investigation of multiphase flow behavior in horizontal gas wells

Horizontal Well Artificial Lift Projects

Advisory Board Meeting, August 16, 2012

Investigation of Multiphase Flow Behavior in Horizontal

Gas Wells

Rosmer Brito

Horizontal Well Artificial Lift Projects Advisory Board Meeting, August 16, 2012

Outline

Objective

Introduction

Literature Review

Study Plan

Small Scale Facility

Experimental Range

Testing Program

Instrumentation

Near Future Tasks


Objectives

Investigation of Multiphase Flow

Characteristics for Horizontal Oil and Gas

Wells Experimentally Using a Small Scale Facility (2-in.

ID)

Theoretically by Developing a Mechanistic Liquid

Loading Criterion

Investigate Effects of Wells Geometry and

Trajectory

Development of a Predictive Software Tool


Introduction

United States Shale Gas Plays


Introduction …

U.S. natural gas production, 1990-2035 (trillion cubic feet)


Hydraulic Fracture in Horizontal Wells


Water Production In Horizontal Gas Wells

80% Water Used for Hydraulic Fracture Spreads in

the Reservoir After Flow Back

Below/Above Water Formations

Fractures extends to Water Bearing Layers

Continues Water Production


Horizontal Section in Gas Wells

Liquid Loading Occurs When Gas Production Declines Associated Liquids are not Lifted Intermittent or No Gas Production

HL in the Horizontal Section Impair Production Before Loading is Evident Slug Flow from Horizontal Wellbore to Tubing Liquid Loading is Affected by Well Deviation

CSU/SPE 149477


Literature Review

Turner (1969) Water Production Affects Flow Characteristic of the Wells

Liquid Generates Back Pressure Slugging

Design: Affects HL and dP/dL Prediction

Production: Affects Well Test Results

Proposed Physical Models Liquid Film Movement Along the Wall of the Pipe

Liquid Droplet Entrainment on the High Velocity Gas Core

Comparison with Field Data


Literature Review …

Coleman (1991) Parameters Affecting Liquid Loading

Liquids Gravity and Surface Tension

Water and Oil are Presented Onset of Loading

Tubing ID

Pressure

Minor Influence Temperature, Gas Gravity and Interfacial Tension

Wells that Exhibit Slugging Behavior May not Follow

Liquid-Droplet Model Different Transport

Mechanism



Sarica, Shoham and Brill (1991) Flow Behavior in Hilly Terrain Pipelines with Low

Gas/Liquid Gravity Dominated

Steady or Unsteady Flow

Transient BehaviorPipe Geometry

Gas Compressibility

Rigorous Terrain Slugging Model



Meng (2001) Gas-Liquid Two-Phase Flow Tests for Inclination

Angles of - 2, 0, + 2 in a 2 in. ID Pipe Pressure Gradient is Much Higher Than Single

Phase Case Slightly Change in Inclination Angle Affects

Liquid Holdup



Zhang and Sarica (2011) Stratified Flow Low Liquid Loading Gas/Liquid Flow

in Horizontal and Slightly Downward Inclined Pipes



Zhang and Sarica (2011) Flow Patterns:

Smooth Interface

2D Waves

3D Waves

Roll Waves

Entrainment



Zhang, and Sarica (2011) Upward Inclination

HL

Qg < Qcritical

Transition from SS to SL flow

dP/dL

Almost All Empirical Correlations are Inadequate

for the Predictions of Low Liquid Loading Flow

Behavior

Mechanistic Models Requires Improvement of

Closure Relationships



Liang-Biao Ouyang (2000) Influence of Influx on Single Phase

and Multiphase Wellbore Flow Experiments 1993-1997 100-ft (30.5 m)-Long Horizontal Wellbore Axial Flow and Radial Influx Different Wellbore IDs, Gravel Packs, Perforation

Types and Densities Pressure Drop Prediction



Most of These Studies were Focused on Horizontal Pipes

Knowledge in Horizontal Wells Multiphase Flow is Limited

Complex Configurations (Undulations) have not been Investigated in Majority of Studies

Multiple Fluid Entry Locations have not been Considered


Study Plan

ExperimentalDesign and Construct a Versatile

Facility Perform Testing Based on Prioritized

Schedule Model Development for Prediction

Loading and Flow Conditions


Small Scale Facility

Overall Cost ~ $50,000 Two Months of Construction Time

Facility will be Ready by Nov. 1st, 2012 Low Modification Effort Quick Results Preliminary Results can be Utilized for Large Scale

Loop Design and Instrument Selection and Location Some Artificial Lift Methods can also be Tested

Needs to Be Identified


Small Scale Facility …

SubmergiblePump

2 ’’

Water Tank

Control ValveCVW

CoriolisMeterMMW

2 ’’

2 ’’

2 ’’

TTW

PT1

DP1DP2

Camera

C1C2C3

C4C5

C6

C7

12

3

45

6 C8

1 No Intrusive Capacitance Sensor

40’ ( 240D )

Quick Closing Valve


Experimental Range …

SubmergiblePump

2 ’’

Water Tank

Control ValveCVW

CoriolisMeterMMW

2 ’’

2 ’’

2 ’’

TTW

PT1

DP1DP2

Camera

C1C2C3

C4C5

C6

C7

12

3

45

6 C8


40’ ( 240D )

Quick Closing Valve



Flow Pattern Map (= -1)



SubmergiblePump

2 ’’

Water Tank

Control ValveCVW

CoriolisMeterMMW

2 ’’

2 ’’

2 ’’

TTW

PT1

DP1DP2

Camera

C1C2C3

C4C5

C6

C7

12

3

45

6 C8


40’ ( 240D )

Quick Closing Valve



Flow Pattern Map (= 0)



SubmergiblePump

2 ’’

Water Tank

Control ValveCVW

CoriolisMeterMMW

2 ’’

2 ’’

2 ’’

TTW

PT1

DP1DP2

Camera

C1C2C3

C4C5

C6

C7

12

3

45

6 C8


40’ ( 240D )

Quick Closing Valve



Flow Pattern Map (= +1)


Testing Program

Static Liquid TestsqLin=0

Liquid Volume, VL>0

Dynamic Liquid TestsqLin>0


Static Tests


Static Tests

Gas

Su

per

fici

al

Gas

Vel

oci

ty


Static Tests

Gas


Static Tests …

Gas


Dynamic Tests

Water Gas

VSW=0.003 m/s – 0.03 m/s

VSG=0.3 m/s –16 m/s


Dynamic Tests …

Determine Multiphase Flow Characteristics for Undulating Section Flow Pattern Pressure Drop Liquid Holdup Water Blockage Phenomena


Instrumentation

Clamp on Capacitance Sensor


Instrumentation …

Quick Closing Valve System

V1

V2

QCV

TEST SECTION

AIR

T2

P1T1

P2

WATER

PRESURRIZED VESSEL


Instrumentation …

Flow Pattern ObservationFlow Pattern Evaluation Videos in the

Inlet, Undulating and Vertical Section by Utilizing Outdoor Surveillance Cameras

High Speed Camera Willbe Connected to the

Undulating Section


Instrumentation …

Film Flow Direction Wall Shear Stress Sensor

Wall Shear Stress MeasurementNear Wall Flow Direction Indicator Commercial Device for Direct Wall Shear Stress

Measurement Lenterra RealShear™ F - Series


Near Future Tasks

Completion of Construction of the Facility (November 2012)

Testing Starting in November 2012


Thanks …


Questions

investigation of multiphase flow behavior in horizontal gas wells

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