Well Problems and Solutions, Well Problem, Solutions

WELL PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS
pg. 60 YENNAI HYDROCARBONS AND SERVICES PVT. LTD.

Well Produced Problems

Objectives
Understand the Well produced problems
Know how to remedy these problems.
Know what kind of problems that can occur within a separator.
Know how to remedy these problems.
Emulsions
Emulsions are stable mixtures of two immiscible liquids. Emulsions are
stabilized by an emulsifying agent which is a film of surface active agents that
reduces the interfacial tension between the oil and water. Given sufficient time,
most emulsions will dissipate naturally.
However, to reduce the retention time needed and break the emulsion, the film
of emulsifiers is normally altered by heat, chemicals, mechanical devices or a
combination of the three.
The two main emulsion types are:
(1) water-in-oil (invert) emulsion
(2) oil-in-water (direct) Emulsion

Demulsifiers
The demulsifiers or emulsion breaker chemicals are surface active and must
specifically target the particular emulsion being produced. The desired chemical
will penetrate the fluid, disrupt the emulsifying film, breaking the emulsion and
allowing the liquids to disperse. The demulsifiers can be injected downhole, in
the manifold or pipelines and by batch in storage tanks

Foaming Crude Oil
If the pressure is reduced on certain types of crude oil, tiny spheres (bubbles) of
gas are encases in a thin film of oil when the gas comes out of solution. This
results in foam, or froth. Foaming greatly reduces the capacity of oil and gas
separators since a much longer retention time (up to 20 minutes) is required to
adequately separate and stabilize a given quantity of oil
The main factors that assist in "breaking" foaming oil are:
1. Settling or retention time
2. Agitation
3. Heat
4. Chemicals (ex. Foam breakers or solvents w/silicone additives)
5. Vortex inlets

Paraffin Deposition
Paraffin deposition in oil and gas separators reduces their efficiency and may
render them inoperable by partially filling the vessel and/or blocking the mist
extractor and fluid passages. Paraffin can be effectively removed from
separators by steaming or by use of solvents.
Paraffin buildup downhole can cause serious reduction in production to the
point of complete blockage. Some of the possible solutions employed, may
include:
Wireline scrapping
Hot oil treatments/circulation
Bacteria injection (certain types feed on paraffin)

Liquid Load up in Gas Wells
The occurrence of liquid loading up in the flowing tubing or annular string is
usually associated with wells of low to moderate gas productivity and high
water or oil to gas production ratios.
Initial indications of liquid in the hole may be an unusually low shut-in
wellhead pressures and/or a large difference between tubing head and casing
head pressures if there is no packer in the hole.

Hydrating Conditions
The formation of hydrocarbon ice crystals or hydrates will occur at any point in
a gas or liquid hydrocarbon flow system, where the temperature reaches the
hydrate point for the pressure condition and the nature of the fluid in the system.
As a general rule, the hydrating temperature rises with higher pressures, and
starting with methane, also rises with the higher carbon components.
Since the throttling of a stream causes a drop in temperature by expansion, some
of the common hydrating points on a surface flow system are:
Chokes
Valves
Orifices
Sharp bends or restrictions in piping

Sand, Mud
Sand production is more likely to occur with high productivity wells. The sand
may originate from the formation rock and be "sloughed off" into the wellbore,
or it may be sand recovered following a frac stimulation job. The risk of sand
production increases with higher drawdowns. Underbalanced perforating is
believed to produce perforations which are cleaner and less prone to sand
production because of reduced differential pressures at the perforations. Other
services that may be employed, depending on the wells parameters, include:
Gravel packs / sand screens
Sand consolidation treatments
Sand production can be monitored at surface by:
BS&W samples at the choke manifold.
Erosion probes at choke manifold
Sand detectors measure the acoustical noise created by sand impinging
eitheron a probe in the flow stream or on the internal wall of the flow pipe.

H2S
Hydrogen sulfide, H2S, often called "sour gas," packs a double barreled punch.
H2S is a poisonous gas. There is the indirect threat to human safety caused by
H2S attack on metals, especially steel, used in pressure control equipment. H2S
is a colourless, flammable gas having an offensive odour and sweet taste. The
smell at low concentrations is similar to that of rotten eggs.

Symptoms
Exposure results in irritation, principally smarting of the eyes, a persistent
cough,
Tightening or burning of the chest, and skin irritation. There is no known
antidote for H2S.

General Well Trends

CLEAN-UP PHASE

Wellhead pressure
Wellhead pressure will drop from the shut-in pressure as the well is opened
to flow.
Wellhead pressure will increase ass the fluid cushion and extraneous fluids
are replaced by lighter reservoir fluids
Wellhead pressure will slowly decrease with depletion of the reservoir

Wellhead Temperature
Well head temperature will increase with the flow of hot reservoir fluids
Wellhead temperature will stabilize with well flow stabilization

Annulus Pressure
Anulus pressure may be altered for the operation of annulus pressure (apr)
tools.
Annulus pressure will increase with the flow of hot reservoir fluids
Annulus pressure will stabilize with well flow stabilization


BS&W
Extraneous fluids will decrease and eventually dissipate
Water cut will stabilize

Salinity
Salinity will stabilize near formation water

PH After acidizing, water pH will Steadily move toward 7.

H
2
S H
2
S levels win increase then somewhat stabilize

Co
2
Co
2
levels will stabilize

Downstream of Choke Pressure
Pressure downstream of the choke will dependent upon wellhead pressure,
choke Size, fluid flow rates and test systems
Critical now conditions should exist
Downstream of Choke Temperature will be less than well head temperature
due to expansion at the choke causing a cooling effect
Tank Volume
Extraneous liquid return will be initially high. Rates will be whp/choke
dependent
Flare/Burner
Quality of burn will initially indicate the return of extraneous fluids.
Quality and intensity of fire will improve with the production of higher
percentages of reservoir fluids
Oil burner pressure will be dependent upon flow rate and nozzle(s)
arrangement; stabilizes with well flow.

Problem Solving Abnormal Trends

Clean-Up phase

Symptoms Cause Action
Well head Presure
Increasing Choke plugging Adjust choke
Choke Hydrates Use Heater
Chemical Injection
Increase Rate
Low Productivity Well
Continuing Clean-up
Nothing- Normal
Unloading of liquid in
in surges
Increase or Decrease
Choke Setting
Decreasing Well Loading Up

Normally increase
Choke Size
Choke Cutting Inspect

Decreasing Tubing hydration Reduce Rate
Chemical Injection
Shut In

Annulus Pressure
Increasing
Test String Leak Bleed Off
Possible Shut-In
Decreasing
Test Siring Leak
Packer Leak
Abort If Necessary

BS&W
Increasing
Water Coning
Sand Production
Reduce Rate


Increasing Choke Cutting
Downstream Restriction
Check Flow System
Decreasing Choke Plugging Adjust choke
Hydrate Formation Determine Hydrate
Point.
Adjust Choke, Use
Heater,
Chemical Injection

Downstream of Choke Temperature

Decreasing Larger Pressure Drop Stage chokes, Remain In
Critical Flow, Use
Heater
Choke Plugging Adjust choke

Oil Burner Pressure
Increasing Nozzle Plugging
Clear Nozzle
Decreasing Nozzle Cutting
Rate Declining
Replace Nozzle

Stable Well Flow
Wellhead Pressure & Temperature will have stabi1ized at the end of clean-
up
Annulus Pressure With stabilization of well flow; it will have stabilized

BS&W
Basic sediment should be insignificant
Water cut should be relatively constant

Salinity Should be relatively constant

Downstream of choke pressure
With stable well now and critical flow at choke, downstream pressure will be
dependent upon Separator

Downstream of choke temperature
Will increase with decrease of pressure drop across the choke, will decrease
with increase of pressure drop

Heater Temperature
If necessary, will be Stable provided stability of well flow and thermostatic
control

Separator Pressure
Will be stable after final setting of controls

Separator Temperature.
Will be relatively constant provided heater temperature and/or well flow are
stable

Gas Measurement
Pressure Upstream of Orifice Effectively equal to separator pressure
Pressure downstream of orifice (Static) Slightly less than separator pressure;
with stable flow. will increase with higher separator back pressure And/or
larger orifice plate size.

Differential Pressure
With stable flow deviation of pressure upstream and downstream of orifice is
dependent upon separator pressure & and orifice size; variance win increase
with decrease of separator pressure and/or small orifice.

Downstream Gas Temperature
Will be less than separator temperature due to expansion

Gas Specific Gravity
With stable well and separator conditions will be relatively constant: may be
seen to vary inversely with separator pressure

H
2
S - Will be increasing constant
Co
2
- Will be relatively constant

Oil Measurements
Oil Flow rates - With stable now will be relatively constant
Oil Temperature- Will be close to separator temperature.
Oil API Gravity- With stable rate will be relatively constant
BS&W- Water cut should be negligible
Shrinkage - May be seen to vary directly with changes in separator pressure

Water Measurements
Water Flow rates With stable flow will be relatively constant
GOR Saturated Oil Reservoir Will initially increase then stabilize
Other Reservoirs With stable flow should be relatively constant
Separator GOR - Will be affected by separator conditions; increases with
decreasing separator pressure increases with increasing temperature.

Problem Solving Abnormal Trends

Stable Well Flow

Symptoms Cause Action
Well head Pressure
Increasing Choke plugging Adjust choke
Choke Hydrates Use Heater
Chemical Injection
Increase Rate
Low Productivity Well
Continuing Clean-up
Nothing- Normal
Unloading of liquid in
in surges
Increase or Decrease
Choke Setting
Decreasing Well Loading Up

Normally increase
Choke Size
Choke Cutting Inspect

Decreasing Tubing hydration Reduce Rate
Chemical Injection
Shut In

Annulus Pressure
Increasing Test String Leak Bleed Off
Possible Shut-In
Decreasing Test Siring Leak
Packer Leak
Abort If Necessary

BS&W
Increasing Water Coning
Sand Production
Reduce Rate


Increasing Choke Cutting
Downstream Restriction
Check Flow System
Decreasing Choke Plugging Adjust choke
Hydrate Formation Determine Hydrate
Point.
Adjust Choke, Use
Heater,
Chemical Injection

Downstream of Choke Temperature

Decreasing Larger Pressure Drop Stage chokes, Remain In
Critical Flow, Use
Heater
Choke Plugging Adjust choke

Separator Static Pressure
Increasing Back Pressure Problem Examine Controller/
Valve
Action
Downstream Restriction Check flow System
Decreasing Back Pressure Problem Examine Controller/
Valve
Action
Wrong Valve open Check Relief, Drain,
Liquid valves for exit
point
Upstream Restriction Check flow System
Erratic Back Pressure Problem Examine controller/valve
Action: If cycling,
increase
P.B: If hunting, Decrease
Below Bubblepoint Reduce Rate: Put more
Back pressure on well

Separator Differential Pressure
Increasing Choke Cutting Verify WHP Drop
Replace Choke
Liquid or Leak In
Barton Downstream Line
Drain or Inspect
With Soapy Water
Temperature Increase Ambient or Heater
Decreasing Choke Plugging Verify WHP Drop
Adjust Choke
Liquid or Leak In
Barton Downstream Line
Drain or Inspect
With Soapy Water
Temperature Decrease Ambient or Heater

Separator Oil Meter Rates
Increasing Passing Gas Raise level, prove meter
at tank
Decreasing Damaged Meter Use Secondary Meter
repair/replace parts
Erratic Wrong Sensitivity Adjust Proportional band
setting

BS&W
Increasing Water level height Lower water level
Separator Water meter rates
Increasing Passing gas Raise level, prove meter
at tank
Decreasing Damaged Meter Use secondary tank
repair/Replace parts
Tank Readings
Erratic Foamy Oils, Emulsions Allow More Retention
Time. Use two
Compartment vessel
Liquid Densities Drain off Heavier liquid
to improve u-tube in
sight glass
Oil Burner Pressure
Increasing Nozzle Plugging Clear Nozzle
Decreasing Nozzle Cutting
Rate Declining
Replace Nozzle
Flare visual
Abnormal Burn Separator Liquid Lower liquid Level,
check Separator Valving
for Exit Point

Well Problems and Solutions, Well Problem, Solutions

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WELL PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

pg. 60 YENNAI HYDROCARBONS AND SERVICES PVT. LTD.

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