NODAL ANALYSIS

Copyright 2007,

, All rights reserved

NODAL ANALYSIS
Psep P flowline Pwf
GAS

Pwh Q

Flowline

OIL +WATER

Separator

Tubing

Ptubing

IS A METHODOLOGY TO ANALYZE THE PRODUCTION SYSTEM AS AN UNIT TO CALCULATE ITS CAPACITY WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF:
DESIGNING EACH COMPONENT OF THE PRODUCTION SYSTEM DETECTING PRODUCTION IMPEDIMENTS CALCULATING THE EFFECT OF CHANGING ONE OR MORE COMPONENTS ON THE CAPACITY OF THE PRODUCTION SYSTEM

Reservoir Pr, IPR, K

Copyright 2007,

, All rights reserved

Pres

P = f(Q)

POSSIBLE PRESSURE LOSSES IN A PRODUCTION SYSTEM

p8= Pwh-Psep gas Pwh-Pds = p5 Pwh p6= Pds-Psep

Pds

Flowline

Separator

Psep
Tank

Surface choke Pdv

p7= Pwf-Pwh

p4= Puv-Pdv
Well Restriction

Puv

Safety valve
p1=Pr-Pwfs p2=Pwfs-Pwf p3=Pur-Pdr p4=Puv-Pdv p5=Pwh-Pds p6=Pds-Psep p7=Pwf-Pwh p8=Pwh-Psep Loss in porous medium Loss across the completion restriction safety valve choke in flow line Total loss in tubing Total loss in flowline

Pdr Pur

p3= Pur-Pdr
Reservoir

Pwf
Pwfs-Pwf = p2

Pwfs p1=Pr-Pwfs

Pr

Pe

Copyright 2007,

, All rights reserved

NODAL ANALYSIS CONCEPT

Q
INFLOW NODE

Q
OUTFLOW

Pu

UPSTREAM COMPONENTS

Pn

DOWNSTREAM COMPONENTS

Pd

Pu
P = f (Q)

Pd

Pnode = Pu Pupstream components (1) = f1(Q) Pnode = Pd + Pdownstream components (2) = f2(Q)

Copyright 2007,

, All rights reserved

GRAPHICAL SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM

NODE PRESSURE, Pnode

(2) Outflow from node

NODE PRESSURE

(1) Inflow to node

SYSTEM FLOW CAPACITY

FLOW RATE, Q

Copyright 2007,

, All rights reserved

EXERCISE ILUSTRATION OF NODAL ANALYSIS CONCEPT

P1= 200 psi P3= 60 psi

Pnode
P1
WATER SOURCE 2000 feet, = 3

P2
WATER SINK

1000 feet, =2

Calculate: 1) 2) Actual capacity of the system in BPD. Capacity of the system when the diameter of the 2 pipe is increased to 3.

Select the node at the point where the pipe diameter is reduced from 3 to 2. Assume flow rates of 2500, 3000 y 3500, 5000, 5500, 6000 BPD. Use the following equation to calculate the pressure drop in a pipe L Q2 P = 3.8 x 10 - 7 x D5 where, P is the pressure drop in psi, L is the pipe length in feet, D is the pipe diameter in inches and Q the flow rate in BPD.
Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved

GRAPHICAL SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM

(2)
NODE PRESSURE, Pnode

Outflow performance

Pnode

(1) Pnode = P1-P1 (2) Pnode = P3+P2

Inflow (1) performance

Actual system flow capacity

FLOW RATE, Q

P1= 200 PSI P1

WATER SOURCE
Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved

P3= 60 PSI

Pnode

P2
WATER SINK

2000 feet, = 3

1000 feet, =2

GRAPHICAL SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM

(2)
NODE PRESSURE, Pnode

Outflow performance

Pnode

(1) Pnode = P1-P1

3
Inflow (1) performance

(2) Pnode = P3+P2

Actual system flow capacity

FLOW RATE, Q

new system flow capacity

SOL P1= 200 PSI P1

WATER SOURCE
Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved

P3= 60 PSI

Pnode

P2
WATER SINK

2000 feet, = 3

1000 feet, =2

LOCATION OF VARIOUS NODES

1A 3 2 1 1B

4
NODE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1A 1B LOCATION SEPARATOR SURFACE CHOKE WELLHEAD SAFETY VALVE RESTRICTION Pwf Pwfs Pr GAS SALES STOCK TANK

5 6
Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved

NODAL ANALYSIS APPLICATION IN A SIMPLE PRODUCTION SYSTEM

(NODE SELECTED AT THE WELLHEAD)

P flowline
Horizontal Flowline

NODE

Pwh

Gas

Psep Separator
Tank

Ptubing
Vertical or inclined tubing

Inflow to node: Pr Pres Ptubing = Pwh Outflow from node: Psep + Pflowline = Pwh
Pr, k, IPR
Flow through porous media

(1)

(2)

Pres
Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved

EFFECT OF THE FLOWLINE SIZE (NODE SELECTED AT THE WELLHEAD)

d1
WELLHEAD PRESSURE, Pwh

d2 > d1

OUTFLOW

INFLOW

FLOWRATE, Q

Copyright 2007,

, All rights reserved

NODAL ANALYSIS APPLICATION IN A SIMPLE PRODUCTION SYSTEM

(NODE SELECTED AT THE BOTTOMHOLE)

P flowline
Horizontal Flowline

Pwh

Gas

Psep Separator
Tank

Ptubing
Vertical or inclined tubing

Inflow to node: Pr Pres = Pwf

(1)

Outflow from node: Psep + Pflowline + Ptubing = Pwf (2)

Pr, k, IPR

Pwf NODE

Flow through porous media

Pres
Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved

EFFECT OF THE TUBING SIZE (NODE SELECTED AT THE BOTTOMHOLE)

BOTTOMHOLE FLOWING PRESSURE, Pwf

Pr

d1

d2>d1

INFLOW IPR

OUTFLOW

0 0
FLOWRATE, Q

Copyright 2007,

, All rights reserved

FINDING OPTIMUM TUBING SIZE

FLOW RATE, Q

UNSTABLE REGION DIAMETER FOR MAXIMUM FLOW RATE

TUBING DIAMETER, d
Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved

SIMULTANEOUS EFFECT OF MINIMIZING FLOW RESTRICTIONS IN THE RESERVOIR AND IN THE PIPING SYSTEM

(NODE AT THE BOTOMHOLE)

d1
BOTTOMOLE FLOWING PRESSURE, Pwf

Pr 2*
WELL WITHOUT SKIN EFFECT

1 2
WELL WITH SKIN EFFECT

d2>d1

2** 0 0
PRODUCTION INCREASE

FLOW RATE, Q
Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved

GAS LIFT WELL PERFORMANCE

BOTTOM HOLE FLOWING PRESSURE, Pwf

LIQUID PRODUCTION RATE, QL

Maximum liquid production

Pr

Excessive GLR

Inflow Performance IPR

(a) Gas lift well analysis

LR G
, All rights reserved

Available gas volume

Economic Optimum

LIQUID PRODUCTION RATE, QL

GAS INJECTION RATE, Qgi

(b) Effect of gas injection rate

Copyright 2007,

EFFECT OF PERFORATING DENSITY ON INFLOW

N = NUMBER OF PERFORATIONS PER FOOT

BOTTOMHOLE FLOWING PRESSURE, Pwf

Pr

INFLOW N3>N2 OUTFLOW

N1

N1>N2

0 0
FLOWRATE, Q

Copyright 2007,

, All rights reserved

EFFECT OF PERFORATING DENSITY ON FLOW RATE

FLOWRATE, Q

NUMBER OF PERFORATIONS PER FOOT, N

Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved

NODAL ANALYSIS APPLICATIONS

Selecting tubing size. Selecting Flowline size. Gravel pack design. Surface choke sizing. Analyzing an existing system for abnormal flow restrictions (production impediments). Artificial lift system design. Well stimulation evaluation. Analyzing effects of perforating density. Predicting the effect of depletion on production capacity. Allocating injection gas among gas lift wells. Analyzing a multiwell producing system.

Copyright 2007,

, All rights reserved

SUGGESTED PROCEDURE FOR NODAL ANALYSIS APPLICATION

1. Determine which components in the system can be changed. 2. Select one component to be optimized. 3. Select the node location. 4. Develop expressions for the inflow and outflow. 5. Obtain required data to calculate the pressure drop versus flow rate fall components. 6. Determine the effect of changing the characteristics of the selected component by plotting inflow versus outflow and readin the intersection. 7. Repeat the procedure for each component that is to be optimized.

Copyright 2007,

, All rights reserved

HISTORY CASE NODAL ANALYSIS FOCUSED ON ARTIFICIAL LIFT

GAS LIFT

BOTTOMHOLE FLOWING PRESSURE, Pwf

Pr
ELECTRICAL SUBMERSIBLE PUMP (ESP)

Pb
Pwf

BUBBLE PRESSURE

ESP FAILED DUE TO EXCESSIVE GAS RATE Pwf<<<<Pb

0 0
PRODUCTION INCREASE

FLOW RATE, Q
Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved

HISTORY CASE NODAL ANALYSIS FOCUSED ON ARTIFICIAL LIFT

GAS LIFT

BOTTOMHOLE FLOWING PRESSURE, Pwf

Pr
IPR IMPROVED BY REPERFORATION + STIMULATION JOB ELECTRICAL SUBMERSIBLE PUMP (ESP)

1 3

ZERO GAS IN THE PUMP Pwf > Pb

BUBBLE PRESSURE

Pb
WELL WITH A VERY STRONG SKIN EFFECT

0 0
PRODUCTION INCREASE

FLOW RATE, Q
Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved

HISTORY CASE NODAL ANALYSIS FOCUSED ON INFLOW RESERVOIR PERFORMANCE

BEAM PUMPING

BOTTOMHOLE FLOWING PRESSURE, Pwf

Pr 1

WELL STIMULATED WITH STEAM SOAK

VERY SMALL INCREASE IN PRODUCTION WAS ACHIEVED

0 0
FLOW RATE, Q

Copyright 2007,

, All rights reserved

HISTORY CASE NODAL ANALYSIS FOCUSED ON INFLOW RESERVOIR PERFORMANCE

BEAM PUMPING

BOTTOMHOLE FLOWING PRESSURE, Pwf

Pr 1
ELECTRICAL SUBMERSIBLE PUMP (ESP)

0 0

1000 BPD
PRODUCTION INCREASE

FLOW RATE, Q
Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved

WELL RESTRICTED BY PIPING SYSTEM AND NEAR WELLBORE SKIN EFFECT

BOTTOM HOLE FLOWING PRESSURE, Pwf

Pr
2

TU BIN G RE OR F ST RIC LOW TIO LIN E N

BOTH

OUTFLOW

4
RE IN) O LB (SK EL ON W I R ICT A NE STR RE

INFLOW

0 0
FLOW RATE, Q

Copyright 2007,

, All rights reserved

ANALYZING MULTIWELL SYSTEMS

A change made in any component in the system would affect the producing capacity of the total system, Some of the changes that could be considered are:

Working over individual wells Placing some wells on artificial lift Add new wells Shutting in some of the existing wells Changes in producing characteristics with time Effect of surface line sizes Instalation of pumps or compressors Effect of the final outlet pressure

Copyright 2007,

, All rights reserved

ANALYZING MULTIWELL SYSTEMS

Pwf1

PA
Q1

System Capacity

Well 1 A
QA=Q1+Q2+Q3

Well 2
Pwf2 Q2

Well 3
Pwf3

Q3
Copyright 2007, , All rights reserved