European Conference Gas Well Deliquification

28-30 September 2009, Hampshire Hotel, The Netherlands

Acoustic Liquid Level

Testing of Gas Wells
Originally Presented OKC POS 2009 - SPE 120643

Lynn Rowlan

Acoustic Fluid Levels

Traditionally Fluid Level shot
down the annulus where tubing
collars are counted to determine
depth

Acoustic liquid levels typically
used for:
Well Potential and BHPs
Artificial Lift Optimization
Plunger tracking
Gas Well and Liquid Loading Diagnostics

Fluid Level
on Gas Well

Gas Velocity Impacts Result of

Acoustic Liquid Level Shot:
1. Below Critical Velocity:
Usually see liquid level
above bottom of Tubing
2. Above Critical Velocity:
May not see a liquid level
because liquid droplets
may fill tubing and absorb
all energy from shot
May see bottom of tubing
and/or perforations due to
small amount of liquid

BA
N
G
!

Acoustic Fluid Level

Generate Blast at
Surface to Creates
Traveling Wave

Acoustic Wave
Travels in the Well
at Speed of Sound

Echoes RTTT from
well bore change
diameter recorded
Reduction seen as a
down-kick
Increase is seen as an
up-kick
Fluid level gives large
kick and lets almost no
energy through

Collars
Level

Gas Gun Physical set

-up on Well
set-up

Display of Reflections of Pressure Wave

Initial Acoustic Pulse caused by explosion of compressed gas into the tubing
or casing annulus, explosion into annulus forms compression traveling wave.
Reflected Pulse
caused by
DECREASE in the
annular crosssectional area IS
displayed as an
downward kick on
the acoustic trace.

Acoustic Trace Acquired

down the Tubing Showing
Upkick from Hole in Tubing

Reflected Pulse
caused by
INCREASE in the
annular crosssectional area IS
displayed as an
upward kick on the
acoustic trace.

Shot Down Tubing

Verify Liquid Level Above/Below Tubing Inlet
End of
Tubing

Use an Acoustic Fluid Level Instrument

To Identify The Depth To The Hole
Time 12:12:27

1. Shoot
tubing/casing
annulus while
flowing up
tubing
With Casing
Valve Closed
the Fluid Level
should be near
tubing intake
or below
perforations (If
no Hole)

Shots
Shots Down
Down Tubing
Tubing &
& Casing
Casing

Hole in Tubing
@ 6868

Tubing Shot

Casing Shot

Use Acoustic Surveys to

Alert You to What is Downhole
@ 4750
Tight Spot
in Tubing

@ 5050
1/8 Hole
in Tubing

End of
Tubing

Tight Spot

1/8 Hole
Liquid
Level

Acoustic Trace with Depth Determination

1 Sec

Liquid Level
Depth (LL)
Collars count depth
(C) is noted on the
acoustic signal.

Liquid Level Depth (LL) determined by multiplying the RTTT

(Seconds) by the average of all collars counted (JTS/sec) times the
average joint length (Feet). (5.566*20.5725*31.670 = 3626.41 feet)

Analysis Method: Automatic Collar Count

10

30

20

40
46

Automatic Collar Count analysis will determine the depth to the

liquid level for most wells

Downhole Marker Using Known Perforation Depth

to Determine Distance to the Liquid Level
2.631 sec

1369 ft
1.921 sec

? = 1875 ft

Offshore
Offshore Wellbore
Wellbore Schematic
Schematic and
and Corresponding
Corresponding Acoustic
Acoustic Trace
Trace
Offshore Wells:
1) Use of Downhole
Markers most often
used analysis
Method..
2) Acoustic Velocity
Method often used
initially to identify
general location of
Known Markers
3) Should use Deepest
Marker for Depth to
Liquid Level
4)

Data Always Critical

in Calculation of
BHP

Analysis Method: Low Pass Filter Identifies

Downhole Marker Gas Lift Mandrel
High
Frequency
Noise

See Downhole
Anomalies:
SCSSV@ 1575
X-NIPL@ 3161
GLM1@ 3618
GLM2@ 11743
BHP Ch@ 11798
CIM@ 11874
X-NIPL@ 11993
XO@ 12041
XN-NIPL@ 12374

SCSSV

GLM1

Liquid
Level

Depth Determination:Acoustic Velocity method

Acoustic Velocity options:
 Manually entered
 Calculated based on SG of gas
 Calculated based on compositional
analysis
(Manual gas velocity can be used for
approximations or in case where
velocity already determined by
downhole marker correlation in other
shot)
Depends on:
1.

Gas gravity / composition

2.

Temperature along completion

3.

Pressure in the completion

(automatically calculated from
measurements taken during the
shots)

4.

May use Casing Shot for Tubing SG

358
psi

Gaseous

dP/dT Gaseous Correction

Adjusted Gas Free

Tested Gas Production = 265 MCF/D

8636 Gaseous Height

Closed Valve 2.5 Min. to
Determined Gas Flow
Rate and % Liquid

1615
Gas
Free
Gas flowing into well

FBHP = 1080.6 psi

Da, Adj. Gas Free Height

Gaseous

Da = 9719
61.7
psi
Da*dP/dT
= 61813

Determine
% Liquid
1615
Gas
Free

3427

Gas flowing into well

PBHP = 373.9 psi

Backpressure in a Liquid Loaded Well

Liquid
Level

Fluid Level Results on Gas Well Treated with

Surfactant Foam 1/3 of Gaseous Liquid Gradient

? - %Liquid

Static Fluid Level on Gas Well

Measured Surface
Pressure 2249.5 Psig

365.8 Psig Gas Column

Pressure

High Pressure Gas

Pushed all but 87.8 ft of
Liquid Back into
Formation

Easy to Observe Up-kick

caused by the top perfs at
6032 feet (Next Slide)

Collar Recesses Counted

to Perforations

Shut-in
Gas Well

Acoustic Trace From

Static Fluid Level on Gas Well
Sec

Collar Recesses
Counted to
Perforations

100.0 mV

9
C-

10

-LL

78 Sec
Implosion
( ft ) 0

1000

2000

3000

7 8 Sec

4000

5000

6000

7000

Collar Recesses
Not Seen @ Low
Pressure OR in
Flush Joint
Tubing
BUT
See Clearly @
High Pressure

Analysis
Analysis Method
Method ::

Counting
Counting Collars
Collars versus
versus Using
Using Top
Top of
of
Perforations
Perforations as
as Known
Known Marker
Marker Depth
Depth
Sec

9
C-

10

-LL

100.0 mV

Collar Recesses
Counted to Perforations

Depth to LL = 6162.22

Implosion
( ft ) 0
Sec

1000
1

2000
2

3000
4

4000
5

5000
7

6000
8

7000
9

10

-DM
-LL

100.0 mV

6032 ft to Top
of Perforations

Acoustic Velocity = 1420 -1500 ft/sec

Depth to LL = 6164.21
Implosion
( ft ) 0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

Comparison of Two Methods shows Depth to Liquid Level within 2 Feet

General Comments
1)
2)

3)
4)

5)

Acoustic fluid level measurements are easily

performed in flowing or shut in gas wells
Recommended practice is to always acquire at
least two (2) acoustic fluid level records when
connected to a well
When shooting down the tubing, EUE collar
recess Echoes can often be detected
Using an echo from a known down hole marker
near the fluid level is usually the most accurate
method to determine depth.
Using gas specific gravity or composition is
often the least accurate depth determination
analysis method

Questions ?