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Oil and gas operators face growing expectations to improve operational performance, manage risk, and demonstrate responsible emissions management. Finalized New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) rules for OOOOa and OOOOb sites enable a more efficient, data-driven approach to Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) compliance. Under these regulations, operators can use traditional Optical Gas Imaging...

Objectives/Scope:  A new methodology for automatic iteration on viscous damping enhanced with state-of-the-art pump fillage, fluid load lines and valve openings and closing calculation is presented. Field results showing the impact of the methodology in diagnosing downhole conditions, improving inferred production, fluid level, pump intake and horsepower calculations are shown.

Methods...

Artificial Lift systems are crucial in optimizing production for horizontal oil and gas wells. As these wells face rapid reservoir pressure decline, increased gas and solids production, high deviation in well geometry, and unstable flow regimes selecting an appropriate artificial lift method becomes paramount. By implementing the right artificial lift system, operators can counter these challenges...

Continuous sucker rod had been used for many years in sucker rod pump applications. However, several challenges have limited its acceptance in the past. The availability of service equipment, welding methodology, and selection of metallurgy all contributed to premature failures and operator frustration with the timeliness of installation and repairs.

A new approach to implementing continuous rod...

This presentation will discuss a new method of locking out beam pumping unit using a patented and engineered hydraulic sheave lock to support reducing risk at the well site when the pumping unit is shut down for routine maintenance or workovers. It will explore merits of keeping workers entirely out of the swing zone, allowing personnel to accomplish tasks safely and easily, without risk of brake...

A revolutionary packer-type gas separator was designed to improve gas separation efficiency downhole. A deep analysis of gas separation methods was done to better understand the nature of the process and to design a tool that could generate enhanced conditions for the gas separation phenomenon. During the research stages where data from Permian fields were analyzed to develop this new design of...

Environmental concerns and increasing costs are creating a need for a polymer that will allow the use of a high salt, high hardness water in the making of a viscosified frac fluid. Any new polymer would also need to tick the boxes for cost, rheology, HS&E characteristics as well as breaking in the reservoir. Past development efforts have focused on improving organic-based polymers. A new approach...

The vast majority of hydrogen sulfide monitoring systems historically use the solid state, semiconductor, metal oxide film type sensor. This type of H2S sensor has some inherent traits which manifest themselves in the field as application problems. Examples of these application problems include lack of repeatability (span drift), partial or total loss of response with removal of power, frequent and complicated calibration requirements, desensitization with exposure to moisture and the need to subject the sensors to H2S gas between calibrations to prevent them from "going to sleep".

Gas passage performance of gas lift valves under dynamic conditions has only been studied in the last twenty years. Proper assessment of gas injection rates at valve operating conditions requires the use of sophisticated measuring and control equipment only a few companies possess; and involves tedious and time-consuming data acquisition procedures. As a result, many gas lift installations are designed even today without properly accounting for the dynamic behavior of operating gas lift valves.

This paper deals with a new method of obtaining injection and producing well permeability profiles. The flow meter and nuclear fluid density tools and their use in analyzing reservoir behavior will be explained. Numerous logs obtained from secondary recovery projects and in producing wells for fracture evaluation and remedial planning will be discussed.

The present energy situation has required the oil industry to evaluate all feasible methods to sustain and increase production in order to keep pace with our energy needs. 'Lost production due to scale deposition has been a major problem in the oil industry and has plugged many a good well while reducing production in most others. Many different scale inhibition techniques exist today and all have varying degrees of success.

Long open-hole or heavily perforated intervals with stringers of varying porosities and permeability have always been difficult stimulation problems. In the majority of instances treatments have been staged, continuously, with various types of blocking agents. Only after the job was complete, could any down-hole evaluation of the success of the diverting agents be estimated. Obviously, critical information such as the extent of the formation treated per stage, communicated zones, channeling behind the pipe, etc. was unavailable until after the treatment was over.

The author will review the current status of a complete new approach is well servicing that includes: 1) A remotely operated robotic-automatic well services rig wherein there is no operating personnel within 100 feet of the wellbore. 2) An integrated system for making up tubing as well as the two element rod connection to absolute computer precision. 3) An integrated system for over the well electronic inspection systems of tubing and rods.

In Coalbed Methane (CBM) production wells using Electric Submersible Pumps (ESP), it is common to control fluid levels to the required setting by the use of Variable Speed Drives. However this can cause high harmonics and, as a result, in the Powder River Basin in Wyoming, power companies have become increasingly reluctant to allow the use of variable speed drives and an alternative method of well control had to be found. A totally new approach to controlling ESPs, and thus the well fluid levels, was conceived.

This paper explains a new approach in choosing the most acceptable treating fluid and a history of field applications using the new method.

The Coalbed Natural Gas Industry, or Coalbed Methane (CBM) continues to gain global popularity and momentum. However today, CBM operations are one of economic challenges. Varying coal seam depths, rapidly declining water production rates, uncharacteristic well completions, sand, coal fines, etc., prohibit using just one form artificial lift equipment. Successful CBM production operations demand multiple product lines. Weatherford determined that a new approach was needed that offered multiple product lines in addition to modifications of conventional artificial lift products.

In order to combat falling productivity and increased water production in the West Flowers and Guest (Canyon Sand) fields, a new approach to stimulation technique and fluid had to be initiated. It was suspected that many pre-1975 frac jobs probably were lost into unproductive zones resulting in very little stimulation of the actual pay section. To combat this situation, the frac fluid was changed to a very high viscosity cross-linked CM C-based polymer gel. The base fluid was 2% KC1 water treated with de-emulsifiers.

Horizontal completions in lower permeability formations often result in a need for effective hydraulic fracturing stimulations for many of these wells to reach economic production levels. Cost constraints seldom allow the use of methods such as cemented completions and individual fracturing of numerous zones with bridge plug isolation. Some newer methods require expensive downhole jewelry.

The South Cowden (San Andres) Unit is the site selected for one of three mid-term projects to be conducted under the DOE Class II Oil Program for Shallow Shelf Carbonate Reservoirs. The proposed $21 million dollar project is designed to demonstrate the technical and economic viability of an innovative CO2 flood project development approach.

Previous methods to detect and locate fluid flow behind well casings such as temperature, radioactive tracer, or acoustic noise have been successful but often difficult to interpret. An alternative method which is specific for detecting water flow (or CO2 flow) is the oxygen activation log. This paper presents field examples from West Texas of the Water Flow Log which is based on a new approach to oxygen activation logging.

Previous methods to detect and locate fluid flow behind well casings such as temperature, radioactive tracer, or acoustic noise have been successful but often difficult to interpret. An alternative method which is specific for detecting water flow (or CO2 flow) is the oxygen activation log. This paper presents field examples from West Texas of the Water Flow Log which is based on a new approach to oxygen activation logging.

The South Cowdeu (San Audres) Unit was selected as the site for one of three mid-term projects to be conducted under the DOE Class II Oil Program for Shallow Shelf Carbonate Reservoirs. The $21 million project was designed to demonstrate the technical and economic viability of an innovative carbon dioxide (CO2 flood project development approach.

Cement-lined steel or iron pipe is not a new approach to corrosion prevention. In 1836 the French Academy of Science reported the successful use of cement-lined pipe. They reported that, "Hydraulic cement, applied about 2.5 mm (0.1 inches) thick, is of all compositions, combining facility of application and cheapness, that which adheres the best to the casting, is the most indestructible, and prevents most effectually all oxidation (Corrosion) and consequent formation of tubercles.

Conventional downhole treatments for scale and corrosion typically rely upon either "squeeze" or batch type treatments for control of corrosion and/or scale. These treatments introduce large amounts of inhibitor into the wellbore area and may adversely affect the production characteristics of the well, require excessive amounts of chemical, and require repeated treatments over short periods of time. The use of encapsulated materials for scale and corrosion inhibition has recently been shown to be a reliable and economic alternative to the conventional squeeze or truck batch treatment.

This paper offers a new approach to qualify proppant before fracture stimulation. Automated and patented flowing stream sampling technology, only recently available, is easily positioned between pneumatic trailer and field bin. Mobile labs are used to measure sample physical properties and correlate public domain or design data. Differences, which provide the basis for performance and engineering decisions, relate to mining anomalies, manufacturing defects, transportation abuse, and contamination.