Pressure Drop in Horizontal Well

Short-radius L Type Well

Pump at 500 ft

Toe Heel
FBHP at Heel FBHP at Heel

30% Flow

40% Flow

30% Flow

Pressure Drop in Horizontal Well L=500 ft

Q (bpd)
100

Tubing (inch)
4.5 ID 4.5 ID 4.5 ID 4.5 ID

Flow
Laminar Laminar Laminar Transition

Pressure drop (psia)

0 0 0 0

200 400 800

1000
1500 2000 3000

4.5 ID
4.5 ID 4.5 ID 4.5 ID

Turbulent
Turbulent Turbulent Turbulent

1.50
4 7 18

Pressure Drop in Horizontal Well L=750 ft

Q (bpd)
100

Tubing (inch)
4.5 ID 4.5 ID 4.5 ID 4.5 ID

Flow
Laminar Laminar Laminar Transition

Pressure drop (psia)

0 0 0 0

200 400 800

1000
1500 2000 3000

4.5 ID
4.5 ID 4.5 ID 4.5 ID

Turbulent
Turbulent Turbulent Turbulent

2
6 11 27

Pressure Drop in Horizontal Well L=1000 ft

Q (bpd)
100

Tubing (inch)
4.5 ID 4.5 ID 4.5 ID 4.5 ID 4.5 ID 4.5 ID 4.5 ID 4.5 ID

Flow
Laminar Laminar Laminar Transition Turbulent Turbulent Turbulent Turbulent

Pressure drop (psia)

0 0 0 0 3 7.5 14.5 35.5

200 400 800 1000 1500 2000 3000

Pressure Drop in Horizontal Well L=1250 ft

Q (bpd)
100

Tubing (inch)
4.5 ID 4.5 ID 4.5 ID 4.5 ID

Flow
Laminar Laminar Laminar Transition

Pressure drop(psia)
0 0 0 0

200 400 800

1000
1500 2000 3000

4.5 ID
4.5 ID 4.5 ID 4.5 ID

Turbulent
Turbulent Turbulent Turbulent

4
9.5 18 44

Pressure Drop in Horizontal Well L=1500 ft

Q (bpd)
100

Tubing (inch)
4.5 ID 4.5 ID 4.5 ID 4.5 ID

Flow
Laminar Laminar Laminar Transition

Pressure drop(psia)
0 0 0 0

200 400 800

1000
1500 2000 3000

4.5 ID
4.5 ID 4.5 ID 4.5 ID

Turbulent
Turbulent Turbulent Turbulent

4
11 22 53

Pressure Drop in Horizontal Well L=2000 ft

Q (bpd)
100

Tubing (inch)
4.5 ID 4.5 ID 4.5 ID 4.5 ID

Flow
Laminar Laminar Laminar Transition

Pressure drop(psia)
0 0 0 0

200 400 800

1000
1500 2000 3000

4.5 ID
4.5 ID 4.5 ID 4.5 ID

Turbulent
Turbulent Turbulent Turbulent

6
15 29 71

Pressure Drop in Horizontal Well L=2500 ft

Q (bpd)
100

Tubing (inch)
4.5 ID 4.5 ID 4.5 ID 4.5 ID 4.5 ID 4.5 ID 4.5 ID 4.5 ID

Flow
Laminar Laminar Laminar Transition Turbulent Turbulent Turbulent Turbulent

Pressure drop(psia)
0 0 0 0 7 19 36 88

200 400 800 1000 1500 2000 3000

Pressure Drop in Horizontal Well L=3000 ft

Q (bpd)
100

Tubing (inch)
4.5 ID 4.5 ID 4.5 ID 4.5 ID

Flow
Laminar Laminar Laminar Transition

Pressure drop(psia)
0 0 0 0.5

200 400 800

1000
1500 2000 3000

4.5 ID
4.5 ID 4.5 ID 4.5 ID

Turbulent
Turbulent Turbulent Turbulent

9
23 44 106

Pressure Drop in Horizontal Well

Smooth Tubing Walls

Pressure Drop in Horizontal Well

Rough Tubing Walls

Pressure Drop in Horizontal Well

GEKEngineering

Conclusions
Depending on flow rate and well length, one can optimize the BHP. In actuality, the pressure drops are less than estimated In laminar flow up to 800 bpd for all the well length, the pressure drop is nothing. In turbulent flow, 1000 ft well show better results. Assuming a single phase and pump 100% efficiency, the FBHP is the hydrostatic head plus the friction losses and surface pressure. It is obvious the gas cut increases in the tubing which at a certain point reduces the FBHP but after increases the FBHP due to liquid hold-up.

Conclusions (Cont.)
The friction losses start to show up when drilling a smaller hole-size due to economic concern. Ultimately, the net result is trade-off point between less friction (Higher productivity) associated with higher tubing size and drilling costs. The Well length of Significant Pressure Loss (L sfl) q1/q0 = 10% (based on some rock & fluid factors) are higher than the normal range of (500-3000ft ) for Umiat (SPE 24941-PA).

Oil Recovery by Solution Gas Drive by Muskat Method

Assumptions Uniformity of reservoir at all times regarding porosity, fluid saturation and relative perm
Uniform pressure throughout reservoir (The same Bo, Bg, oil and gas viscosity and GOR in the reservoir) Negligible gravity segregation Oil and Gas equilibrium at all times A gas liberation mechanism the same as the one used for fluid properties No water encroachment

Oil Recovery by Solution Gas Drive by Muskat Method

OOIP = 1500 MMSTB Pressure (psia) Np (MMSTB)

300 250 200 150 100 50 14.7

329 390 392 394 396 398 406