Advanced Materials Research Vol.

402 (2012) pp 812-815

Online available since 2011/Nov/22 at www.scientific.net
(2012) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland
doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.402.812

A new nodal analysis method of artificial lifting system

Ruidong Zhao1,2,a , Chunming Xiong1, b, Zhen Tao3, c, Jianjun Zhang1,d,
Lei Su4,e, Chunqing Lin 5,f Huayong Liu6,g
1
Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, CNPC, Beijing, China 100083;
2
MOE Key Laboratory of Petroleum Engineering in CUP, Beijing102249;
3
Engineering Research Center of the MOE for Gas Energy Development & Utilization in China
University of Petroleum, Beijing, 102249;
4
Exploration and Development Research Institute of LiaoHe Oil Field, CNPC;
5
Oil Production Research Institute of Huabei oilfield, CNPC;6 Sinopec International Petroleum E&P
Corporation
a
zhaoruidong@petrochina.com.cn, bxiongcm@petrochina.com.cn, ctzhen1983@163.com,
d
zhangjj1964@petrochina.com.cn e58962167@qq.com fcyy_lincq@petrochina.com.cn
g
hyliu@sipc.cn

Keywords: Well performance curve; nodal analysis; artificial lifting; oil well;

Abstract: Nodal analysis, defined as a systems approach to the optimization of oil and gas wells, is
used to evaluate thoroughly a complete producing system. For the systematicness easily ignored
during the design of artificial lifting system, based on coordination principle of reservoir, wellbore
and lifting equipment, the concept of well performance curves are proposed. With the well
performance curves, a new nodal analysis method of artificial lifting system is obtained, which is
more efficient. Upstream and downstream pressure of pump and pressure difference provided by
pump are displayed in well performance curve, which reflects the property of the well itself.
Through further research of well performance curve, the energy of well itself will be fully
developed, system effectiveness will be raised, and energy consumption will be reduced.

Introduction
Nodal analysis, defined as a systems approach to the optimization of oil and gas wells, is used to
evaluate thoroughly a complete producing system[1]. Every component in a producing well or all
wells in a producing system can be optimized to achieve the objective flow rate most economically.
All present components - beginning with the static reservoir pressure, ending with the separator, and
including inflow performance, as well as, flow across the completion, up the tubing string, across
the surface choke (if applicable), through horizontal flow lines, and into the separation facilities-are
analyzed[5].
Flowing from reservoir to bottom and flowing in wellbore of oil and gas are two basic flow
behaviors of production, flow rules of them are different in essence, and they are two syntaxial
behaviors during production. When formation pressure is high, oil and gas could be lifted to the
ground through reservoir and wellbore using the energy of the formation itself. When formation
pressure is low, more energy needs to be increased to lift oil and gas to the ground[2]. If the well
could blow after completion, how is flow capacity, if it can not blow, how much energy will be
needed from lift equipment, it is mainly determined by the characteristics of well itself, which can
be depicted by well performance curve.
Calculation model of well performance curve
In this paper, Petrobras method [3] is chosen to describe the seepage procedure of the fluid in the
formation, which can be revised by well testing data. The mobility pattern of multiphase fluid in
wellbore can be describe by Beggs-Brill relational expression, temperature distribution of fluid in
wellbore is calculated by Hasan-Kabir model. When calculating, the fundamental parameters below
are used. The wellbore is vertical, formation pressure is 24 MPa, well depth is 2500 m, pump depth

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 Advanced Materials Research Vol. 402 813

is 2000 m, tubing inside diameter is 0.062 m, tubing outside diameter is 0.073 m, gas oil ratio is 20
m3/m3, water cut is 0, oil relative density is 0.8, natural gas relative density is 0.75, ect. The
procedure follows as below, or shown as Fig.1.
(1) According to IPR curve of well, a group of number of rate (Q1, Q2) are assigned, the
range of which varies between minimum and maximum.
(2) The determination of pump intake pressure (Pin)
Well flow pressure(Pwf1, Pwf2)of every rate can be calculated by IPR curve.
Pwf = IPR (Q ) (1)
Beginning with the well flow pressure, pressure distribution curve (curve 2 in Figure 1) of
wellbore is calculated by Beggs-Brill multi-phase flow model, Pump inlet pressurePin1, Pin2
can be obtained with the pump depthHp.
g f dv v dv
Pin = Pwf m (sin ) + m m m + m m m ( H perf H p )
gc 2 g c Dci gcd z
(2)
(3) The determination of pump outlet pressure (Pout) and pressure difference provided by pump
(Pn)

Beginning with well head pressure (Pt), pressure distribution curve (curve 3 in Figure 1) of
wellbore from well head to the pump output could be calculated, and also pump outlet pressure
Pout1, Pout2 can be obtained by
g f dv v dv
Pout = Pwh + m (sin ) + m m m + m m m H perf
gc 2 g c Dci gc d z
(3)
then the pressure difference provided by pumpPn1, Pn2can be calculated.
Pn = Pout Pin
(4)

H pt

Hp 3

Pin1 Pout1
Pn1
Pin2 Pout2
Pn2

2
P
Pwf2 Pwf1 Pr
1
Q1
Pwf1Q1
Q2
Pwf2Q2

Qmax
Q

Fig. 1 The coordination diagram of the system

814 Advances in Metallurgical and Mining Engineering

The plotting of well performance curve

According to the analysis above, functional relations, including Pin and Q, Pout and Q,Pn and Q,
can be obtained, expressing with curves, shown as Fig.2, well performance curves consist of these
three ones (Pin~Q, Pout~Q, Pn~Q). Pump intake pressure of different rates could be read from the
curve of Pin~Q, the fluid property at pump input could be calculated by pressure and temperature.
The intersection point of Pn~Q curve and horizontal axis means maximum flowing production of
this well, namely it could be blow if the rate blew this value, otherwise, it needs artificial lift,
pressure difference needed could be obtained from Pn ~Q curve. As displayed in the figure, the
larger the segment is, the higher the pressure difference provided by pump. The coordinate of this
group curves is transformed, Pn is the abscissa value Q, Pin, Pout are ordinate valueanother form
of well performance curve has been obtained. This form is convenient for the research of the later
nodal analysis method.

Fig. 2 Well performance curves

The meaning of well performance curve

Well performance curve consists of the information of IPR curve and tubing performance
relation(TPR) curve, reflecting operating characteristics of reservoir, fluid, well bore and others,
contributing for the analysis of well production capacity, from the curve, Pin, Pout, Pn of every Q,
as well as blow flowing rate, could be obtained. There are so many sensitive factors for well
characteristic curve, such as formation pressure, temperature, liquid producing capacity, fluid
property, casing parameters, tubing parameters, pump depth, tubing pressure. Through further
research of well characteristic curve, the energy of well itself will be fully developed, system
effectiveness will be raised, and energy consumption will be reduced.

Nodal analysis method

All possible swabbing parameter groups should be assigned, every group can correspond for
relevant performance curve of ESP. In Fig.3, well performance curve and performance curve of ESP
system have been drawn. Black curve is well performance curve, other are equipment performance
curves with different swabbing parameters. Every node of two types of curves is coordination point
corresponding swabbing parameter group.
 Advanced Materials Research Vol. 402 815

Fig.3 Characteristic curve of well and bottom hole system of ESP

Conclusions
(1) With this method, the models, depicting flowing principle of fluid in reservoir, wellbore
and pump, have been rearranged, two types of performance curves have been developed,
representing operating characteristics of well and equipment respectively.
(2) The information of IPR and TPR can be included into well performance curve, IPR and
TPR will not be calculated repeatedly. According to the value of system efficiency or production of
cooperation point, from high to low, different swabbing groups will be test by program, iterations
can be decreased, so the time of design needed will be substantially shortened.
(3) Physical significance of two types of curves is positive, convenient for sensitivity analysis,
some parameters, such as formation pressure, temperature, fluid production index and casing
specifications, only affect well performance curve; Some parameters, such as fluid property, tubing
gauge and pump depth, affect two types of curves simultaneously.
(4) It is still a nodal analysis method. The node is not pump input, pump output or well bottom,
but the pump. Inflow curve and outflow curve are replaced by well performance curve and
equipment performance curves.

Acknowledgements
This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China
(50674096), and the National Science and Technology major projects (2008ZX05009-05)

Reference
[1] K.E. Brown, J.F, Lea: Journal of Petroleum Technology 1985, P.1751-1763
[2] Q. Zhang. Principles and Design of Oil Production Engineering(Petroleum Industry Press,
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[3] Brown, K.E. The technology of artificial lift methods, Vol2(B), (Pennwell Publish Coperation.,
Tulsa, Ok).
[4] Sergio Caicedo, Suhail Carma, The Piston Tubing Rod Performance Curve: A New and Useful
Concept for Sucker-Rod-Pumping Analysis,paper SPE 123881 presented at the 2009 SPE
ATCE, New Orleans, Louisiana, (2009)
[5] J. Mach., E. Pmano, and K.E. Brown: A Nodal Approach for Applying System Analysis to the
Flowing and Artificial Lift Oil or Gas Well, paper SPE 8025 available at SPE, .Richardson,
TX.(1979)
Advances in Metallurgical and Mining Engineering
10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.402

A New Nodal Analysis Method of Artificial Lifting System

10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.402.812