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Eliminating
Liquid Loading in Gas Wells
Readers interested in getting more from
their gas well deliquification projects are directed to two
sources. First, an article by Pemex and Schlumberger on a
project in the Burgos Basin in Mexico. There Pemex was
experiencing severe liquid loading in the 650 gas wells they
operated. Working with Schlumberger, they implemented a
multi-year program in late 2001. By the end of 2005, 614 wells
had been analyzed and, of these, 99% have new production
systems. Additional production attributed to the project is
105 MMCFD. The project applied fully integrated, closed-loop
engineering starting with data preparation and ending with
real-time production monitoring and optimization.
Readers might be asking—why this article,
the wells are in Mexico and my operations are much smaller.
That may be true, but the article goes into extensive detail
on the data gathered, how it was analyzed and how the most
appropriate corrective action was determined. Tables on "Well
Diagnosis" and "Rules for System Selection" are quite
insightful. Concepts are illustrated well through discussion
of examples. Excerpted from "Eliminating Liquid Loading in
Burgos Basin (Mexico) Field," Oil & Gas Journal, Jan. 23,
2006, pp. 42-50. The second
recommended resource is presentations from the 2006 Gas Well
Deliquification workshop. Organized by the Artificial Lift
Research and Development Council and Texas Tech's Southwestern
Petroleum Short Course and held in Denver, this fourth annual
event was once again a sellout. Session topics included:
- New Technology
- Coalbed Methane
- Best Practices, Case Histories
- Challenging Well Configurations
Most presentations are now available
online (www.alrdc.com/
workshops/2006%20Gas-Well%20Workshop/presentations.htm)
for those wanting to dig into the details of keeping gas
wells unloaded.
Coiled-Tubing Conveyed Fracturing System
Using Baker Oil Tools' FASTFrac™ Systems,
operators can isolate and treat multiple intervals on one trip
into the well, cutting workover costs and reducing the total
time of completion. The coiled tubing-conveyed systems enable
zones to be stimulated and tested more quickly, and because
kill weight |
fluid is no longer needed, production results
can be more favorable. Wells can be completed and stimulated
"live," with no need for costly and time-consuming well kill.
These capabilities make the system particularly appropriate
for selective fracturing of bypassed pay zones in shallow and
intermediate gas wells.
An East Texas operator used the system to
fracture stimulate three Travis Peak zones in a Carthage Field
well. Production response was nearly triple that expected,
which is primarily attributed to the elimination of
kill-weight fluid as would have occurred in conventional
practice. Ten fewer days were also required for fracturing and
flow testing. Baker reports that the FASTFrac Fixed Straddle
system has been used successfully on more than 100 wells in
the Raton Basin to isolate and treat more than 300 zones. By
optimizing the frac design with pinpoint isolation, production
has been increased. Meanwhile, well completion costs are
reduced by completing multiple treatments in a single day.
Excerpted from information on Baker Oil
Tools' website
www.
bakerhughes.com/bot/Thru_
Tubing/new_press_fastfrac.
htm and "Coiled Tubing Conveyed Fracturing
System Increases Production," World Oil, February 2006, pp.
91-93 available online at
www.worldoil.com/Magazine/
MAGAZINE_DETAIL.asp?ART_ID=2808&MONTH_
YEAR=Feb-2006.
SPE ATW Focuses
on Refracturing
Individuals participating in a recent SPE
Applied Technology Workshop (ATW) in San Antonio focused on
Refracturing in Low-Permeability Reservoirs. The candidate
selection process has improved significantly in recent years
with different speakers outlining approaches that are working.
Other speakers addressed rock mechanics, refracturing design,
tiltmeter mapping and refracturing unconventional reservoirs.
Concepts were illustrated with many case studies covering
several different formations, including:
- Codell
- Green River Basin Frontier
- Fruitland coal
- Niobrara
- Austin Chalk
Readers who have not recently considered
refracing as a business opportunity are encouraged to read the
full article, then contact the |
named speakers. With improved insights on
refracturing and new technologies, operators are getting
results.
Excerpted from "Refracturing in
Low-Permeability Reservoirs," Journal of Petroleum Technology,
March 2006, pp. 24-27 available online at
www.spe.org/spe/jpt/
jsp/jptmonthlysection/0,2440,
1104_1585_0_5008025,00.
html.
Fiber Optic
Use Growing
This article by Tor Kragas with Weatherford
International describes the growth of fiber optic applications
in the oil patch, summarizing some of the current uses. First,
the growth in their application—optical monitoring systems
implementation has nearly doubled each year since 2000.
Weatherford International recently announced a milestone for
its optical monitoring systems—one million cumulative in-well
operating hours.
A single fiber-optic cable can support multiple
sensors. Customized solutions can be designed to address
specific downhole dynamic information requirements. Optical
systems do not degrade with long-term exposure to reservoir
temperatures and corrosive wellbore environments. Reliability
is further enhanced because optical systems have no downhole
electronics, no moving parts and a nominal part count. At the
same time, they offer ultra high-speed data transmission
capability with high bandwidth. Among others, applications
include:
- P/T measurement (most common): during
startup, to manage drawdown, pressure buildup and
interference testing
- Distributed temperature sensors:
production/injection profiling, flow anomalies
- Optical flowmetering
- Downhole seismic sensor
- Sand control applications
Details outlined in the article of how optical
sensing systems are being applied are fascinating. Considering
fiber optics versatility and stability, even more future
applications are likely.
Excerpted from "Optical Systems Deliver The
Goods," Hart's E&P, February 2006 available online at
www.eandpnet.com/articles/
features/4256. |
Tech
Transfer Track