Basics of Gas Well Deliquification

9th European Gas Well Deliquification Conference

Groningen, 22nd -24th September 2014
Anurag Mittal, Shell NAM (Assen)

1
Short Course Contents & Objectives

Origin of liquid loading

Recognise liquid loading
Model liquid loading
Importance of Gas Well Deliquification
Gas well Deliquification methods
Gas well Deliquification selection

2
Origin of Liquid Loading

3
 Flow Regimes

Gas wells Multiphase Flow (Gas Liquid Holdup and Hydrostatic Head
+ Condensate +Water) 3 2 1
1. High Gas Velocity - Liquid is

Critical Gas velocity

dragged up to surface in the form

Critical Gas velocity

of liquid film and liquid droplets
2. Mid Gas Velocity Liquid
film/droplets start dropping out
increasing hydrostatic head
3. Low Gas Velocity - Liquids can no
longer be produced in the form of
film or droplets
Gas Velocity
Bubble Slug Churn Annular Dispersed
Continuous Liquid Gas/Liquid Gas Gas Gas
Phase
Non- Free gas as Liquid film Liquid film Pipe wall Liquid
Continuous bubbles around gas starts coated with dispersed as
Phase slugs dropping liquid droplets
Pressure Liquid, Gas Gas + Liquid Gas + Liquid Gas + Liquid Gas
Gradient reduces
4
 Sources of Liquids
Formation Water
Entering through Perfs
Typically saline (up to salt
saturated causing salt scaling)
WGR ~10-1000 m3/e6 m3

Water of Condensation
Fresh water, dictated by reservoir
pressure and temperature
WGR ~5-100 m3/e6 m3

Gas Condensate
Heavier Hydrocarbons dropping
due to pressure and temperature
reduction
CGR ~1-1000 m3/e6 m3
1 m3/e6 m3 = 0.18 bbl/MMscf

5
 Liquid Loading Cycle

Decrease in well production (Q)

Reservoir Depletion (Pres)
Increase in WGR (Formation + Condensed)
When Q decreases below Qmin (Liquid Loading
Rate), liquid loading cycle starts and average
production drops 1 2 3 4 5
L13-FE-102

1.E+03 200 100

Qmin is minimum stable rate L13FE1.E_FI-01-102.U

900 a.k.a. critical rate 194.

kNm3/d

800
a.k.a. liquid loading rate L13FE1.E_PI-29-102.U
25.6
barg
700 L13FE1.E_TI-01-102.U
61.0
600 degC

500

400

300
Qmin~200e3 m3/d
200

100

0 0 0
01/02/2009 15:27:08.142 120.00 days 01/06/2009 15:27:08.142
Volume flow well 102
FTHP WELL 102FE
Temperature flow well 102 6
Recognize Liquid Loading

7
 Signs of Liquid Loading

Production shows accelerated decline

Short term real time data e.g. PI
Long term monthly data e.g. OFM
Production decrease while Bottom Hole pressure increases (Constant FTHP)
Production and wellhead pressure decline together
Slow or incomplete pressure buildup
Reduction of LGR
Reduction of wellhead temperature
Slugging (noise, movement, pressure/rate measurement)
Intermittent production

8
Example 1a Onset of Liquid Loading

Well recovers before loading completely

Qmin~160e3 m3/d

FTHP=10 barg THP (Barg)

Gas Rate (e3 m3/d
Temparature (C)

9
Example 1b Onset of Liquid Loading

BHP

Stable FTHP
Qgas
THP (Barg)
Gas Rate (e3 m3/d
BHP (Barg)

10
 Intermittent
Pressure Buildup
Production
(PBU) (IP)
Just Before Shut-in Mixture of Gas & P
Liquid
After Shut-in
Gas column on top and liquid column on
bottom

THP
Gas
Liquid column depends on reservoir, well
and production parameters
Time
Liquid column increases dramatically after
liquid loading
Liquid column will drain into reservoir i.e.
will decrease and ultimately disappear
Monitor liquid loading (and water
production) via PBU Liquid

11
 Example 2 Formation Water Breakthrough
K15-FK-106 K15-FK-106
THP (Barg)
2 200 100 2 200 100 K15FK1.FIC-01-6.PV
0.256 Gas Rate (e3 m3/d
6Nm3/d
1.8 1.8
K15FK1.PI-02-6.PV
Temparature (C)
64.5
1.6 1.6 barg
Wet BU
K15FK1.TI-02-6.PV
77.2
1.4 Dry BU 1.4 C

1.2 1.2

1 1

0.8 0.8

0.6 0.6

0.4 0.4

0.2 0.2

0 0 0 0 0 0
10/01/2011 16:44:57.338 5.00 days 15/01/201127/03/2011 16:44:57.338
16:44:57.338 5.00 days 01/04/2011 16:44:57.338
K15-FK Flowline WH-106 K15-FK Flowline WH-106
12
 Example 3 Tight Gas with Natural Fractures
PW27

10 200 CMS_PW-FI-0580 THP (Barg)

1.50272
9 T/J DAY Gas Rate (e3 m3/d
CMS_PW-PI-0583
116.59230
8 BARG

Dry BU Wet BU
6

0 0
21/12/2010 10:02:14 7.27 days 28/12/2010 16:32:05
7.01 days 13
16/09/2010 01:33:23
 Metastable Production
Pressure [bara]
50 60 70 80
3200

3400
Well depth [m]

3600 Un-Loaded

3800

4000

4200
Flowing gas gradient unloaded
Flowing gas gradient loaded Loaded
Pore pressure 14
Example 5a Bubble Flow
THP (Barg)
Gas Rate (e3 m3/d
Temparature (C)

Qmin~190e3 m3/d

Qmeta~50e3 m3/d

15
Example 5b Bubble Flow (SPE 153073)

16
Model Liquid Loading

17
 Turners Criteria Qmin
Turners Equation
Heaviest Fluid decides Liquid 1
Loading (i.e Water) 1.593 4 ( l g ) 14
Vt = 1
Independent of WGR g2
2 7/8" 3 1/2" 5" 7"
300
Minimum gas velocity translated 5 tubing & 20 bar FTHP
into minimum gas rate at 250 Qmin=70,000 m3/d
wellhead 200

Qmin (e3 m3/d)

Qmin = TC.FTHP0.5.ID2/[(FTHT+273).Z]
Water of condensation sufficient 150

to cause liquid loading

100

50

0
0 20 40 60 80 100
FTHP(bar)

18
Qmin Wellbore Model, Bottomhole Pressure

Takes multi-phase flow

regime along entire
wellbore into account
Bottom of lift curve is
accepted as most
Slug Churn Annular
representative minimum
stable rate steady state
production left of bottom is
VLP IPR
possible but unreliable
Bottom Turner
Especially at higher Qmin
Pres=50 bar, A=10, FTHP=10 bar, ID=4.291 (above 50e3 m3/d or 2
WGR=100, CGR=100 MMscf/d)
WGR=0, CGR=100
WGR=0, CGR=0
19
Importance of Liquid Loading

20
Material Balance Single Tank

Determine incremental reserves based on reduction of minimum

achievable reservoir pressure (Pmin)

Qmin=0.3 mln m3/d

350 (P/Z)ab=34 bar K7-FB-101
300 UR=1.62 Bcm
P/Z (bara @ datum level)

K7-11
250 Material Balance

200 Qmin=0.15 mln m3/d

150 (P/Z)ab=28 bar
100
UR=1.66 Bcm
(RF +2%)
50

0
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0

Gas Produced (mrd m3)

21
 GWD Very Important for Tight Gas Reservoirs
Reservoir Quality
100%

Compression
GWD
Recovery Factor

HorWell Primary
Stimulation Depletion
0%

Tight Poor Moderate Prolific

22
Gas Well Deliquification
Methods

23
 Wellhead compressor
Gas Well Deliquification

Increase gas rate above Qmin

Compression, stimulation, gas
lift, intermittent production
Reduce Qmin
Compression, velocity string,
foam, plunger
Remove liquid
Downhole pump Continuous foam

24
Life-Cycle GWD Strategy

Early Life Mid-Life Late Life

Casing Flow Compression More
Tubing Flow Velocity Compression
Intermittent String Gas Lift
Production Foamer Downhole
Plunger Pump

25
Deliquification Techniques

1. Intermittent production
2. Compression
3. Velocity string
4. Continuous foam
5. Plunger lift
6. Gas lift
7. Downhole pump

26
Intermittent Production

27
 Size of the
Natural Cycle
Prize
(1) & (5) Stable production: both gas &
liquids produced to surface

(2) Liquid loading: liquids no longer

produced to surface, gas production
declines as liquid column builds 1 2 3 4 5

(3) Meta-stable production: some gas

produced to surface, liquids injected
downhole

(4) No production: no gas production,

liquids injected downhole, pressure recovery

28
 Size of theCycle
Managed Prize Intermittent Production (IP)
(1) & (5) Stable production: both gas &
liquids produced to surface

(2) Liquid loading: liquids no longer

produced to surface, gas production
declines as liquid column builds 1 2 3 4 5

(3) Meta-stable production: gas produced

to surface, liquids injected downhole

(4) No production: no gas production,

liquids injected downhole, pressure
recovery

29
 IP Field Example 1
COV33

1.E+05 50
THP (Barg)
90000 Gas Rate (e3 m3/d

1 2 3 4 5
80000

70000

5
60000 1 1 5

50000

2 2
40000

30000

3
20000 4

10000
4
0 0
07/10/2010 00:00:00 2.00 days
30
09/10/2010 00:00:00
Two Tank Model

Reservoir pressure at onset of Vfast Vslow

liquid loading is unchanged
for fast tank Pslow
Reservoir pressure at onset of
liquid loading is higher for Pfast Crossflow
slow tank, difference Pslow2 Pfast2 = R.Q
controlled by inflow and
crossflow parameters Inflow
Slow tank gas volume left at Pfast2 FBHP2 = A.Q + F.Q2
FBHP
elevated pressure represents
gas volume available for Outflow
FTHP FBHP2 = B.FTHP2 + C.Q2
intermittent production

Fast
Slow Tank
Tank
31
Production Forecast (Vfast/Vslow=0.10, A/R=0.20)

Pi = 350 bara
OGIP = 500e6 m3
Vfast/Vslow = 0.10
A = 20 bar2/(e3m3/d)
R = 100 bar2/(e3m3/d)

32
Uptime (SPE 153073)

Close to 100% uptime in

first stage of liquid loading

33
Compression

34
 Effect of Compression

Well close to
Liquid Loading
Stable
Production

BHP () = Phyd () + Pfric () + Pacc + FTHP ()

Increased gas rate above Qmin and reduced Qmin
35
 Twin-Screw Pumps
Liquid knock out

Bornemann SLM Series Bornemann Leistritz MPS Series

Single-Well Well-Cluster Pump Single-Well Pump
8-1,100 Mscf/day (227- up to 15,000 Mscf/day 160-2,400 Mscf/day
31,000 m3/day)* (425,000 m3/day)* (4,500-68,000 m3/day)*
16 bar (232 psi) Boost up to 50 bar (700 psi) 10-20 bar (150-300
8-90 kW (10-120 hp) Boost psi) Boost
Applications: Application: 20-350 hp (15-260 kW)
Title
File

Penn West (Canada) - Red Mobil (Canada) Applications:

Earth Field Talisman Energy
ExxonMobil (Germany) (Canada)
* At Pwellhead = 10 bar (150 psig)
Lastrup Field 36
Velocity String

37
 Effect of Velocity String

VS- Qmin Qmin

Increase in Gas Velocity - Reduced Qmin

38
 Velocity String Example 1
TID305 7 Casing 3-1/2 Tubing 2 VS
50000 50 50
VS Installed THP (Barg)
Gas Rate (e3 m3/d
Temparature (C)
40000

30000

20000

10000

0 0 0
01/07/2000 00:00:00
NATGAS NATGAS NATGAS
123.00 days 39
01/11/2000 00:00:00
 11
/1
/1

0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
11 99
/1 6
5/
11 1 9
/2 96
9/
12 199
/1 6
3/
12 199
/2 6
7/
1
1/ 996
10
/1
1/ 997
24
/1
99
2/ 7
7/
19
2/ 9
21 7
7 Casing

/1
9
3/ 97
7/
1
3/ 997
21
/1
9
4/ 97
4/
1
4/ 997
18

Average rate for 90 days prior to installation: 246 mcfd

/1
Velocity String Example 2

99
5/ 7
2/
19
5/ 9
16 7
/1
5/ 997
30
2-3/8 Tubing

VS Installed

/1
6/ 997
13
/1
6/ 997
27
/1
7/ 997
11
/1
7/ 997
25
/1
99
1-1/4 VS

8/ 7
8/
19
8/ 9
22 7
/1
99
9/ 7
5/
1
9/ 997
19
/1
10 997
Total Cost: $20,121

/3
/
10 199
Average for last 30 days: 327 mcfd

/1 7
7/
10 1 9

/3 97
MCFD

1/
Line PSI

19
Projection

97
Tubing PSI
Casing PSI

40
Paid out in 3 months
 Gas Rate (ks cf/d)

1000
1200

0
200
400
600
800
10/1/1999

10/15/1999

10/29/1999

11/12/1999

11/26/1999

12/10/1999

12/24/1999

1/7/2000

1/21/2000

2/4/2000

2/18/2000
5-1/2 Casing

Average rate for 90 days prior to installation: 911 mcfd

3/3/2000

MCFD
3/17/2000

3/31/2000

4/14/2000
Velocity String Example 3

4/28/2000

Line PSI
5/12/2000
VS Installed

5/26/2000

6/9/2000
2-3/8 Tubing

6/23/2000

projection
7/7/2000

7/21/2000

8/4/2000

8/18/2000

9/1/2000
1-1/4 VS

cumwedge

9/15/2000

9/29/2000

10/13/2000

10/27/2000

11/10/2000
Huge reduction in well capacity

11/24/2000

12/8/2000
Average rate for last 30 days: 539 mcfd
Timming of VS installation is crucial

12/22/2000
Gross Cost: $19905

-80
-60
-40
-20

-120
-100

Cum We dge (MMscf)

41
Foam-Continuous/Intermittent

42
 Foam Injection
Continuous 143]
Foam (CF) [TC 285
Surfactant at bottom of tubing induces
foaming
Foam stabilizes liquid film and delays
film reversal thus reducing Qmin
Less effective with condensate (acts as
natural defoamer)

Methods of injection
Capillary string injection
Batch Foam
Soap sticks
Automated

43
 Continuous Foam Lift 143]
(CF) [TC 285

Continuous injection of surfactant solution

via 1/4 capillary string
Reduces Qmin by 30%
Foam concentration 1,000-10,000 ppm
Qgas independent of Foam concentration
200

150
Gas Rate (e3 Sm3/d)

100

50

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Foam Injection Rate (L/d)
44
Installing cap string
Continuous Foam LiftField
Field
Example
Example
1

45
CF Field Example
Continuous Foam Solutions to Retain SCSSV
Actuated Manual

Onshore Offshore
SV SV
KW FWV KW FWV
UMGV=SSV UMGV=SSV
LMGV LMGV Surfactant
Control line fluid and Surfactant

Control line fluid

REN-LMGV
FV=SCSSV FV=SCSSV

46
Plunger

47
 Plunger Lift

The various parts of a plunger lift are:

1. Bottomhole spring 4
3
8
2. Plunger
5
3. Arrival sensor
7
4. Lubricator/catcher 6
5. Pressure transducers
6. Motor valve(s)
2
7. Gas flow meter
8. Wellhead controller
1

48
 Plunger Lift: Working
Plunger at surface, well open: Gas is
produced, liquid accumulates on top of
1. the standing valve

Well shut-in: Plunger drops to the bottom

2.

Plunger on bottom with liquid slug on

top: Casing pressure builds up
3.

Well open: Casing gas expansion pushes

plunger plus liquid to the surface.
4.

Plunger at surface, well open: Gas is

produced, liquid accumulates
5.
49
 Plunger Lift Example 1
WYK-32

Plunger arrives
Well Open up
1.E+05 20 50
THP (Barg)

Plunger falls
Well Shut in
90000
Gas Rate (e3 m3/d
80000
Temparature (C)
70000

60000

50000

40000

30000

20000
Shut-in
Flow period
Plunger rises

10000 period
0 0 0
01/07/2012 19:54:57 6.00 hours 02/07/2012 01:54:49

Target velocity up = 150-300 m/min

1200 m AHD in 6 min = 200 m/min

50
Gas Lift

51
 Effect of Gas Lift in Gas Wells

LGR = 1585
sm3/Msm3

PRes = 58 Bara

Lift Gas Ratio Limited to 1

Gas Lift
Flow
Natural
FBHP (in Bara)

Reservoir Depletion
Paban = 53
Bara

Pgain = 8 Bar

Optimum Gas Injection

Rates Paban = 45
Bara

Injected Gas Ratio

Supplies additional gas thus reducing the Qmin

52
Gas Lift Completions

Coiled tubing with

Side Pocket
internal mounted Retrofit
Mandrel
gas lift valves.
53
Downhole Pump

54
Effect of Downhole Pump

55
Deliquification Selection

56
One Tool Does Not Solve All Problems

57
 Deliq Selection Process

In the Deliq selection process, the feasibility is evaluated based on the following
factors:

Dimension limitations Service or support

Wellbore configuration
Reliability
Desired rate versus depth
Efficiency
Reservoir abandonment
pressure
Footprint
Temperature
Environmental impact
Fluid make-up and properties
Gas-to-liquid ratio
Productivity
Chemical properties
Solids or sand
Connected volume
Infrastructure
Reference: Lea, J.F. et al., Whats New in Artificial Lift?, World Oil, May 2013, 55-67
Shell International Petroleum Co. Ltd. RESTRICTED September 2013 58
 Deliq Selection Curves

Tbg ID 4
FTHP 100 bara
WGR 100 m3/e6sm3
100
Pmin (bara)

10
1 10 A (bar2/e3Sm3/d) 100 1000
Prolific NFA Compression VelString_2" Foam
Tight
Plunger VelString_2"+Plunger GasLift_Dry Pump

59
 Deliq Selection Table

Criteria MWHC VS CF GL DP PL

High LGR ?
Limited by
Large Start-up Good at
No Issues pump High Freq
Separator Issues High WCR
capacity

Solids ? ?
Require Large May cause
No Issues No Issues No Issues
separation amounts jamming

Completion ? ? ?
Mandrel or Large Tbg Monobore
No Issues No Issues No Issues
Retrofit size Completion

60
 Deliq Selection Table

Criteria MWHC VS CF GL DP PL

Deviation ? ? ?
Can be
<50-60
No Issues installed in No Issues <50-60
(Wireline)
long Horiz.

Costs ?
Low
High Mid Mid High Low
(CO avail.)

Reliability ? ? ?
LK-2
Excellent Excellent Limited
failures

61
GWD Selection
Make GWD Part of
Summary
Initial Well & Facility Design

Select tubing size that is robust against low productivity scenario

Adopt monobore to avoid liner loading & to allow use of plunger
Include actuated (flow wing) valve and wellhead P/T gauge upstream
of flowing wing valve for intermittent production
Provide well profile to hang off velocity string
Provide wellhead / Xmas tree access for continuous foam, gas lift
and/or pump hydraulics
Provide flowline/manifold access for mobile compression
Plan for power for compression
Plan for gas lift flowlines for gas lift
.....................

62
63