Well Design
An oil reservoir has been discovered in the North Sea. A vertical well has been drilled, a test
string inserted and flow characteristics measured. Fluid properties at stock tank and laboratory
conditions have been obtained. Reservoir simulations have been performed to predict the change
in watercut over the field life. The reservoir pressure will be maintained by water injection and
the preference is to avoid the use of artificial lift methods. The engineer is asked to perform the
following tasks:
Use the drill string test data to obtain a representative productivity index.
Use the systems analysis operation to generate a plot of oil flowrate against watercut for
each of the three tubing sizes.
Overlay the production plan data and identify the smallest size that allows this plan to be
met.
Data Available
Reservoir Conditions
Reservoir pressure
4,269 psia
Reservoir temperature
210F
Deviation Survey
The well is vertical from the well head on the sea bed. Mid perforations are at a depth of 9,500 ft
from the well head. The ambient temperature varies linearly between 210F at mid perforations
and 60F at the wellhead. The minimum casing inner diameter is 10". The generally accepted
overall heat transfer coefficient of 2 BTU/hr/ft2/F for well bores can be used throughout.
Minimum Pressure Allowed at the Wellhead
300 psia
Roughness (")
2.992
0.5
0.001
3.958
0.5
0.001
4.892
0.5
0.001
Year
Watercut (%)
12,000
12
10,500
20
9,400
35
7,500
40
7,000
47
6,000
54
5,000
10
60
4,300