Undulating Well Interface Depth Calculation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In hydrocarbon exploration, determining gas-oil and oil-water interfaces in undulating wells is challenging due to complex well trajectories, which affects well performance and production efficiency, especially during shut-in operations when fluids settle at various depths.
Innovation Solution
A computing system is used to determine gas-oil and oil-water shut-in interfaces by dividing the well into uphill and downhill sections, employing known gas-oil and water-oil ratios, temperature profiles, and pressure information to calculate interface depths, facilitating the installation of production enhancement devices and optimizing wellbore operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If well trajectories become more complicated to improve well performance, then production efficiency is improved, but determining gas-oil and oil-water interfaces becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The wellbore is divided into multiple sections based on trajectory characteristics (uphill, downhill, horizontal). Interface depths are calculated separately for each section using section-specific pressure and temperature profiles, then integrated to determine overall fluid interfaces. This segmentation approach handles complex undulating trajectories by breaking them into manageable segments with distinct flow characteristics.
2Productivity
If interface determination is performed in undulating wells, then production efficiency is improved, but calculation complexity increases due to complex well trajectories
Solution Approach 1:
The calculation process is segmented into discrete steps for each wellbore section. Pressure and temperature profiles are established separately for uphill, downhill, and horizontal sections. Interface depths are calculated section-by-section using iterative methods that account for local hydrostatic pressure variations, then combined to provide overall interface locations.
Solution Approach 2:
Pressure and temperature profiles serve as intermediary calculations that bridge the complex well trajectory geometry and the final interface depth determination. These intermediate profiles capture the effects of undulating trajectories on fluid distribution, enabling accurate interface calculation without directly modeling the entire complex geometry at once.
3Productivity
If pumps are installed without accurate interface depth information, then installation speed is improved, but pump restart reliability deteriorates due to improper submersion
Solution Approach 1:
Interface depths are calculated in advance during the planning phase, before pump installation. The calculated interface locations provide specific depth recommendations for pump placement, ensuring pumps will be properly submersed in the liquid phase. This preliminary determination prevents restart issues by establishing correct installation depths before field operations begin.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system accurately determines interface depths, enabling informed decisions on tubing specifications and pump placement, enhancing wellbore operations and production efficiency by ensuring devices are submerged in the liquid phase, thus avoiding restart issues.
Implementation Method 1
When the well is shut-in, the gas, oil, or water can settle and result in multiple gas-oil interfaces and oil-water interfaces at various depths
Data Source
AI summary
A system can determine a temperature profile based on a prior production temperature profile and a reference start point pressure for a well. The system can virtually divide the well into a plurality of sections including uphill sections and downhill sections. The system can determine a gas-oil interface depth for each section of the plurality of sections from a water-oil ratio and a gas-oil ratio based on the temperature profile and the reference start point pressure. The system can determine an oil-water interface depth for each section of the plurality of sections from the gas-oil ratio and the water-oil ratio based on the temperature profile and the reference start point pressure.