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A Method of Calculating the Distribution of Temperature

in Flowing Gas Wells


LOUIS B. LESEM

TEXAS PETROLEUM RESEARCH COMMITTEE


AUSTIN, TEX.

FRANK GREYTOK

MAGNOLIA PETROLEUM CO.


AUSTIN, TEX.

FRANK MAROTTA

TEXAS RAILROAD COMMISSION


AUSTIN, TEX.
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS
AUSTIN, TEX.

JOHN J. McKETTA, JR.


MEMBER AlME

T. P. 4599
operations, the change in linear velocity in the entire
flow-string is trivial,
2. The product of the density and heat capacity
of the gas is constant,
3. No horizontal temperature gradient exists in the
gas stream,
4. Net flow of heat by conduction within the
formation and in the gas stream in the vertical direction is trivial in magnitude and can be neglected,
5. The regional vertical geothermal gradient is
constant, and
6. The temperature of the gas entering the borehole is constant, and equal to that of the reservoir,

INTRODUCTION
Although one of the primary variables in the calculation of the flowing bottom-hole pressure in gas wells
from surface measurements is the temperature at any
point and its distribution in the flow-string, only few
experimental data are available in the literature and
little attention has been given to analysis of the problem. Virtually all of the recently published methods of
calculating flowing bottom-hole pressures depend on the
assumption that either the temperature is constant at
some average value or that the variation is linear with
depth. The purposes of this work are to analyze the
problem theoretically and to verify the analysis by comparison with experimental data so that practical problems in the analysis of the behavior of gas wells can
be solved with greater accuracy, reliability, and ease.

a set of two simultaneous, linear partial differential


equations with appropriate boundary conditions was
derived to describe the temperature distribution in the
gas stream and the surrounding formation. These
equations were solved by operational techniques for
the distribution of temperature in the gas stream.
The resulting integrals were evaluated numerically on
an IBM 604 at the Machine Accounting Div. of the
Railroad Commission of Texas.

MATHEMATICAL OUTLINE OF PROBLEM


Assuming that:
1. The mass velocity and chemical composition of
the gas stream are constant and in normal gas well

DERIVATION OF FUNCTIONS FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF TEMPERATURE


The physical system is a circular hole of radius a in an infinite medium with thermal conductivity K, density
1'." and heat capacity c,. Under shut-in conditions the well is in thermal equilibrium with the surroundings and

the increment in temperature is given by - t:" ;" x. Gas of density p" and heat capacity

Cr

this hole in the direction of increasing x with a linear velocity W.


Writing a heat balance on an element of gas t:"x in thickness, convective heat transfer
fer + energy required to lift a unit mass of fluid = change in energy content.
r.a'WpycvTg

I-

r.a'wp"c"T(,1

,r

- [ - 2ar.Kt:"x!.....'!'
uY

,1'+.l..,1:'

I ,] r-u

flows upwardly through


T

conductive heat trans-

.wr.a'PS"t:"x = c,p"r.u't:"x o'!",

77

(1)

ut

Dividing by (c"p"r.a't:"x) and taking the limit as t:"x tends to zero,


, W

ea~'- -I 77t~') }-t~ ila~


-j

'=" =

,aft"

(2)

----

Original manuscript received in Society of Petroleum Engineers


office on Oct. 18, 1956. Revised manuscript received Jan. 31, 1957.
VOL. 210. 195.

SPE-767-G

Paper presented at Ninth Oil Recovery Conference at Texas


A & M College on April 9-10, 1956.
169

If heat transfer by conduction in the x direction be neglected, the equation for the temperature of the forma-

tion is

a' T.

1 G T.

0 T..

c,p..

(3)

--+----=---_.
Gr'

of

arK

Normalizing Eqs. 2 and 3 and letting


/'
R =-;8
a

K t

=~~.;t

Eq. 2 becomes

a Tg
) +-(j T,
( --+p.
a~
oR

2K x

p . c . a"

;k

p" c,. Wa'

I _

2 p,c,

=~~;f3
p" C v

L\T,Wa' Pvc,

2KL

Wa' p"

; and /-t = 1556 K

1 (j T"
--~

}{~,

(4)

08

and Eq. 3 becomes

a' T, +
oR'

1 a T.. _
RaR-

(j

T..

(5)

08

Eqs. 4 and 5 plus the following statement for the initial and boundary conditions provide a complete mathematical description of the physical system (well and its surroundings).
To = T, = T.

13$

whene = OforaIlvaluesofRand~.

(6)

= 0 for all values of e

(7)

when

To = T,

lim T. =
R -'? CN

when R =1 for all values of e and

(8)

for all values of e and

(9)

13 ~

SOLUTION OF THE DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS


If the Laplace Transformation of the gas temperature with respect to e (. [To (e,

~;

k)]) be denoted by y

and the Laplace Transformation of the formation temperature with respect to e be denoted by w, ;;; and yare the
iterated transforms first with respect to e and then with respect to ~; i.e.,
" [Tv]

[1'

o~.o

Ie'" T"
Ie

J=

(0,

~; k)d 0

I"V
.(.I'
' t'k)
.,

re-'" T. (R,~,

" [T,J =

d t- =

y (.1',

~; k).

(10)

y-(sp' k)
,

(11)

8; k) d 8 = w (R,

~, .1'; k)

(12)

,,~

[T,]

Ie!': w (R,~, .1'; k) d~ = ~ (R, p, .1'; k)

(13)

Taking the Laplace Transformations of Eqs. 4 and 5 with respect to 8 to obtain

dY_J1'.+awl
d~

GR

I R~t

=~+f3~
k

(14)

and
(j'

aw

(15)

--+-~=sw+PI::

oR'
R 0R
fJ .
and transforming Eqs. 14 and 15 with respect to ~
y=

d;

-.I"

dR

+
)
p + -k
P + -k
13

~(-'--------S
kp'

(16)
U-l

and
d'~

- +
dR'

1 d;
R dR =

/3
p'

are obtained.
The general solution of Eq. 17 is
;=AI,,(y-;R) +BK,,(ysR)

13

(18)

s p'

From the statement of the boundary conditions (Eq. 9) the transform must be finite as R
quently,
170

-'? 00

and conse-

PETROLEUM TRAN);ACTION);. AUII

f3

= 0, ;; = B K, (yiS R)

(19)

s p'

Differentiating Eq. 19 with respect to R, and using the result in Eq. 16,

__

f3

+ -~) -

p' ( p

y -

BvsK,(VS)

(20)

Using boundary condition (7) and Eqs. 19 and 20,


f3-~

B=

~ )Ko (vs)

s p [( p

(21 )

+ VS K, (VS)"

With this value of B,

f3-~[

= ----;;;-

T + yiS K,

(22)
(vs)

K" (vs)

Inverting with respect to p,

~)

= k (f3 -

(..::.cK;;.;;.o-'-(v-,,--;::::;s)=---_--=-_-=

+ k y s K, (v s)

s Ko (v s)

K1
- -.L[s
+ /, V8[(, (V~] J
k
('18)

(23)
s

+ kvs K,

(vs)
K, (vs)

.\'

the problem is reduced to finding the inverse transform of y.


The inversion theorem for the Laplace Transformation states that
Tv (8,0 = lim

a~OO

~-; ~:~. y (z,~)


27f

~-i.

dz

(24)

where y is chosen so large that all of the singularities of y(z, 0 lie to the left of the line y
In order to proceed, y is separated into three partv and

i a, y

f3~
y,= - .
s

(f3 -

(25)

~)

y,=--s

+ k VS K,

s K" (vs )

= - (f3 -

y,

i a.

~ [

~)

e - TS +
s

+ k ys

-K1

(vs )

(VSl]

kVs~

K,

{27)

(ys)

K" (vs)

The inverse of y, is Tv, = - f3~


In determining the inverse of y,
-,

(28)

} = lim _ 1
_.
Ko (vs )
{ sK,,(vs) +kvsK,(vs) a-'Hx;27fi

Io+,a __-----oe'=-"_K~,,~('-v'__"_z-=)~d_z,,----==

(29)

';-iozK..(,h) +k,/zK,h/z

Since the integrand has a branch point at the origin, the


integral is considered along the contour ABCDEFA (Fig. 1).
It can be shown that the integral along BC and FA tends
to zero as the radius of the large circle increases without
bound and the integral along DE tends to zero as the radius
of the small circle approaches zero. Inasmuch as this function is analytic within and on the closed contour,

("'I + ,(.0(,)

c
F

FIG, I-CONSIDERATION OF INTEGRAL ALO!>G THE


CONTOlJR ABCDEF A.

Y+i.

e'"

y, (z) dz

'/'-! a

ID

e'" z y, (z) dz

J- ,. e'" Z y, (z)

(}

dz = 0

(30)

J.:

or

~+i._ e'" Z y,
'Y-ta

VOL. 210, 1957

(z) dz = -

[I

e'"
V

y, (z) dz

IN e'" Z y, (z)

dz

(31 )

171

[ID e'" z y, (z) dz + Ii' e'" z y, (z) dz J. . . . . . . . . . . . .

1
-2~'

-'[sy,(s)] = -

7r I

(32)

Jt:

Along CD, putting z = u'eir. ,


(33 )

[- +

oc

=2

and along EF, putting z

F,,,

d
Z y, (z)

= _

10 (u) + i Yo (u)] e-"-"du


- u [ - io (u)
i Yo (u)] + k [- .T, (u)

(34)

+ i Y, (u)]

u'e-ir.

z -

e-,,-e Ko (ue-ir.I') du
ue iTo Ko (ue ir.I') + k e '''I' K, (ue ir.I')

e-..'e [10 (u) + i Yo (u)] d u


u [10 (u) + i Yo (u)] + k [1, (u) + i Y, (u.)]

so that

4k
-' [s y, (s)] =

71"

(36)

e-"'" d u
I, (u)], + [u Yo (u) - k Y , (u)],)"

u([u Jo (u) - k

(35)

(37)

and

00

4k
Tg, = -' [y,] =

(1 - e- O e) d u
u"[(u .To Cu.) - k 1, (u)]' + [u Yo(u) - k Y,(u)],)

71"

(38)

To determine the inverse of Y3


-'[s Y3]

I7+ iae ze

1.
-ex:; 271'1

lim

a~

Z Y3 (z) dz .

-,-,a

(39)

The integrand is analytic within and on the contour (Fig. 1). The integral can be shown to vanish along both the
large circle and the small circle and hence
lim
a

00

I;'~~"

ZY3 (z) dz

z =

Along CD, putting

..........

(40)

u'e",

[IV e'O ZY3 (z) dz + IJ,:.e'" ZY3 (z) dZ]

= -

~i-,a

e'" z y" (z) dz = 2

e- U-" e-(U

_
U

[-Jl

r-

(u)

-Ja (u)

+ i Y,
+ i Yo

i, (u)

_ J o (u)

(U)]
(u)

du

+ i Y , (u.)]
+ i Yo (u)

(41)

The integral along EF is minus the conjugate of this so that

I
%

- '[S y, ()
S ]

-=-"2

f {' [u k I, - U-I,]
,.
2E + -2k
2~}d
-(u 2
SIll--cos
- 1I
e i1
Tlfl
7T
Tifl
u([u 10 (u) - k.T, (u)]' + [u Yo (u) - k Y, (u)]') .
-u'"

(42)

in which

1, = .T,,'

(1I)

I, = 10

(u) 1, (u)

(43)

Y,,' (1I)

and

r [(,

e,

(v-;)]

)~ _ ~ J(1 %

-1 {_l_ . e-(v-;lK:( vs)


s

(44)

Yo (u) Y , (u)

Integrating Eq. 42 with respect to

_ K, (vs) ~ -

+ k Vs

71'

,f'

U,

e-

")

(e-'''y,-)

U'[(u J" (ui )

[u k

I, -

k J, (un

...

u- 1,]

2~

Sill 71'/,

2k

2~ }

+ -;;:- cos ..1,

du

[u Ya(U) - k Y , (U)'}

(45)

="'---'--"--==

Ko (vS)

Because

-' ([e-'-;-' [f(f)])


=
172

1(8 - t)

if

=0

if

~
<T
................

(46)

71'~
e >k
PETROLEUM TRANSACTIONS, AIME

the complete solution for the distribution of temperature in the gas stream is
,
Ua
2~k)'
(1 - e- ) du
To = - [3 ~ + ([3 - fL)"
-u"'3[C7(u-----:-Jo---;(-uc--)---k~J,---;(-U:-c:)]""~+--;[,---u--:cy:c-,,-;--(u~)-----;-k--:;y-;-,-;-(U~)""""rc:-)

fL) - Tr

",[1 - e-u' (0 - k ')]

J.

[2

2k

= - [3 ~ + ([3 -

k J'"

-Tr

2
u
(1 - e- 6) du

----=-c---

u'[(u.T" Cu.) -

[(l:..]{
e- il
[u k f, - u-." f,]

u'[(u J, (u;) -

k J, (u)]'

k J, (u)]'

Sill

Tr2~
f,

[u Y,,(u) -

[u Y,,(u) -

k Y,(u)],)

2k cos Tr2~}
+ ---:;;:f, du

k Y,(u)],)

(B)

or
To = - [3

~+

(B-1 )

([3 - fL) (2Trk) [2Trk I, - 1, ]

Where
I, =

12

J
"

u'[(u J, (u) -

k.T, (u)]'

+ [u

Y.(u) -

k Y , (u)

o<e<T'

0
00

1,=

(1 - e- '6) du

[1 - eO (

8 -

( )]
[
-(U~]
k
e
f
,

(B-2)

{k
[u f, - u ' f ,]

J.

~ + ---=2 k cos -2 ~ }

'

Sill -2- -

Tr f,

"

Tr f,

du

~---------;u3=[(-;--u~J~,~(-u)~--k~.Tl~(-U~)]~,~+-[~u~Y~o~(u~)~-~k~Y---;,(-U~)]=')--~

(B-3)
It should be emphasized that Eq. B-1 provides the
difference in temperature between the reservoir and any
point in the flow-string above it and that this difference
is zero at a point opposite the reservoir. The actual temperature at any point in the flow-string therefore is
Tot

Tollil - [3

([3 - fL) -2k(2k


- - - - - I, - 12 )
Tr

Tr

(B-4)
I, and 1, were evaluated by Simpson's rule with stand-

ard punched card machine accounting equipment. Ten


thousand cards were used in preparation of the curves
(Fig. 2). The total time required for the machine computations, including sorting, reproducing, collating, calculating, and printing, was 60 hours, about 3 per cent
of the time which manual calculations would have
consumed.

tubing diameter is 21/z in, and static bottom-hole pressure is 1,580 psia. Bottom-hole temperature is 132F
and average annual surface temperature is 74F. The
temperature distribution in the well at the end of 4
hours, 24 hours, and 7 days is desired.
The curves obtained by plotting the results of the
computations as profiles of temperature show a rapid
increase of temperature with time for the first 24 hours,
and a slow variation thereafter. The gradient shown for
infinite time is not attainable physically. It should be
emphasized that these calculations are valid only for a
EXAMPLE I-FORMATION AND FLUID PROPERTIES
K = 0.000396

c,
P,
Co

a = 0,1015 It
a' = 0.0103 It'
W = 15.9ft/sec

If only gas is produced through the flow string, the


equations should be predictive and only the static geothermal gradient, the physical properties of the gas and
the formation, the production rate, and the dimensions
of the well are required to calculate the temperature
distribution at any time in a flowing welL The following
example for a hypothetical well producing dry gas
should illustrate this point.

No. 1

(FIG.

VOL. 210, 1957

Pc
Te
Pr
Te

=
=
=
=

= 0.841

669 psia
372"R
2,362
1.591

Po = 5.58
k = 28.5

f3 = 7,58

I'-

457

1.154

TABLE 1

" =

8, = 17.60
8, = 105.60
8 3 = 739.20

3)

A well produced at the rate of 5 MMcf/D of 0,65


specific gravity gas from perforations at 3,500 ft. The

0.22
143
0.396

j. T,
-L- = 0.0166

RESULTS

EXAMPLE

=
=
=

To -

2
3
4
5
6
7
8
To (x = 0) = -

.00455
" = .00826
" = .01165

4. hours

.0597
.0343
,0187
.0101
.00592
.00261
.00127
.00054
7.58~

"

24 hours

.105
.0725
.0494
.0334
.0221
.0151
.00985
.00644
+ (18.15) (6.43) (18.15" -

7 days

.156
.121
.0919
.0696
.0521
0403
.0261
,0207
,,)
173

r=

Second FIoo.Ifl9
Tempe mUff Qi.mbutlOn Inl!!I'al

i=::

C'2
I

01:==

8=

~~&

+-~

I,

I,

1('1"
1('1'

rl'

' "1# ~

~
rl

" Iii

~t=I-F

t::;,; :;~
i;:~"

-'

,~
' ill
0.0001,

II
eC/k

Second Flowin;
T."'~ratu,. Oi.tribution

Second FIowItlG

IlIttoral

r=

T,mperature Diltribution Inttoroi

t::

i:ii

Second FlowlI'IQ
Temperature Oiltribulioll 'n'eoral

C,

iii

It"

.'. .v .
I,

I,

I'

C-

.,.' i

=;
I,

, I

I!

8-tlk
iT

JI

:~

_.

_I

~1111
~~

I,
I,

r-+-+++f++j~'I'I'!
rt
'"
m-~11
Second FlowllI9
H+L-lTemperature Dlslflbulton Inleorol
f--.~-+-i+r-. ++~T
c. 6
f~iIM-,I+
Ii';-Hi,.J:+TT"- I ! I i IIII I
i-l.

0.0001,

t, e-'/k

100

,00

e-(/k

FIG. 2 - FIRST FLOWING TEMPERATUHE


DISTRIBUTION INTEGRAL AND SECO~; D
FLOWING TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTIO:-I
INTEGRAL WITH ~ = 1 THROUGH 10.

174

PETItOLEUM TItANSACTIONS, AIM":

dry gas. If liquid either condenses or vaporizes in the


producing string, the effective heat capacity of the gas
changes appreciably.
The temperature distribution curve shows some curvature over the entire depth of the well. For deeper
wells and lower flow rates, curvature occurs only in the
deeper portion. In the shallow region, the slope of the
curve approaches that of the undisturbed geothermal
gradient.

w'

II

I-

<!

w
'"~IO

TWO-PHASE FLOW (GAS-LIQUID)

I-

When liquid accompanies the gas the heat capacity


of the fluid flowing will be unknown and must be calculated from surface temperature measurements. A surface time-temperature curve for the chosen well provides the necessary information. In most wells, I, makes
little contribution to the surface temperature, and the
surface temperature is given approximately by
Tv,,,,,'''''') = Tg

Ell

(3 ~

k)'

2
+ ( ---:;-

2kL.
/':, T,Wa'pv

[(~)'
2k

70

FIC.

1, (3 - fL)

(47)
Analysis of 1, (Eq. B-2) shows that for most values
of 8, k'I, is approximately a constant. Because of this
property of the integral, a simple trial and error procedure suffices for the evaluation of the effective specific
heat of the gas stream.
The quantity TVBll - (3 ~ (surface) is the average annual surface temperature. Of the remaining terms in
Eq. 47, (3 depends upon c, and fL is independent of c.
To determine the effective value of c for the well, any
point on the measured time-temperature curve may be
selected and calculated. Any reasonable value for k is
assumed and k'I, determined for these values of 8 and
k. This information is used with Eq. 47 which is solved
for c, obtaining
c -

(Tv (8) - Tv ."a"o)+


1, (8)

fLl

500

1000

1500
2000
DEPTH, FEET

2500

3000

3500

3-ExAMPLE No. 1-5 MMn/D: 0.65 GRAVITY


22-IN. TBC: 3,500'FT DEPTH.
BHP - 1,580 PSIA: BHT - 132 0 F.

The calculated temperatures deviate from observed


temperatures in this well by a maximum of 2F. The
average deviation is about 1F.
The high value of c obtained for this well is due to
condensation of liquid in the tubing and the resultant
liberation of latent heat.
CONCLUSIONS
Based upon the available experimental information,
the equations derived in this paper adequately describe
the distribution of temperature in a flowing gas well.
For wells producing dry gas (zero natural gasoline
content), they are truly predictive, and for wells producing some entrained and condensed liquid, deter-

(C)

Values of (3, k, and ~ then can be calculated and the


temperature distribution determined.
EXAMPLE No.2 (FIG. 4)
The well is producing 4.08 MMcf/D of 0.6127
specific gravity gas from perforations at 6,830 ft through
21/2 -in. tubing. Bottom-hole temperature is 171F and
average annual surface temperature is 78F. Flowing
bottom-hole pressure is 2,934 psia. Formation properties are the same as in Example 1.
Using a first guess of 12 for k and the temperature at
4Y2 hours off the experimental time-temperature curve
(Fig. 4) the effective c is found to be 1.01. For this
.

value of c, k

xft

= 6.99, (3 = 12.00, ~ = 875 ' and

17~---'----'1--~~~T----r--~----,

2000

4000

6000

"<Ii

;31
"-

a:

::J

I-

<!

a:

fL =

1.12. The time at which the test was run (- 17 hours


after flow began) gives 8 = 80.

~ II

~
I-

THEORETICAL

TABLE 2

h = 0.13188

~
1

2
3
<I
5
6
7
8

VOL. 210, 1957

I,

.40772
.27382
.18026
.11931
.07768
.05021
.03219
. 02000

Note' Crosses indicate experimental data.

7~~--~--~~--~~8~0~0---L--~1~20~0~~
TIME, minutes

FIC. 4-ExAMPLE No. 2-4.08 MMcF/D: 0.6127 GRAVITY


22IN. TBC: 6,830'FT DEPTH .
BHP - 2,934 PSIC: BHT - 171 0 F.

mination of an effective specific heat from surface measurements results in close approximation to the actual
distribution of temperatures. The temperature profile
in the gas stream changes rapidly only during the first
day of production; for practical purposes, stabilization
is attained within a day.
The use of linear approximation for the actual distribution of temperature introduces a maximum error
of about 4F for short producing times, and the error
grows slowly with time. The magnitUde of the effect of
this error in temperature on the accuracy of bottomhole pressure calculations is not known, but should be
small.

y,y
w. ;-

I"
I,
I,
J"
J,
Ku

K,

NOMENCLATURE

c,

Cv

/" /2

Radius of hole (tubing or casing) through


which gas flows
Heat capacity of the formation
Heat capacity of the gas
Combination of Bessel functions

i = vi - 1
k = Ratio of volumetric specific heats
p = Transform parameter with respect to space
variable
r = Radius variable, dimensional
s = Transform parameter with respect to time
variable
t = Time, dimensional
u = Variable of integration

176

above producing horizon, dimen-

sional

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors wish to thank the Texas Petroleum Research Committee for permission to prepare and publish
this paper, and to thank G. H. Fancher, director, and
G. W. Crawford, assistant director, for their encouragement and assistance in this work.
Acknowledgment also is due the entire staff of the
University of Texas Div. of TPRC for assistance in
completing the calculations.

= Distance

R
T"
Tat

T,

=
=

Transformed dependent variables


Bessel function of the first kind, imaginary
argument, zero order
= First flowing temperature distribution integral
= Second flowing temperature distribution integral
= Bessel function of the first kind, zero order
= Bessel function of the first kind, first order
= Bessel function of the second kind, imaginary
argument, zero order
= Bessel function of the second kind, imaginary
argument, first order
= Thermal conductivity of the formation
= Laplace transformation
= Radius variable, dimensionless
= Temperature of the gas-reservoir temperature
= Temperature of the gas, actual
= Temperature of the formation

f'... 1',
L

-----=

W
Y

Geotherma I gra d'lent


Linear velocity of gas

= Bessel function of the second kind, zero order

Y:z = Complex
Bessel function of the second kind, first order
variable
=

f3 =

p,

pg

t:

Geothermal gradient, dimensionless

= Density of the formation

Density of the gas

= Vertical space variable, dimenSIOnless

e = Time variable, dimensionless


fL

Gradient due to vertical work, dimensionless


I{EFERE~CES

1. Kunz, K. S., and Tixier, M. P.: "Temperature Surveys in


Gas Producing Wells," Trans. AIME (1955), 204, Ill.
2. Carslaw, H. S., and Jaeger, J. c.: Conduction of Heat in
'-;olids Oxford University Press, 1947.
~. (:~u],('~ill. R. V.: M04ern Opera,tional Mathemmirs in*;~
I'{lneennl'{. '\IcGra\\'-H!l1 Book Co .. 1944.

I' ETRO LEIfM TIL\ NS .\1:'1'10 ~ s. AIM L

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