GAS FIELD ENGINEERING

Gas Well Performance

© 2017 INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY PETRONAS SDN BHD
All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any
form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the permission of the
copyright owner.
 CONTENTS

• Gas Well Performance

• Static Bottom Hole Pressure (Static BHP)
• Flowing Bottom Hole Pressure (Flowing BHP)
 LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the session, students should be able

to:

• Determine static bottom-hole pressure (static

BHP) using different methods

• Determine flowing bottom-hole pressure (flowing

BHP) using different methods
 INTRODUCTION

• Gas wells’ monitoring is important for the oil and gas industry
because of the growth of the NG economic values

• Figure 1 illustrates a schematic of a typical gas producing well

• Ability of a gas reservoir to produce from a given set of reservoir

conditions depends directly on the flowing bottom-hole pressure,
Pwf

• The ability of the gas reservoir to produce a certain quantity of gas

depends both on the inflow performance relationship (IPR) and the
flowing BHP

• The flowing BHP depends on the separator pressure and the

configuration of piping system
 INTRODUCTION

Figure 1. Gas Producing Well Schematic

 FLOWING BOTTOM-HOLE PRESSURE

• Flowing bottom-hole pressure can be expressed as:

𝑝𝑤𝑓 = 𝑝𝑠𝑒𝑝 + ∆𝑝𝑓𝑙 + ∆𝑝𝑐ℎ + ∆𝑝𝑡𝑏 + ∆𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡 Eq. (1)

𝑝𝑤𝑓 = flowing pressure, psia

𝑝𝑠𝑒𝑝 = separator pressure, psia
∆𝑝𝑓𝑙 = pressure drop in flowline, psia
∆𝑝𝑐ℎ = pressure drop in surface choke, psia
∆𝑝𝑡𝑏 = pressure drop in well tubing, psia
∆𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡 = pressure drop in in other restrictions,
such as subsurface safety valves, and valves,
fittings
 INTRODUCTION

• These conditions can be expressed as (Lee and Wattenbarger 1996,

Eq. 4.100):
𝑞𝑔 = 1000 ∗ 𝐶(𝑝2 − 𝑝𝑤𝑓 2 )𝑛 Eq. (2)

• The straight line’s extrapolation to the square of the pressure difference

evaluated at pwf= 14.7 psia determines the absolute open-flow (AOF)

• AOF is the rate at which the well could produce if the BHFP were
maintained at atmospheric pressure, it is also described as maximum
allowable production rates for individual wells

qg = gas flow rate (MMscf/D)

C = stabilized performance constant, MMscfd/(psia2)n
n = reciprocal of the slope of the line when log (𝑝2 − 𝑝𝑤𝑓 2 ) is plotted vs
log qg (0.5 for turbulent/mom-Darcy flow and 1 for Darcy flow)
𝑝ҧ = shut-in average reservoir pressure, psia
𝑝𝑤𝑓 = flowing pressure, psia
ABSOLUTE OPEN FLOW
 STATIC AND FLOWING BOTTOM-HOLE
PRESSURES
• Static or flowing pressure at the formation must be known in order to
predict the productivity or absolute open flow potential (AOF) of gas
wells

• Preferred method to determine the bottom-hole pressure is to use a

bottom-hole pressure gauge (down-hole pressure gauge)

• Static BHP or flowing BHP can also be estimated from wellhead data
(gas specific gravity, well head pressure, well head temperature, and
well depth)
 BASIC MECHANICAL ENERGY EQUATION
• Mechanical energy balance in the case of steady-state flow (Lee
and Wattenbarger 1996, Eq 2.26, Eq. 4.21):
144 𝑣 𝑔
𝑑𝑝 + 𝑑𝑣 + 𝑑𝑍 + 𝑑𝐹 = −𝑑𝑤𝑠 Eq. (3)
𝜌 𝑔𝑐 𝑔𝑐

• Mechanical energy balance in the case of steady-state flow with

no mechanical work is done on the gas (compression) or by the
gas (expansion through a turbine), the term ws is zero:
144 𝑣 𝑔
𝑑𝑝 + 𝑑𝑣 + 𝑑𝑍 + 𝑑𝐹 = 0 Eq. (4)
𝜌 𝑔𝑐 𝑔𝑐

ρ = density of the fluid, cuft/lbm

p = pressure, psia
g = local acceleration due to gravity, ft/sec2 𝑣
𝑑𝑣 = pressure drop due to kinetic energy, psia
𝑔𝑐
gc = constant, 32.17 ft-lbm/lbf-sec2
F = energy loss resulting from friction, ft-lbf/lbm
Z = distance in the vertical direction, ft
ws = total shaft work done by system, ft-lbf
𝑣 = average velocity of the fluid, ft/sec
BASIC MECHANICAL ENERGY EQUATION
 STATIC BHP FOR SLANTED WELLS

• Second term in Eq. (3) & Eq. (4) express kinetic energy, where
changes in kinetic energy for gas flow are typically small
(neglected)

• The reduced form of the mechanical energy equation may be

written as:
144 𝑔 𝑓𝑣 2
𝑑𝑝 + 𝑑𝑍 + 𝑑𝐿 = 0 Eq. (5)
𝜌 𝑔𝑐 2𝑔𝑐 𝑑′

f = Moody friction factor, dimensionless

L = distance along flow path, ft
d‘ = internal pipe diameter, ft
𝑓𝑣 2
𝑑𝐿 = pressure drop due to friction, psia
2𝑔𝑐 𝑑′
 STATIC BHP FOR SLANTED WELLS

• For a static gas column, the basic mechanical energy balance is:

144 𝑔 Eq. (6)

𝑑𝑝 + 𝑑𝑍 = 0
𝜌 𝑔𝑐

• Assuming that g=gc

𝜌
𝑑𝑝 = − 𝑑𝑍 Eq. (7)
144
 STATIC BHP FOR SLANTED WELLS

• For slanted wells, the total length L and the depth Z are related:

𝑍
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = Eq. (8)
𝐿

• In differential form:

𝑑𝑍 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝑑𝐿 Eq. (9)

 STATIC BHP FOR SLANTED WELLS

• Density of a gas (  g ) at a particular point in a vertical pipe at

pressure p and temperature T may be calculated as (assuming a
single phase fluid that obeys real gas equation of state, EOS) (Lee
and Wattenbarger 1996, Eq. 4.7):

Eq. (10)
 STATIC BHP FOR SLANTED WELLS

• Combining Eq. (7), Eq. (9), and Eq. (10):

Eq. (11)
Basic Energy Equation

• Equation (11) forms the basis for all the methods developed to
estimate BHSP from surface measurements
 AVERAGE T & Z – FACTOR METHOD
• Both gas density and gas deviation factor are functions of pressure and
temperature (Lee and Wattenbarger 1996, Eq. 4.9)
• Pressure and temperature dependent and change with well depth.
Because of this dependency, it is difficult to solve the differential equation
(Eq. (11))
• In order to simplify the solution the average temperature and z factor
method is used, it assumes the T and z-factor to be constant:

Eq. (12)

The exact solution is: Eq. (13)

pts = static tubing-head pressure, psia where Eq. (14)

pws = BHSP, psia
s = average T and z-factor method
parameter, dimensionless
 AVERAGE T AND z – FACTOR METHOD

• Because depends on which is unknown, solution requires an

iterative process:

1. Assume a value of BHSP, , a good guess can be obtained

from:

2. Compute avg pressure & temperature & use it to find avg z-

factor

3. Calculate with the earlier equation.

4. Iterate on steps 2 through 4 until converges.

 EXAMPLE 1

Calculate the BHSP of a gas well with the average T and z-

factor method with the data given below:
EXAMPLE 1
EXAMPLE 1
 EXAMPLE 1

• Because of the simplifying assumptions made in its

development, this method is not accurate for deeper wells and
alternate methods should be used
 REVIEW OF BSHP ESTIMATION
• Average Temp. & z-Factor Method

Eq. (12)

Eq. (15)

The exact solution is: Eq. (13)

where Eq. (14)

 POETTMANN’S METHOD
• Assumes an average (constant) Temperature but allows the z-
factor to vary with pressure thus requires a more rigorous
calculation technique (Lee and Wattenbarger 1996, Eq. 4.12)

• Substituting into earlier equation and separating variable yields

Eq. (16)

• Integrate only the right side:

Eq. (17)
 POETTMANN’S METHOD
• Equation (17) is re-written in terms of pseudo-reduced pressure for
wider applicability (Lee and Wattenbarger 1996, Eq. 4.14)
• :
Eq. (18)

• Later, Poettmann broke the integral in two parts, choosing an

arbitrary integration limit of 0.2:

Eq. (19)

• Re-arranged:
Eq. (20)
 POETTMANN’S METHOD

• The integral has been numerically evaluated and

tabulated as a function of Ppr and Tpr

• This method does not require iteration

• Inclusion of z-factor in the integral causes this technique to be

potentially more accurate and applicable over a wider range of p &
T conditions than the average T and z-factor method
 POETTMANN’S METHOD
• Lee and Wattenbarger (1996) Appendix B page 275
 POETTMANN’S METHOD

Solution procedure:

1. Compute value of non-integral term and call it K:

Eq. (21)

2. Compute the pseudoreduced wellhead pressure, , and the

average pseudoreduced temperature,

3. Using the and , read from the table the value of the

integral
 POETTMANN’S METHOD

Solution procedure:

4. Determine by computing Eq. (20) using Eq. (21)

and appendix B

5. With the value of the integral in step 4 above, and the value of
average Tpr, read the value corresponding to Ppr

6. From the definition of pseudoreduced pressure, compute:

 EXAMPLE 2

Using the well data given in Example 1. calculate the BHSP using the
Poettmann Method:
EXAMPLE 2
EXAMPLE 2
EXAMPLE 2
 EXAMPLE 3

Pts = 2,450 psia

Tts = 70 oF
Tws = 300 oF
L = 5,000 ft
θ = 45.5o
where
Gas Properties
ɤg = 0.7 What is BHSP?
ppc = 700 psia
Tpc = 400 oR
 EXAMPLE 3
1. Calculate K
0.01875𝛾𝑔 𝐿𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 0.01875 0.7 5000 𝑓𝑡 cos(45.5)
𝐾= = = 0.07
𝑇ത 645 𝑅

2. Calculate pseudoreduced wellhead P and average pseudoreduced T

𝑝𝑡𝑠 2450 𝑝𝑠𝑖𝑎

𝑝𝑝𝑟,𝑡𝑠 = = = 3.5
𝑝𝑝𝑐 700 𝑝𝑠𝑖𝑎

𝑇𝑤𝑠 + 𝑇𝑡𝑠 300 + 460 𝑅 + 70 + 460 𝑅

𝑇𝑝𝑟 = 2 = 2 = 1.6
𝑇𝑝𝑐 400 𝑅

3. Enter Ppr,ts and 𝑇𝑝𝑟 into table in Appendix B and read = 2.642
EXAMPLE 3
 EXAMPLE 3

2.642 + 0.07 = 2.712

= 2.712 1.6

3.818 (𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛)

 CULLENDER AND SMITH METHOD
• Makes no simplifying assumptions for T or z-factor

• It has more rigorous and wider applicability

• Begin with the Equation 12:

Eq. (12)

• Separate variable and rearrange:

Eq. (22)
 CULLENDER AND SMITH METHOD
• Equation (22) right hand side reduces to:

Eq. (23)

• Left hand side (LHS) of Eq. (23) contains both p and T dependent
variable, it is difficult to evaluate the exact solution

• Cullender & Smith proposed a numerical approximation for the

LHS of Eq. (23)

• Their method consisted of a two steps procedure that used the

intermediate value for greater accuracy
 CULLENDER AND SMITH METHOD
• They defined the LHS integral as (Lee and Wattenbarger 1996,
Eq. 4.19):

Eq. (24)

• Where I is the integrand evaluated at either the surface, midpoint,

or bottomhole conditions as denoted by subscripts ts, mp, and ws,
respectively

• Integrand I is defined as:

Eq. (25)
 CULLENDER AND SMITH METHOD
Solution procedure:
23

23
 CULLENDER AND SMITH METHOD
Solution procedure:

The main Equation Used for

estimating BHSP
 EXAMPLE 4

Using the well data given in Example 1. calculate the BHSP using
the Cullender and Smith Method:
EXAMPLE 4

pseudoreduced

25
EXAMPLE 4
EXAMPLE 4
EXAMPLE 4
 ACTIVE LEARNING 3 – CLOSURE REVIEW PAIRS

• Make a group of 2 students

• Discuss 1 major topic covered during this session
• Each group explain for each topic the following:
1. What is the topic and why is it important?
2. What activities undergone to learn about the topic?
3. What interests you most about the topic?
• Student volunteer to explain his/her answer for one topic,
if your answer is great then you will get a PRIZE
 COURSE SUMMARY –
BOOKEND CLOSURE FOCUSED DISCUSSION
1. Determine static bottom-hole pressure (static BHP)
using different methods

2. Determine flowing bottom-hole pressure (flowing BHP)

using different methods
 CLOSURE
• Fill in the course survey only 4 short questions
• (1 minute)

Rating (scale 1-5):

 THANK YOU
© 2013 INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY PETRONAS SDN BHD
All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the permission of the copyright owner.
 Q&A
Session
FOURTH WEEK QUESTIONNAIRE SUMMARY
RED (STOP)

Writing base assignment (hand written)-

prefer calculation

Pop quiz at 8 am class/2 hours lecture/10

min late rule

Slow down teaching pace

More
exercise/example/explanation/break

Closure review/Active learning

Smile more :) you have beautiful smile

Too many equation/content in a day

Sometimes don’t understand

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
FOURTH WEEK QUESTIONNAIRE SUMMARY

GREEN (GO)

11am -1 pm class
Average Rating
Patient/So kind/considerate
= 4.7/5
Lecture pace/Time management

Exercise/ Solutions

Giving tips for test and final exam/Summarize

step/method in simple way

The break

Good explaination on Example (calculation)

during lecture /tutorial
Good/helpful and interesting lecture/ good
slides/Everything/ All is well/ Keep Rocking

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
 BHFP
• The methods developed for computing BHFPs from surface
measurements consider the flowing wellhead pressure, pressure
exerted by the weight of the gas column in the production string and
the energy losses resulting from gas flowing through pipe

• Energy balance equation simplifies to (Lee and Wattenbarger 1996,

Eq. 4.21):

Eq. (5)

Where gc is gravitational constant, in SI units gc=1 kg-m/N-s2, in field

units gc=32.17 lb-ft/lbf-s2

• Using the Real Gas EOS, the equation becomes:

Eq. (26)
 BHFP

• For a real gas flowing through a conduit with a circular cross

section, the average gas velocity at any point is:

Eq. (27)

• Substituting Eq. 27 into Eq. 26 yields:

Eq. (28)
 BHFP

• If we convert the dimensions of the pipe diameter from feet to

inches (d’ to d) and substitute dZ=cosθ dL, Eq. 28 becomes:

Eq. (29)

• This equation forms the basis for all methods developed to

estimate BHFP’s from surface measurements in gas wells
 PRESSURE LOSSES DUE TO FRICTION

• BHFP’s equations have an “f” term, the Moody friction factor,

which is a function of:

• gas properties
• gas flow rate
• internal pipe roughness
• type of flow regime (laminar, transitional, turbulent)

• Except for laminar flow, the frictional losses are estimated using
published correlations or develop in the lab
 FLOW REGIME DETERMINATION

• Reynolds Number, Nre (which is the dimensionless ratio of the

fluid inertial forces to the viscous forces), it is often used to identify
the nature of the flow regime. It is defined by:

• In terms of field units for gas flow:

Eq. (30)
 LAMINAR FLOW
• Fluid moves in imaginary layers, each layer gliding smoothly over
an adjacent layer:
• only molecular interchange of momentum
• viscous shear force dominate & dampen turbulence
• friction losses are caused primarily by the shear forces

• Flow is laminar when

• For laminar flow, Moody friction factor, “f” is inversely proportional

to Reynolds number:

Eq. (31)
 TRANSITIONAL (UNSTABLE FLOW)

• Reynolds number is between 2000 and 4000

• Both viscous and inertial forces become important

• Cannot theoretically predict pressure losses and must

rely on published empirical correlations derived from the
lab experiments such as Colebrook’s:

Eq. (32)
 TURBULENT FLOW

• Reynolds number is much higher than 4000

• Fluid particles move in a very erratic motion often

interchanging momentum in the transverse direction

• The friction factor is independent of Reynolds number

and depends only on the relative roughness

• Nikuradse’s empirical relationship can be used:

Eq. (33)
 JAIN AND SWAMEE’S CORRELATION

• For unstable and turbulent flowing conditions (Nre >

2,000) and assuming E = 0.0023 inches, the following
method can be used to calculate f directly:

Eq. (34)
 FANNING FRICTION FACTOR

• Equations 31 to 34 can be used to calculate f as a

function of flow regime, gas properties, gas flowrate and
internal pipe roughness

• We can also use these equations to calculate the Fanning

friction factor, fF which is related to the Moody Friction
factor, f by
Eq. (35)
 BREAK FOR 3 MINUTES
© 2017 INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY PETRONAS SDN BHD
All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any
form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the permission of the
copyright owner.
 AVERAGE T AND z-FACTOR METHOD

• Both gas density & z-factor are p and T dependent and

change with well depth

• If T and z-factor are assumed constant then a solution

can be obtained as follows

• The base equation can be re-arranged as (Lee and

Wattenbarger 1996, Eq. 4.35):

Eq. (36)
 AVERAGE T AND z-FACTOR METHOD

• Separating variable yields:

• Multiply both sides by cos and re-arrange:

 AVERAGE T AND z-FACTOR METHOD

• Further, if we multiply the numerator and denominator on the left

side by p2 and apply the limits of integration, we have:

Eq. (37)

• Following integration we can express Eq. (37) in terms of BHFP,

pwf:

Eq. (38)
 SOLUTION TECHNIQUE

• Because depends on Pwf which is unknown, solution requires an

iterative process.

1. Assume a value of BHFP, Pwf , a good guess can be obtained

from:

2. Compute avg pressure & temperature & use it to find avg z-

factor and gas viscosity

3. Calculate the friction factor, “f”

 Solution Technique
4. Calculate

5. Depending on the value of NRe, compute f using one of the

four equations or correlations

6. Calculate Pwf with the earlier equation

7. Iterate on steps 2 through 4 until Pwf converges

 EXAMPLE 5

• For the data given below, calculate the BHFP using the
average temperature and z factor method. Assume that
a one step calculation scheme is sufficiently accurate:
EXAMPLE 5
EXAMPLE 5
EXAMPLE 5
EXAMPLE 5
 BREAK FOR 3 MINUTES
© 2017 INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY PETRONAS SDN BHD
All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any
form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the permission of the
copyright owner.
 Sukkar & Conrnell Method for BHFP
• Similar to the Poettmann’s method for BHSP.Assumes that
Temp. can be represented by avg. value

• No avg. z-factor assumption

• The base equation above can be re-arrange as:

Sukkar & Conrnell Method: Derivation

Eq. (39)

Sukkar & Conrnell Method for BHFP

Sukkar & Conrnell Method: Derivation

Eq. (40)
Sukkar & Conrnell Method: Derivation

Eq. (41)
 Sukkar & Conrnell Method: Tables
• The LHS integrals have been evaluated numerically and
are tabulated in various references similar to the
Poetmann’s method for BHSP.
 Cullender & Smith Method for BHFP
• Unlike the two previous methods, this method makes no
simplifying assumptions for the variation of temperature and z-
factor in the wellbore

• To achieve accuracy, the wellbore is divided into two (or more

segments)

• Beginning with the base equation and separating variables:

Eq. (42)
 Cullender & Smith Method for BHFP
 Dividing the numerator and denominator of the left side of Eqn 32
by (Tz/p)2 and rearranging yields:

 After integrating the right side and reversing the limits of

integration, we have
 Cullender & Smith Method for BHFP
 LHS integral cannot be evaluated.

 Cullender & Smith proposed a numerical integration

scheme (similar as in BHSP)

 Split the well in two or more segments to improve

accuracy
Cullender & Smith Method for BHFP

RHS
 Gas Viscosity from Lee and Wattenbarger Ch. 1

• Equation 1.63 – 1.67, where viscosity in cP and density in g/cm3

 High P Gas Viscosity and 1 atm P Gas Viscosity
Ratio from Carr et al. (Ikoku 1992) Ch. 2.8
• To determine high P gas viscosity, the gas viscosity at 1 atm has to
be determined from plot that relates Molecular weight and T

• Then using plot that relates Ppr and Tpr to give the ratio of high P
viscosity and 1 atm viscosity

• Lastly, the high P viscosity can be calculated as multiplication of the

ratio with the 1 atm viscosity
 Gas Viscosity at P=1atm
from Ikoku (1992) Ch. 2.8
High P Gas Viscosity and 1 atm P Gas Viscosity
Ratio from Ikoku (1992) Ch. 2.8
Cullender & Smith Calculations
Cullender & Smith Calculations
Cullender & Smith Calculations
 BREAK FOR 3 MINUTES
© 2017 INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY PETRONAS SDN BHD
All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any
form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the permission of the
copyright owner.
 Example 6
 With the same data given in Example 4, calculate the
BHFP using the Cullender and Smith method assuming
a two-step calculation scheme is sufficiently accurate.
Example 6
Example 6
Example 6
Example 6
Example 6
 ACTIVE LEARNING 3 – CLOSURE REVIEW PAIRS

• Make a group of 2 students

• Discuss 1 major topic covered during this session
• Each group explain for each topic the following:
1. What is the topic and why is it important?
2. What activities undergone to learn about the topic?
3. What interests you most about the topic?
• Student volunteer to explain his/her answer for one topic
 COURSE SUMMARY –
BOOKEND CLOSURE FOCUSED DISCUSSION
1. Determine static bottom-hole pressure (static BHP)
using different methods

2. Determine flowing bottom-hole pressure (flowing BHP)

using different methods
 CLOSURE
• Fill in the course survey only 4 short questions
• (1 minute)

Rating (scale 1-5):

 THANK YOU
© 2013 INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY PETRONAS SDN BHD
All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the permission of the copyright owner.
 Q&A
Session
 Further Examples
1. Calculate the static bottom-hole pressure of a gas well having a
depth of 8570 ft. The gas gravity is 0.63 and the pressure at the
wellhead is 2800 psia. The average temperature of the flow string
is 124oF.Use average Temperature and Deviation Factor method.
Ppc=672,Tpc=358.

2. Calculate the static bottom-hole pressure of a gas well having a

depth of 9230 ft. The gas gravity is 0.66 and the pressure at the
wellhead is 3100 psia. The average temperature of the flow string
is 119oF. .Use average Temperature and Deviation Factor
method. Ppc=672, Tpc=358