Acoustic fluid level technology has resulted in the operator being able to undertake fluid level measurements and use this technology to investigate the status of oil and gas wells. Acquiring a fluid level on an oil or gas well is an inexpensive and non-intrusive process.
This Short Course describes analysis techniques used to determine the distance to the liquid level in oil and gas wells with normal and unusual conditions. The analysis is based on data obtained at the surface without entering the wellbore and yields accurate representation of the conditions existing on the surface, within the wellbore and within the reservoir.
Techniques for acoustic liquid level analysis are discussed for oil and gas wells where unusual conditions exist such as horizontal wells, very shallow liquid levels, very deep liquid levels, noisy wells, high bottomhole temperature, and low or high surface pressures. Gas-Lift wells have gas lift mandrels, where tubing holes, leaky valves and check valve leaks can be identified using the Dual Shot method. Rod Pump and other artificial lifted wells have tubing anchors, liners, multiple zones of perforations, flush pipe and other conditions which result in the acquisition of difficult to interpret acoustic traces. Examples of acoustic tests are presented, where the tests are performed on shut-in or flowing or producing wells acquired down the tubing or the tubing/casing annulus.
Lynn Rowlan and Carrie Anne Taylor - Echometer Company
A. L. Podio - University of Texas at Austin