The result of decades of oil extraction, in addition to favoring the economy, is also expressed through technological advances that have developed around this industry and that have been useful for many other markets or production lines.
In general, everything that it has been designed or invented to meet the need to extract oil, it is considered an advance in the engineering of how to do it better and better, and it is as a result of this process that complete institutions have been created oriented to the investigation and storage of these advances.
The designs, projects, and analysis of common phenomena in oil production are usually summarized in papers, which are basically articles with a defined structure in which the author reflects the result of his or her research in a summarized way, thus generating a contribution to generations of colleagues and curious on the subject.
We have technical papers about the process of artificial lifting and optimization of wells and these are the ones you should read to optimize them:
Integral Methodology to Optimize Rod Pumping Wells
Worldwide production engineers daily face challenges related to improving well performance and production optimization. These are expected results that require not only reliable well data, but also effective methodologies – not always available- to achieve such “production success”. Well data encompasses completion, production, lifting equipment and reservoir, among other relevant well data that needs to be systematically kept for all optimization efforts.
In addition, there is often a delay in the analysis and diagnosis process, given the lack of a methodology that defines in advance which data is required for the simulation, so the process becomes reactive.
At UPC Global, we have developed integral methodologies and strategies to optimize production in oil wells with different artificial lift systems. Our experience over the years and results obtained with our customers globally has enabled us to improve such methodologies, therefore we intend to share and disclose as part of our goal to contribute with the energy sector professionals.
We provide you a guide of our methodology to optimize rod pumping oil wells developed by the expert team of UPC Global.
Acoustic Foam Depression Tests
Knowledge of the producing bottom hole pressure is desired in most artificial lift wells to determine if the well is being produced efficiently. An acoustic liquid level test and casing pressure measurement permit calculation of the PBHP. If the well contains liquid above the formation and the well produces gas from the casing annulus, the liquid column is aerated with gas bubbles. These bubbles are continuously moving upward through the gaseous liquid column. The gas is vented at the surface. The gradient of this gaseous liquid column is not known with a high degree of precision.
One technique for determining the gradient of the gaseous liquid column is to depress the liquid level by closing-in the casing valve. Stopping the flow of gas from the casing annulus at the surface of the well causes the casing pressure to increase. The casing pressure increase depresses the height of the gaseous liquid column. The test can be continued to determine the gas/liquid interface pressure as the top of the gaseous liquid column is depressed. This data can be used to calculate the gradient of the gaseous liquid column and the producing bottom hole pressure.
Several wells were tested which contained bottom hole pressure sensors. The increase in producing bottom hole pressure was measured as the liquid from the casing annulus was displaced into the pump, which necessarily reduces the liquid flow from the formation. The casing pressure and top of the gaseous liquid column were also determined. Several examples are presented to show the effect of closing-in the casing annulus gas vent valve on the producing bottom hole pressure, casing pressure, and height of the gaseous liquid column.
A Polished Rod Transducer for Quick and Easy Dynagraphs
A newly polished rod transducer (PRT) for the quick and easy capture of dynagraph data has been developed. The purpose of this development was to provide the analyst with a transducer that could be quickly and safely installed by one technician for the acquisition of dynagraph data.
The device is a polished rod clamp-on unit which collects both the position and load information necessary for a dynagraph. It uses sensitive strain gauges to obtain the load information and an accelerometer for obtaining the position information.
Tests have shown that the device will provide data suitable for the analysis of down-hole pumping problems.
A Review of the Non-Dimensional Pumping Parameters and Their Use in Sucker Rod String Design
During recent sucker rod pumping problem-solving schools presented at the Southwestern Petroleum Short Course, it has become apparent that few engineers and operators know about the non-dimensional pumping parameters developed by Sucker Rod Pumping Research Inc. and provided to the industry in API RP 11L for rod string designs.
This paper will discuss the background and physical meaning of the two main parameters Fo/Skr and No/No’, show the nomograph of their inter-relationship, and provide recommended limits which are typically not provided in modern rod string computer programs. These limits may assist in reducing sucker rod system failures.
The relationship of these design parameters to the dynamic motion of the sucker rod pumping system and the formation of under travel or overtravel dynamometer cards will be provided. Additionally, a comparison of sucker rod string design recommendations, resulting sucker rod system failure frequencies per year, and a discussion of operating practices will be provided.
These are the four technical papers you can find on our website (upcoglobal.com/academy/product-category/technical-papers/) ready for you to download and consume while this quarantine lasts. Make it a productive one and acquire the knowledge that will make you stand out from the rest.