7000

(Source: Heriot watt Pro Tech-I)

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CRITICAL FLOW THROUGH CHOKE

Puptream = 2*Pdownstream

(Source: Heriot watt Pro Tech-I)

 OUTFLOW EQUATIONS
NO CHOKE:
Pwh = Psep + DEL(Pflowline)

CHOKE AT WELLHEAD:
Pwh = 2*(Psep + DEL(Pflowline))

CHOKE AT SEPARATOR:
Pwh = (2*Psep) + DEL(Pflowline)

Puptream = 2*Pdownstream (FOR CRITICAL FLOW)

(Source: H. Dale Beggs ,Production optimization using NODAL analysis)
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 SOLUTION
5000
3000
2000

500

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 TABLE FOR OUTFLOW
Q, STB/day NO choke (Pwf, psig) Wellhead (Pwf, psig) Separator (Pwf, psig)

400 180 360 270

600 215 430 300
800 280 560 350
1000 340 680 400

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 800

700

600

500 (730,340)
(595,435)
Pwh, psig

400 Inflow

No choke

Wellhead
300
Separator

200

(800,275)
100

0
300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100

Q, STB/day
 THANK YOU

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