Well Performance Case Study - Oil 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:
Task 1. Develop a Calibrated Blackoil Model
Plot and observe the partially calibrated oil formation volume factor (OFVF) over a range
of pressures and temperatures to identify any differences between the measured and the
predicted properties.
Apply calibration to the OFVF above the bubble point pressure and plot and observe how
the property curves are corrected.
Apply calibration to the OFVF below the bubble point pressure and plot and observe how
the property curves are corrected.
Plot the uncalibrated oil viscosity and give your observation regarding any differe nces
between measured and predicted data.
Apply calibration to the oil viscosity using first the measured dead oil data and then further
tuning with live oil data. Plot and observe how the property curves are corrected.
Apply calibration to the gas viscosity and the gas compressibility. Plot and observe how
the property curves are corrected.
Task 2. Develop a Well Inflow Performance Model
Use the drill stem test data to obtain a representative productivity index.
Task 3. Select a Tubing Size for the Production String
Find the smallest tubing size that will allow this production plan to be met on the basis that the
production string will not be replaced during field life. The tubing sizes available are 3-1/2", 41/2" or 5-1/2" for which the I.D.'s are 2.992", 3.958" and 4.892".
This can be determined as follows:
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.
Task 4. Perform NODAL Analysis
Plot and observe the IPR and VLP graph, and provide answers to below questions:
Operating Point Flow rate
Operating Point BHP

AOFP

Data Available
Reservoir Conditions
Reservoir pressure
Reservoir temperature
4500 psia
200F
Stock Tank Oil Properties
Watercut 0%, GOR 500 scf/STB, Gas SG 0.8, Water SG 1.05,API 36
Bubble Point Properties
Pressure 2,100 psia, Temperature 200F, Solution Gas 500scf/STB
Blackoil Calibration Data (Measured)
OFVF (above bubble point pressure)
1.32 @ 3,000 psia and 200F
OFVF (below bubble point pressure)
1.28 @ 1,900 psia and 200F
Dead oil viscosities
1.5 cP @ 200F and 10 cP @ 60F
Live oil viscosity
1.1 cP @ 1,900 psia and 200F
Gas viscosity
0.029 cP @ 1,900 psia and 200F
Gas compressibility (Z)
0.8 @ 1,900 psia and 200F
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 200F 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
Multiphase flow correlation Beggs & Brill revised
Production Strings Available
I.D. (") Wall thickness (") Roughness (")
2.992

0.5

0.001

3.958

0.5

0.001

4.892

0.5

0.001

Drill Stem Test

Oil Flowrate (Q), sbbl/d Flowing Bottom Hole Pressure (P

2,000

4,300

3,000

4,250

4,000

4,200

5,000

4,100

Production plan obtained from reservoir simulation

Year Watercut (%) Oil Flowrate, sbbl/d
0

12,000

12

10,500

20

9,400

35

7,500

40

7,000

47

6,000

54

5,000

10

60

4,000

wf ), psia