Use of Isolated Tailpipe: Proving to be a Natural Progression for Rod Pumped Horizontal Wells

Transcription

1 Gas Well Deliquification Workshop Sheraton Hotel, February 20 22, 2017 Use of Isolated Tailpipe: Proving to be a Natural Progression for Rod Pumped Horizontal Wells Brian Ellithorp Echometer Company - Engineering Advisor & Technical Sales Ellithorp Energy Services Consultant

2 Conventional Solutions in Unconventional Wells Gas Separation Techniques Commonly Applied Poor-Boy Separators Modified Poor-Boy Separators (Collar-size) Packer/Diverter Type Separators 2

3 What really performs well? Let s compare some pro s and con s: Poor-boy Separators: Pro s: Familiarity, Cost Effective, Quick to Access/Build/Deploy Con s: Commonly Undersized (volume), Commonly Too Short/Long Internals, Entry Slots/Holes Incorrect/Poor, Screens/Filters Incorrect, Typically a Restrictive TAC Placed Above 3

4 What really performs well? Collar-Size Separators: Pro s: Higher Volume Capacity, Familiarity, Cost Effective, Quick Access/Deploy, Dependable Design Often Works Quite Well Con s: Restrictive TAC Sometimes Placed Above, Sometimes Less Volume Capacity Available Than Needed for High Rate Applications, but Generally Good Capability 4

5 What really performs well? Packer/Diverter Type Separators: Pro s: Highest Feasible Volume Capacity, Generally Handles (Masks) Very Erratic Hz Well Slugging, Fairly Well Accepted, Quick Access/Deploy, Dependable Design Often Works Well Con s: Potentially Sticky TAC and Packoff Placed Below Intake, Slugging Problems Masked Not Solved, Higher Total Costs, Some Styles Create Opportunity for Foam Generation and High Gas Entrainment in Pumped Fluids 5

6 Solving the Root of the Problem What do Unconventional Wells Need Addressed to Make Separators Work Better More of the Time? Capacity is not commonly the problem Erratic Gas-Off (super high gas spot rates) and Inconsistent Fluid Delivery is what needs to be addressed as this can lead to: Foaming or Emulsion of Pumped Fluids Fluid hold-up (even partial) in annulus and fillage challenges High solids carrying potential High Superficial Velocities and Intake Issues 6

7 The Solution Cornerstone Create a better conduit of delivery for the multi-phase flow feeding from the lateral to the pump set uphole around kickoff point. This is achieved by one cornerstone element: Safely and Effectively Isolated and Correctly Sized & Placed Macaroni Tailpipe This will force a more consistent, homogenous fluid/gas mix up the isolated tailpipe resulting in a substantially lower gradient in the tailpipe s fluid column yielding much improve PBHP and fluid delivery to the pump uphole as well as a decreased capability to carry damaging bulk densities of solids to the uphole equipment. 7

8 Properly Isolated, Sized, & Placed Tailpipe MCFD MCFD Before High Gas Spots & Slugging After Smooth Spot Rate & over 2x Gas Production Red Gas Rate Yellow TBG # DAYS 4 DAYS 8

9 More of The Solution The improved delivery of fluid/gas mix uphole now needs to be coupled with the best method of gas separation. This is achieved by: Coupling the Macaroni Tailpipe to a Diverter-Style Separator As discussed earlier, this has the highest separation capacity available for horizontal wells This all sounds great too, but the typical downfall of such systems is they must be packed-off or isolated from below the lowermost intake point where production as well as sand and solids can accumulate on top of the pack-off of choice, often a CRP Rotation packer or actual Packer like an AS-1X, making removal of the system very challenging and costly in cases. 9

10 Isolator vs Packer Isolator vs Real Packer Comparison: Approximately 1/3 the OA length Far less material; much more open tolerance Far less costs and risk of getting stuck No additional setting procedure required 10

11 The Last of The Solution The shortcomings normally inherent to Diverter Separators must to be addressed to be the best complete solution. This is achieved by: Instead of running a sticky, tight-tolerance, and expensive packer option, it has now been proven that a Fit-for-Purpose Isolation Tool on top of the macaroni sting, above that a Slimline TAC, and above that a Tool Saving device are the safest and easiest to run/set and reliably pull, yet also deliver consistent performance each and every time. 11

12 Downhole Schematic 12

13 Where Does This Method Best Fit The range of application for initial installation of such a system is proving to be quite broad. Initial thoughts were it was best to target <150 bfpd This has proven to be only partially correct While lower volume wells do exceptionally well increasing production, higher volume wells ( bfpd) have also proven to see substantial and sustained gains Even very low GLR wells and low overall gas rate wells have exceeded expectation on a regular basis Wells with very high gas volumes and erratic gas spots show to smooth out substantially and make for much easier pumping operations overall 13

14 Electrical Issue MCFD Real Well Results +156% Gas Increase 39 DAYS DAYS

15 WATER MCFD & OIL Real Well Results +177% Oil Increase +132% Gas Increase +183% Wtr Increase ~75 BO, ~85 BW, ~325 MCF 39 DAYS ~27 BO, ~30 BW, ~140 MCF 1.5 YEARS 15

16 MDFD OIL & WATER Real Well Results ~2 BO, ~35 BW, ~630 MCF 22 DAYS ~1.5 BO, ~18 BW, ~280 MCF 30 DAYS +33% Oil Increase +125% Gas Increase +94% Wtr Increase Hot Oil Job 16

17 Real Well Results (Wrong Size Tailpipe) Tailpipe w/ ID 2-3/8 Tailpipe w/ ID 17

18 Conclusions Correctly Isolated, Sized, and Placed tailpipe has a profound effect on production optimization and successful deliquification efforts Point 1 is absolutely necessary to enable the remainder of the success story The use of isolated tailpipe in Hz RP wells has proven to benefit virtually all ages and shapes of wells Incorrectly sized and/or placed tailpipe will result in inevitable failure or a certain production target miss There is unlikely any other form of such a system, in whole or part, that delivers such large performance gains, consistently, and for such low capital investment 18

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