Petroleum Production Technology

Mofazzal Hossain, PhD, FEAust, CPEng, NER

Associate Professor, Petroleum Engineering
Email: [email protected]

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 Unit Objectives & Contents
Objectives:
 The aim of the course is to provide an understanding of petroleum production technology; it’s application to subsurface petroleum
production systems; and design and optimization of petroleum production systems.

Contents:
For PG Students
 An introduction to petroleum production systems including new technology, surface production facilities and operation;
 reservoir inflow and well outflow performance concepts at various bottomhole conditions; tubing performance analysis, design and
selection;
 basic well completion design concepts and familiarization of downhole completion equipment;
 design and analysis of artificial lift systems including gas lift, and pump lift; design, analysis and optimization of total petroleum
production systems using conventional and nodal analysis.
For UG
 An introduction to petroleum production systems including reservoir’s inflow performance and well’s outflow performance concepts,
formation damage mechanisms, and nodal analysis;
 Basic well completions including options, types, properties, and selection based on producing scenarios, and familiarization of
different downhole completion equipment;
 An overview of artificial lift systems including technologies, equipment and fundamental mechanisms of each system, and artificial lift
selection criteria;
 Analysis and optimization of total petroleum production systems using conventional and nodal analysis
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Unit learning outcome

Expected unit learning outcome (UG)

1. Describe the production mechanisms of petroleum production systems; and illustrate different components
and interfaces (CLO1, CLO2, T2)
2. Estimate the performance of individual components of a petroleum production system by appropriately
applying the discipline knowledge (CLO1, CLO2, T3)
3. Select and analyse different well completion options and identify their merits and limitations, and
recommend appropriate completion options (CLO2, CLO4, CLO5, T4)
4. Select different artificial lift systems with recognizing their advantages, disadvantages and analyse the
performance of different artificial lift systems (CLO2, CLO4, CLO5, T4)
5. Evaluate total system performance using nodal analysis (CLO2, CLO4, CLO5, T5)

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Unit learning outcome

Expected unit learning outcome (PG)

1. Explain the fundamental principles of the different units; Illustrate different components and interfaces; and
identify factors influencing the performance of a petroleum production system (CLO1, CLO2, T3)
2. Apply various techniques to analyse and evaluate the performance of various units of a petroleum production
systems ( CLO1, CLO2, T4) Unit learning outcome

3. Select and analyse different well completions configurations including wells with artificial lift systems; identify
advantages and disadvantages; and evaluate factors influencing the optimal designs and operations(CLO2, CLO4,
CLO5,T5)
4. Explain discipline knowledge to demonstrate broad understanding for the design and development of a optimum
petroleum production system, revise current industry practices and recommend feasible options (CLO2, CLO3,
CLO5, T5)
5. Design an optimum production systems using nodal analysis concepts (CLO2, CLO5, CLO9, T6)
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References
References:
1. Production optimization using Nodal analysis by H. Dale Beggs, OGCI and Petro-
skills Publications, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 2003
2. Petroleum Production Systems, By Michael J. Economides, et al, Prentice
Petroleum Engineering Series, 1994
3. Petroleum Production Engineering – A computer Assisted Approach, by Boyun
Guo, et al, Elsevier Science and Technology Books, February 2007
4. Surface Production Operations, by Arnold, K., and Stewart, M. (2nd Ed., Vol 1 and
Vol 2), Gulf Publishing Company, 1999.
 You may some of these books in www.knovel.com

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Slide No: 5
 Note:
Assessment Criteria(for PG Students) 1. The topics are tentative
2. Any changes of proposed

Assessment Criteria (for PG students): schedule/calneder will be notified in

advance
3. The assignment’s due dates will be
Case Study based group project = 20% (10% announced in advance
4. Assignment and homework will be based
presentation, 10% Report) on numerical problems
5. Project will be based on Prosper
Mid semester test = 30% modelling, depending on software
availability
Closed book Final Exam 50%
Assume Knowledge
• Fundamental knowledge of
No of Member in each group: Minimum 3, drilling, completion and
reservoir engineering
and Maximum 4 • Knowledge of in fluid flow –
through pipes, Darcy law
• Knowledge of solving
differential equations

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Assessment Criteria (for UG Students)

Assessment Criteria for UG students:

Case study based group project** (Report-20%, no
presentation)
Assume Knowledge
Mid semester test (30%) • Fundamental knowledge of drilling, completion
Closed book Final Exam 50% and reservoir engineering
• Knowledge of in fluid flow – through pipes, Darcy
law
• Knowledge of solving differential equations

No of Member in each group: Minimum 3,

and Maximum 4

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 Introduction
Typical Petroleum production system
Wellhead Separator Stock-Tank
Tank Gas (sale line)
High Pressure (Low Pressure)
removed
Gas removed
Sale line
Choke
Tubing Head (‘Bean’) Stock Tank
Gas Pressure
Pressure Gas

Flow line Oil

Pressure
Oil

Oil produced
as Single Reservoir Pressure
Phase
Oil Zone
Bottom Hole
Pressure • What is the key driving force?
q • What is the key output of this system?

Production Engineering main concern

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The Composite Production System
Gas
Flare System
Gathering system Pipeline

Compression

Gas Gas Liquids

Well Head
Dehydration Recovery Gas Lift
Choke System System
Conductor Pipe Compression
Gas Gas Oil
Surface Casing Gas Re-Injection

Tubing

Oil String Separator

Separator
Pumping
Pipeline
Oil
Separation Oil Treatment Storage
System System System System
Tanker
Packer
Water Oil
Water
Perforations
Oily-Water
Filtration Deaeration
Separation
Reservoir System System
System
Casing Shoe
Water

Water
Pumping
Sea Injection

p RES = ∆p RES + ∆pWB + ∆p PT + ∆p SURF + ∆pCHOKE + p SEP

System
System

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Pressure Drop Components (natural flow, open hole )
PTH = 1000 psi (145 kPa)
• Pressures drops every
stage in its flow path during
∆PSURF = 400 psi (58 kPa) the production of reservoir
GAS
fluids
• Large proportion of
PSEP =
300 psi pressure drops inside the
OIL
∆PPT = 3000 psi
(435 kPa) CHOKE
(43.5 kPa)
completion tubulars and
∆P
CHOKE = 300 psi
(43.5 kPa) surface facilities
WATER
For Natural Flowing Well:
∆Pres = 2000 psi (290 kPa)  >90% of pressure drops due to
Reservoir & Tubing
PRES = 6000 psi (870 kPa)

PWF = 4000 psi (580 kPa)

pRES = ∆pRES + ∆pPT + ∆p SURF + ∆pCHOKE + p SEP

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 Well Performance: Basic Concept
Reservoir Response:
Basic Well Configuration
Reservoir Inflow Performance Gas Export

Reservoir pressure Hydrocarbon Flow Separator

(Pres)
PRESSURE DROP
pressure
= $$$$
Oil Export

CASING

Bottomhole pressure TUBING OUFLOW

oil rate (BHP)
PERFORATIONS
K h ΔP rw
Q= f RESERVOIR INFLOW
µS
RESERVOIR

Well Response:
Tubing Outflow Performance
Bottomhole pressure
(BHP)
pressure

1
Q= f
PRESSURE LOSS Fluid Weight . Friction Losses . Wellhead Pressure
Well Head pressure
(WHP)

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oil rate
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 System performance

reservoir pressure - Pres

Tubing outflow

Reservoir inflow)
surface pressure - WHP

oil rate
Improve the performance i.e. oil rate can be increased by:
 Shifting reservoir inflow up
 Shifting tubing outflow curve down
What can we do to make such changes for improvement ??

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 How can we improve?

Shifting Reservoir Inflow Curve Up - How To

Increase
K h ΔP r w
Q= f
µS Decrease

Increase: Kh , µ ΔP S rw
Decrease:

Shifting Tubing Outflow Curve Down - How To

Fracture, Heat-Up Increase Re-Perf., Drill
Horizontal Reservoir Acidise , Bigger
Well Pressure Fracture, Hole 1
Dissolve Q= f
Fluid Weight . Friction Losses . Wellhead Pressure

Reduce: Fluid Weight, Friction Losses, Wellhead Pressure

Isolate Wtr Bigger Lower

Reservoir Stimulation Prodn or
Add gas
Tubing Separator
Pressure
via gas lift
(aka artificial lift)

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Slide No: 13
 Introduction

Systems Analysis Concepts

Wellhead
Pressure System Analysis Plot
Pwh Rate, qo
Vertical Lift or
Tubing
Performance
Solution Rate

Rate, stb/d

Rate, stb/d Rate, qoBo

Rate, stb/d
Inflow Performance
Relationship

Bottomhole
Flowing Pressure
Pwf
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Class Exercise Production rate, q = J∆P, where ∆P = Pr – Pwf, and J = production
rate/psig (known as productivity index).

Estimate the production rate, if the J of the well shown is 2 STB/D/psig.

What will happen if the separator pressure is increased by 300 psig?

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Slide No: 15
Home study for week 2

1. Reservoir Fluid Properties (

Lecture 1)
2. Inflow performance
relationship for Oil reservoir
(Lecture 2-4)
Reading notes – Reservoir and
Well peformance

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Slide No: 16
 Thank you
Any Questions please ?????

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Slide No: 17