Determining bottomhole pressures in pumping wells
The use of the acoustic well sounding (AWS) technique to determine the bottomhole pressure (BHP) requires an estimate of the gas void fraction in the liquid column of a pumping well annulus. Three correlations relating the annular superficial gas velocity to E /SUB g/ are available for saturated oil columns. These correlations are due to Godbey and Dimon, Podio et al., and Gilbert. Use of these correlations for determining the BHP, either flowing or shut-in, involves a stepwise numerical integration often performed by a computer. This work addresses three aspects of estimating the BHP from AWS data: estimation of the superficial gas velocity, development of analytical solutions for a single step BHP calculation, and comparison and interpretation of the predicted BHP's using the three correlations for the field examples. A mathematical model, based on the principle of mass balance of the annular gas phase, is used to determine the superficial gas velocity. This model rigorously accounts for the time-dependent pressure, volume, and the gas deviation factor in the liquid free annulus. Analytical solutions were obtained for both the Godbey-Dimon and Podio et al. correlations to calculate the BHP in a single step. These analytical solutions provide a significant improvement over the numerical stepwise integration technique, because a hand-held calculator could be used to perform the BHP calculations.
- Research Organization:
- University of North Dakota
- OSTI ID:
- 5631638
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-830236-
- Journal Information:
- Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States), Journal Name: Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States) Vol. SPE 11580; ISSN SEAPA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
03 NATURAL GAS
030300 -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
ANALYTICAL SOLUTION
CALCULATION METHODS
FLUID FLOW
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
GASES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OIL WELLS
OPERATION
PRESSURE MEASUREMENT
PUMPING
RESERVOIR PRESSURE
RESERVOIR ROCK
VELOCITY
WELL PRESSURE
WELLS