Table of Contents

Vol. 8, No.2
2nd Quarter 2002

SWPSC Addresses Operational Topics

During April in Lubbock, Texas, the Southwestern Petroleum Short Course (SWPSC) held its 49th annual meeting. The SWPSC is widely recognized for its strong operations focus, and the 2002 version was no exception. To give readers a flavor, the following highlights the essentials from just four of 47 presentations.

Electrical Submersible Pumps (ESPs)—On and Offshore Problems and Solutions (James Lea, Texas Tech University and others). This 2002 presentation was fifth in a series (over 10 years) of presentations about ESP problems and solutions. The authors conclude, from the literature and experience, that monitoring, problems with harsh conditions, subsea applications, unique completion configurations, use of coil tubing, and ESP run life are of strong interest. Also, the applications in harsh conditions, gas, and heavy oil are continuing obstacles to long run lives and proper design. Comparing results over a 10+ year span, the authors conclude that harsh conditions and run life remain primary concerns, but problems identified with downhole components have decreased. Significantly, the paper contains an extensive list of ESP-related references—something the Aficionado can sink their teeth into.

Production Operations Wear Prevention Solutions, David Stuart and Richard King, R&M Energy Systems). Technological advancements for wear prevention include: (1) advanced chemical treatment designs to reduce corrosion, (2) continuous rods, eliminating the rod coupling to reduce tubing wear, (3) rod guides and rod rotators, and (4) tubing rotators, in conjunction with rotating tubing hangers and downhole tubing swivels. Data from Canadian wells, comparing before and after average days operating between failures, illustrates the dramatic improvements that can be achieved.

Well Casing Cathodic Protection Evaluation Program in the Spraberry (Trend Area) Field, Clay Breisford, Bass Engineering and Craig Kuiper and Carl Rounding, Pioneer Natural Resources, Inc. Pioneer operates more than 3,500 wells in the Spraberry Trend area. Casing failures have been a major expense over the last three years, and trending failure history indicates a swiftly rising failure rate. Study of individual failures revealed that 75% have occurred between 3,500 and 6,000 ft. The San Andres, a saltwater bearing and saltwater disposal zone, is suspected to be the primary cause of failures below 3,500 ft. Pioneer implemented a 60-well, pilot cathodic protection program in late 2001. Assuming cathodic protection effectiveness of 80%, payout for the program occurs in 2.2 years and the rate of return exceeds 50%.

Oil Field Grounding, T.R. Brinner with PM&D Engineering, Inc. and J.D. Atkins, Deans, Inc. This editor, not being a field specialist but one who has lived his entire life where "thunder boomers" are common, found this discussion of oil field grounding very enlightening. Thrust of the article was to describe "consensus" within the industry on grounding and protection of oilfield equipment from electrical surges. In the hands of a committed operations superintendent and qualified field electrical crew, this could save operators money NOW, even yet this summer.

Proceedings of the SWPSC are available on CD-ROM for $200, one can get a 3-CD set going back to 1954. $50 will purchase the latest CD covering the 1998-2002 time span. Visit their website (www.pe.ttu.edu/SWPSC/prod02.htm) for ordering information.

Top of Page

GRI Report Outlines Potential for Faster Mud Pulse Telemetry

An April 2002 GRI report by Halliburton Energy Services, GRI-02/0019 titled MWC Mud Pulse Telemetry System, outlines how a mud pulse telemetry system could be designed and fielded to increase data rates 10-20 bits per second, as opposed to current 1-3 bits per second rates. An 11,000 foot flow loop was built, and a hydraulically-actuated Research Poppet Pulser capable of generating high data rate designed, built and tested. Evaluation indicated the primary limiting factor to be the effect of the desurger which attenuates and distorts narrow, high data rate mud pulses. Telemetry receiver signal processing algorithms were developed and tested. Actual data rates could be expected to be lower than experimental rates.

Report is available through GRI's website (http://www.gastechnology.org/webroot/app/xn/xd.aspx?xd=10AbstractPage\13109.xml) for $60 to non-members, $35 for members.

Top of Page