Well Analyzer Seminar

Acoustic Determination of
Producing and Static Wellbore
Pressures

Reference Papers: SPE 14254 and SPE 13810

Purposes of Performing an
Acoustic Fluid Level Surveys
Well Performance and Potential Analysis
based on measured and calculated pressure
distribution in wellbore and the Static Reservoir
Pressure.

Pump Submergence

Some operators shoot

the well only to determine the amount of liquid
above the pump (FAP). This is inefficient use of
the fluid level information.

Microphone

Casing head pressure

Gas

TWM Computes
Wellbore Pressures from
liquid level survey and
casing head pressure

Pressure at Fluid Level

Fluid Level
Gaseous Liquid

Producing BHP
(PBHP)

Liquid
Pump

Static
Reservoir
Pressure
(SBHP)

Right Half of BHP Tab ANSWERS THE FOLLOWING

QUESTIONS:

1. What is the distance (depth) to the top of the

liquid?
2. Is gas flowing up the annulus? At what rate?
3. What is the percentage of liquid in the annular fluid
column?
4. How much liquid exists above the pump?
5. What is the pump submergence ?

6. What are the pressures at the casing head, fluid

level, pump intake and opposite formation ?

BHP tab, page 111 TWM manual

Bottom Hole Pressures

Fluid Distribution is a
Function of Wells Producing
Conditions
BHP is computed from acoustic fluid
level surveys.
BHP = Surface Casing Pressure +
Pressure due to the columns of fluids
in the annulus or tubing.

P casing

Annular

The well is like a pressure gage with

a long stem.
PBHP

P g/l

Pressure Gradients for Common Liquids

Fresh Water = 0.433 psi/ft
Field brine = 0.5 psi /ft
30API Oil = 0.38 psi/ft

Pressure gradient
gives the increase in
pressure per foot of
depth increase

10API Oil = 0.433 psi/ft

Approximations

3 ft of oil column = 1 psi

2 ft of brine column = 1 psi

Fluid Column Pressure Estimates

Pgc = gas column pressure increase, psi

Pgc = (Pc * Lg) / 30000

Pc = casinghead pressure, psi
Lg = height of gas, feet

Water Column Pressure

Increase
Pw = Wg * Lw

(psi)

Wg=water gradient psi/ft

Lw=height of water
20 ft of water about 10 psi

Oil Column Pressure

Increase
Po = Og * Lo (psi)
Lo=height of oil

Og=oil gradient psi/ft

Og = 61.3 /(API+131.5)
30 ft of oil about 10 psi

Accurate Pressure Distribution

Calculation Requires:
Stabilized flow conditions
Determination of Liquid Level
Measurement of surface pressure and of
pressure buildup rate (at Producing and
Static Conditions)
Determination of % Liquid in gaseous fluid
Oil, water and annular gas densities
Wellbore description

Stabilized Pumping Well

Pt

Pc

Requires

a Stable Fluid

Level
Requires

a Stable
Casing Pressure

Gas

Requires

a Constant
Production Rate and
WOR

Fluid leaving the wellhead =

Fluid entering from perfs

FL

Oil + Gas
Pump
PBHP

Brine
Gradient

Pt

Stabilization
Process

Pc

Pc

Stabilized
water/oil ratio

Stabilized
casing
pressure
Gas

Stabilized
producing fluid
level

FL

Oil + Gas
Pump
PBHP

Brine
Gradient

Oil-Water
interface
at pump
intake

Shut-in
fluid level
Shut-in
oil-water
interface

Separation of Fluids in a
Stabilized Well

Pt

Pc

The Liquid in the gaseous

column above the pump
intake is 100% OIL
regardless of well test wateroil-ratio .

Gas

Liquid below pump intake

contains more water than
well test water-oil-ratio.

Liquid below pump intake

exhibits BRINE gradient.
The wellbore is functioning as a
separator

FL

Oil + Gas
Pump
PBHP

Brine
Gradient

Downhole Video Shows:

Effect of oil slip velocity on water
holdup causes water to accumulate
below pump intake.
Effect of wellbore inclination causes
oil and gas to move to high side of
wellbore.
Flow from perforations is not uniform
mixture.
http://exprogroup.com/productsservices/wireline-intervention/

Fluid Distribution in Annulus of Pumping Wells

Gas Gradient

Liquid
Gradients

Gas &
Liquid
Mixture
Gradients

Liquid Level at Formation

1. Casing Head Pressure is the

Major Portion of PBHP.
2. Pressure due to Gas Column
is Generally Small
3. Pump intake and liquid level
are near perforations.

Liquid Level Above Formation with

NO Free Gas Inflow from the Reservoir

1. Fluid above tubing intake is 100%

oil.
2. Producing BHP =

Casing Pressure +

Gas Columm Pressure +

Oil Gradient to Pump +

Primarily Brine gradient below

pump intake.

No Inflow of Free Gas with Produced Liquid

Pt

When:

Oil,Water,Gas

Pc

Casing Pressure does

not increase when
Operator Closes the
Casing Valve

Gas

Or the Casing Pressure

is less than the
Flowline Pressure.

FL

Oil
Pump

100 % Liquid below Fluid Level

PBHP

Brine
Gradient

Liquid Level Above Formation

with Free Gas Flow from Perforations
1. Gaseous Liquid Column exists
above the Perforations.
2. Producing BHP =

Casing Pressure +
Gas Column Pressure +
Gaseous Oil Pressure to Pump +
Gaseous Water Pressure to
bottom.

Annular Gaseous Liquid Column Exists

Pt

When:

Flowline
Pc

Normally, produced gas is flowing

out from the casing annulus.

The casing pressure builds up

when the casing valve is closed
and gas is trapped inside the
wellbore.

Gas

Pump

Gas enters through perforations and is

bubbling through annular liquid from
perforations to gas/liquid interface.

Gaseous Liquid
Column

Dip Tube
Perfs

Liquid + Gas

Foam @ Fluid Level

Foam consists of 98-99 % gas

Can exist only at very low annular

gas flow rates, less than 1 MCF/D
Does not contribute significantly to
BHP
It attenuates sound so that a LL
echo could be very low amplitude
or not visible on the acoustic
record.
Bubble flow 98% liquid
below foam

Foam Experiment Results

Foam is blown
away by increased
gas flow

Increasing gas flow

Foam

Liquid

Producing BHP Calculation

Requires:

Measuring the fluid level and casing pressure

Determining pressure gradient of gaseous liquid
column. ( density of gas-liquid mixture in wellbore)
Pressure

gradient of gaseous liquid column

depends mainly on % liquid and decreases
as gas flow rate increases.

Have

to calculate the % Liquid in the

Gaseous Liquid Column

Determination of Gaseous Liquid

Column Gradient (psi/ft)

Determined experimentally on a given well by

running a liquid level depression test (Walker test).

Determined from an experimental correlation defined

from large number of tests. Input: measured
pressure, gas flow rate and annular area. (S curve).
Reference: Acoustic Producing BHP

Computed from mechanistic model

(not practical in most cases due to lack of fluid
properties data and use of questionable correlations)

Walker Test
Patent 1939
1. Operate pump at
steady rate using
different casing
head pressure.
2. Monitor change in
fluid level.

3. Ratio of casing
pressure change
(psi) to fluid level
change (ft) gives
fluid mixture
gradient (psi/ft) and
% liquid

Liquid % from Liquid Level

Depression Test (Walker Test)

Pt

Flowline
Pc

Given:
Stabilized Production
Fluid Properties
Determine Liquid
Percent in Gaseous
Liquid Column by
relating casing back
pressure increase to
drop in fluid level.

Back
Pressure
Valve
High
FL

Gas

Gaseous Liquid
Column with
10 - 15%
Liquid

Pump

Perfs

Low PBHP

Attach Back Pressure Valve and gas gun to the

Tee attached to Casing Valve.
Connect the Back Pressure Valve outlet to the
flow tee with the high pressure hose.
Adjust Back Pressure Valve to desired
pressure
Check frequently during depression to avoid
pushing gas into the pump.
To ensure a stable condition, the casing
pressure and the liquid level must be
unchanging.

Back Pressure Test Setup

Polished Rod

Oil and Gas

Tubing
High Pressure
Hose

Vent gas through casing

valve and back pressure
valve to tubing
Gas
Gun

Adjust spring to
set casing
pressure
Back Pressure Valve

Close valve to
flow line

Back
Pressure
Valve

Basis for test while pumping:

Increase Casing Pressure => Depress Liquid Level

Pressure increase = 220 psi

2300 ft

Gradient= 220psi/ 2300 ft

= 0.095 psi/ft

Fluid Level
Drop 2300 ft

Procedure for Liquid % Test

1. Maintain Well at Normal
Pumping Conditions.
2. Measure Liquid Level Depth
and the Casing Pressure.
3. Increase casing pressure with
back pressure regulator and
allow well to stabilize.
4. Measure NEW Liquid Level
Depth at NEW Casing
Pressure.
5. Repeat Steps 3 & 4, until
Liquid Level is Near Pump.

Fluid Level Depression Test with

simultaneous BHP measurement
Initial Casing Pressure= 2 psi
Nov. 24
Pc = 17 psi BHPsensor =153.7

Nov. 29
Pc = 24 psi BHPsensor= 154.7

Dec. 12
Pc=110 psi BHPsensor = 157.5

Walker Test: Pressure vs. Depth Traverses in the Annulus

17 psi
110psi

Casing Pressure, psi

0
0

500

Depth, feet

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

Measured BHP and Height of Gaseous Column as

Casing Pressure Increases
BHP (psi) or Hight of Gaseous Liquid ( ft)

500
450
400

G/L interface

350

BHP sensor

300
250
200

153.7

157.4

150
100
50
0
0

20

40

60

80

Gas-Liquid Pressure, psi

100

120

140

157 psi

PBHP and Gradient from Walker Test

Pressure at G/L/ intefrace, psi

140

120

y = -0.3578x + 157
R2 = 1
100

PBHP from wireline

recorder =157.4 psi

80

Gradient = 0.3578 psi/ft

PBHP = 157 psi

60

40

20
Pressure @ G/L

Linear (Pressure @ G/L)

0
0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Height of Gaseous column ft

400

450

500

Oil API = 20
PBHP
and Gradient
from Walker Test
Oil
gradient
= 0.407 psi/ft
140

Pressure at G/L/ intefrace, psi

Gaseous column gradient = 0.3578 psi/ft

120

y = -0.3578x + 157
Liquid fraction = 0.3578/0.407=0.88
R2 = 1

100

% Liquid in Gaseous column = 88

80

Gradient = 0.3578 psi/ft

PBHP = 157 psi

60

40

20
Pressure @ G/L

Linear (Pressure @ G/L)

0
0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Height of Gaseous column ft

400

450

500

Back Pressure Test Setup

Back Pressure Regulator Loop

Back
Pressure
Regulator

Automatic Annular Liquid Level and

Casing Pressure Monitoring
Remote Fired
Gas Gun and
Pressure
Transducer

Echometer S Curve Correlation

Performed

numerous Walker tests in producing

wells with different characteristics.
Determined % liquid as a function of annular
gas flow rate.
Correlated % liquid vs. gas flow per square inch
of annulus area.
Range of well parameters:
Casing size = 4.5 to 7 inch

Tubing size = 2-3/8 and 2-7/8

Well depth = 5000 to 9000 feet

Gaseous columns up to 5000 ft

Gas flow rates = 13 to 120 MCF/D API gravity = 32 to 43

Liquid percentage = from 20 to 77%

Typical test
data point.
SPE 14254

Casing Pressure
and Liquid Level
During Liquid
Level
Depression Test.

Pumping rate is
kept constant
during test.

Gaseous Column Height vs. Casing Pressure

for 150 MCF/D in 5 & 2-7/8

Gaseous Column Height vs. Casing Pressure

for 150 MCF/D in 5 & 2-7/8 Oil gradient = 0.4 psi/ft

Mixture Gradient= 0.0962

A= 12.31 in2

Oil gradient = 0.4 psi/ft

Q/A=150000/12.31

Oil fraction= 0.0962/0.4

= 12,254 cuft/day/in2

Oil fraction= 0.24

Annular
Gaseous
Liquid
Column:
Effective Liquid
Fraction
vs.
Q/A

Heavy oil
data in TAM

Actual Field
Collected
Data Point
from
previous
slide

Measured Pressure Buildup

Close Casing
Valve
Change in pressure
Change in time

Casing Pressure
increase as a
function of time is a
measure of
casinghead gas
flow rate

Time = 0

Casing Valve Closed During Test

Time = 4 min.

Gas flow out= 45 MCF/D

46.2
psi

49.4
psi

Gas flow into well = 45 MCF/D

PBHP = 572.8 psi

Calculation of annular gas flow rate is based on the

increase in casing pressure per unit time during the
casing pressure buildup test. Using the real gas law:
P1*V1 = Z1n1RT1 at time t1 and

Gas Flow
Calculation

P2*V2 = Z2n2RT2 at time t2 where in the well:

V1 = V2 = volume of annulus minus volume of liquid
T1 = T2 = average temperature
Z1 = Z2 = gas compressibility factor
R = gas constant
P1 =initial casing pressure
P2 = pressure at end of casing buildup test
n2,n1 = number of moles of gas in annulus
Then solve for (n2-n1) which is the increase in gas
mass during the time (t2-t1) and convert to standard
cubic feet per day.

n2 n1

P2

V
P1
ZRT

Requirements for Accuracy of

Pressure Buildup Test
Test

should be short (2 to 10 minutes) so that

inflow of gas and producing bottom hole
pressure remain almost constant.
Measured casing pressure buildup vs. time
should be linear indicating a constant gas
rate.
ID of casing, OD of tubing and well depth
data are correctly entered in well database.

Producing BHP and PIP Calculation

Equivalent Gas-Free Liquid Height

Pt
Pt

Flowline

Flowline

Pc

Pc

Remove gas
from annular
fluid column

High
FL

Gaseous Liquid
Column with
10 - 15%
Liquid

Gas

Gas Free
FL

Gas

Pump

Gas-Free
Liquid
Perfs

Low PBHP

Perfs

Low PBHP

Gas Free Liquid - BHP Screen

Static BHP
SBHP:

also known as the

reservoir pressure at the
drainage radius.

Driving

Pressure available
to push the fluids to the
wellbore from the
formation.

Static Bottom Hole Pressure,

SBHP (Reference: Acoustic Static BHP)

Driving Pressure available to

push the fluids to the wellbore
from the formation.
Generally GUESSED
Need within +/- 15% for well
potential calculation.
Operator Should Measure
Static Fluid Level and Casing
Pressure in wells shut-down
for any reason (mechanical
failure).
TWM, TAM or AWP2000
compute the SBHP

Calculation of SBHP
Pt

Static BHP =

Well Shut-in

Pc

Casing Pressure +
Gas Column Pressure +
Oil Column Pressure +

Gas

Brine Column Pressure.

Static FL

Oil

Note:
All flow from perforations has stopped
Fluids Segregated by Gravity
Position of Oil/Brine interface above pump
intake must be computed.

Brine

SBHP

WOR produced after shut-in

Pt

Cannot Accurately Predict WOR

during after-flow.

Well Shut-in

Pc

Assume that during after-flow the

WOR remains same as that
measured by well test.

Gas

Static FL

Oil

Program computes location of

water/oil interface from wellbore
geometry and last measured
producing fluid level

Brine

SBHP

Static Bottom Hole Pressure,

Pump Intake near Perforations
Need to compute % of
oil and water in annulus
at end of fill-up.

Gas-free Liquid Level is Generally Above Pump when Producing

Determination of Accurate SBHP

Pump

should be shut-down for a time sufficient

to stabilize casing pressure and fluid level.
Periodic (once a day) fluid level and casing
pressure measurements identify stabilized
conditions.
Select Static in final fluid level record.
Enter the last Producing Fluid Level and %
liquid in annular fluid column into the SBHP
worksheet.

Pump Shut Down for 4 Days

SBHP worksheet in TWM program

Enter
values

Pressure Transient Test

Best method for SBHP

Computed from Casinghead

Pressure, Annular Fluid Level and
Density of Gas and Fluid Columns

Summary of Determining BHPs

Static

and Producing BHPs can be determined

from acoustic liquid level surveys.

Accurate

surface pressure and pressure buildup

rate determines % Liquid.

BHP

= Surface Pressure + Pressure from each

column of fluid in the wellbore.

Fluid

Distribution in wellbore is based on

stabilized conditions.

Questions ?