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THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES

November, 2004

PTRL 4018 & PTRL 5011

Petroleum Production Engineering

(1)

Time Allowed: 2 hours

(2)

Total Number of Questions -

(3)

Answer all questions

(4)

All questions are not of equal value

(5)

This exam paper may not be retained by candidate

(6)

Candidate may bring electronic calculators into the exam room

(7)

Candidate may not bring personal computers into the exam room

(8)

This is an open book exam

ALL ANSWERS MUST BE WRITIEN IN INK.

EXCEPT WHERE THEY ARE
EXPRESSLY REQUIRED, PENCILS MAY BE USED ONLY FOR DRAWING,
SKETCHING OR GRAPHICAL WORK.

Print your student number and name on top righthand corner of paper and sign.

Page 1 of 10

Question 1 (Worth 30 Marks)

A well produces at 700 stb/d with a flowing bottom hole pressure of 1147 psi.
Average reservoir pressure is 1200 psi.
A) Using Vogel's correlation:
1) Calculate maximum possible rate when Pwf is zero.
2) If Pwf could be reduced to 550 psi (eg by pumping) what rate would be
achieved?
3) When reservoir pressure decreases to 900 psi, calculate maximum possible
rate when Pwfis zero.
Insert answers in, and complete table below:
Pwf
psi
1200
1147
900
550
0

qo (Pr 1200)
stb/d

qo (Pr 900)
stb/d
-

700

B) Draw Vogel IPR curves for both reservoir pressures (from above table) on graph
paper provided (Sheet 1).
C) The sandstone reservoir is at bubble point and has a strong water drive. It produced
at a steady rate of 5000 stb/d with a FBHP of 720 psi. Is this in line with
expectations?
YeslNo

The production rate was increased to 7000 stb/d with a FBHP of 460 psi. Shortly
thereafter, the water cut increased from 0 and the production rate fell to 4000 stb/d
with a FBHP of 400 psi.
Briefly, give two possible explanations for this behaviour.

Page 2 of 10

D) On graph paper supplied (Sheet 2) which has Tubing Performance Curves already
drawn for various GOR values (other parameters remaining the same), plot the Vogel
IPR curve for reservoir pressure of 1200 psi obtained from A) and plot GOR vs oil
rate. What would be the maximum desirable GOR if the well were to be gaslifted?
- - -scflstb

E) On graph paper supplied (Sheet 3) which has Tubing Performance Curves already
drawn for various tubing sizes (other parameters remaining the same), plot the Vogel
IPR curve for reservoir pressure of 900 psi obtained from A) and estimate the
production rates obtainable from each tubing size. Insert answers in table below, and
state whether flow regime is stable or unstable.
Tubing size OD
(ins)
2 3/8
27/8
3Yz
4Yz

Rate stb/d

Flow regime
stable/unstable

Question 2 (worth 20 marks)

A well that produced from perforations at 6000 ft below surface has been closed in for
some time, and the fluids have separated and are in equilibrium with the reservoir
pressure. The situation is that there is a tubing head pressure of 500 psi, gas (gradient
0.01 psi/ft) from surface to 2000 ft, oil (SG 0.9) to 4000 ft, and water (SG 1.1) to
bottom.
A) What is Static Bottom Hole Pressure?

_ _ _ pSI

B) If the gas pressure is bled off to zero, could the well flow a 50% water cut oil to
surface?
Yes/No

It is decided to shut off the water influx and pump the well using a PCP, so that 100%
(dry) oil is produced. The pump is inserted into the well so that it is opposite the
perforations, and is equipped with an anchor to prevent it from unscrewing during
operation. The PI of the well is unknown, but is estimated to be 2 stb/d/psi.

The reservoir temperature is 180 deg F, and the near surface temperature is 60 deg F.
It is required to pump at 500 stb/d and to have a flowing tubing head pressure of 100
psi. Flowing tubing head temperature is estimated to be 80% of reservoir temperature
C) Assuming that the well (tubing and annulus) contains only dry oil after the pump
has been inserted, what would be the level of oil in the annulus at 500 stb/d, assuming
zero pressure on the annulus at surface? (Gas gradient is negligible).
- - -ft

below surface

Page 3 of 10

D) What would be the average temperature of the rods and tubingbefore pumping?

_ _ _ _degF

After pumping?

_ _ _ _degF

E) What allowance must be made for rod length change, if % inch diameter rods are
used, and the diameter of the rotor is 1.5 inches?

- - - - ft
F) After producing at 500 stb/d, the liquid level in the annulus was found to be at
4000 ft below surface. What is the actual PI of the well?

_ _ _stb/d/psi

G) If the pump has to be submerged at least 500 feet below the fluid level, what is the
maximum rate that can be produced for this condition, using the actual PI obtained
from F) above.

- - - -stb/d
Question 3 (worth 10 marks)
In a well (diameter 6 inches) where the reservoir thickness is 50 ft, the permeability is
500 mD, the oil viscosity is 1.2 cp, and Bo is 1.3, the effective drainage radius (re) is
1000 ft.

A) What is the ideal (non damaged) PI?

____stb/d/psi
In the same well, if the near well bore permeability has been reduced to 50mD to a
radius of 3 ft,
B) What is the skin value?

Page 4 of 10

C) What is the actual (damaged) PI?

_ _ _stb/d1psi

Question 4 (worth 10 marks)

Formation damage is caused by:

absolute permeability decrease

relative permeability decrease
viscosity increase.

A) Briefly, give three reasons for absolute permeability decrease, and one reason
each for relative permeability decrease and viscosity increase.

B) Choose one of the above reasons, and state

how it may be removed
how it may be avoided

Page 5 of 10

Question 5 (worth 10 marks)

Circle the correct answer(s). Marks will be deducted for wrong answers:
Which clays swell when exposed to fresh water?
Smectite, kaolinite, illite, chlorite
smectite
Bentonite is a member of which family of clays?
Smectite, kaolinite, illite, chlorite
Which clay resembles pages of a book, and is destabilised by sudden salinity change
or chemical shock?
Smectite, kaolinite, illite, chlorite
kaolinite
The above destabilisation by salinity change can be avoided by slow changes in
salinity
True, false
Which clay has a high iron content?
Smectite, kaolinite, illite, chlorite chlorite
Which clay commonly has a fibrous appearance?
illite
Smectite, kaolinite, illite, chlorite
Which of the following are soluble in HCI?
Smectite, kaolinite, illite, chlorite, wax, asphaItine, pipe dope, calcium carbonate,
calcium sulphate, barium sulphate.
chlorite, illite, smectite,
Which of the following are soluble in HF?
Smectite, kaolinite, illite, chlorite, wax, asphaltine, pipe dope, calcium carbonate,
calcium sulphate, barium sulphate. Smectite, illite

END OF PAPER

Page 6 of 10

USEFUL FORMULAE
SG=1 gives pressure gradient of 0.433 psilft
PI = J = kh / 141.2 IJ Ba (In(r/rw)+S)

qo(max) future

=qo(max) present (Pr(fyPr(pl

Skin = ((k/ks)-1) * In(rs/rw) where subscript's' is damaged zone

EXPANSION DUE TO TEMPERATURE, ft =PSD, ft * 6.8 E-6 * CHANGE IN AVERAGE
TEMPERATURE OF RODS, deg F
HOOKE'S LAW:
STRETCH, ft = CHANGE IN AXIAL LOAD, Ib * PSD, ft / CROSS SECTION AREA OF RODS,
sq in * 30 E6

Page 7 of 10

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