Investigation of Multiphase Flow Behavior in Horizontal Gas Wells Rosmer Brito

Outline Objective Introduction Literature Review Study Plan Small Scale Facility Experimental Range Testing Program Instrumentation Near Future Tasks

Objectives Investigation of Multiphase Flow Characteristics for Horizontal Oil and Gas Wells Experimentally Using a Small Scale Facility (2-in. ID) Theoretically by Developing a Mechanistic Liquid Loading Criterion Investigate Effects of Wells Geometry and Trajectory Development of a Predictive Software Tool

United States Shale Gas Plays Introduction United States Shale Gas Plays

U.S. natural gas production, 1990-2035 (trillion cubic feet) Introduction … U.S. natural gas production, 1990-2035 (trillion cubic feet)

Hydraulic Fracture in Horizontal Wells

Water Production In Horizontal Gas Wells 80% Water Used for Hydraulic Fracture Spreads in the Reservoir After Flow Back Below/Above Water Formations Fractures extends to Water Bearing Layers Continues Water Production

Horizontal Section in Gas Wells Liquid Loading Occurs When Gas Production Declines Associated Liquids are not Lifted Intermittent or No Gas Production HL in the Horizontal Section Impair Production Before Loading is Evident Slug Flow from Horizontal Wellbore to Tubing Liquid Loading is Affected by Well Deviation CSU/SPE 149477

Literature Review Turner (1969) Water Production Affects Flow Characteristic of the Wells Liquid Generates Back Pressure  Slugging Design: Affects HL and dP/dL Prediction Production: Affects Well Test Results Proposed Physical Models Liquid Film Movement Along the Wall of the Pipe Liquid Droplet Entrainment on the High Velocity Gas Core Comparison with Field Data

Literature Review … Coleman (1991) Parameters Affecting Liquid Loading Liquids Gravity and Surface Tension Water and Oil are Presented  Onset of Loading Tubing ID Pressure Minor Influence Temperature, Gas Gravity and Interfacial Tension Wells that Exhibit Slugging Behavior May not Follow Liquid-Droplet Model  Different Transport Mechanism

Literature Review … Sarica, Shoham and Brill (1991) Flow Behavior in Hilly Terrain Pipelines with Low Gas/Liquid  Gravity Dominated Steady or Unsteady Flow Transient Behavior Pipe Geometry Gas Compressibility Rigorous Terrain Slugging Model

Literature Review … Meng (2001) Gas-Liquid Two-Phase Flow Tests for Inclination Angles of - 2, 0, + 2 in a 2 in. ID Pipe Pressure Gradient is Much Higher Than Single Phase Case Slightly Change in Inclination Angle Affects Liquid Holdup

Literature Review … Zhang and Sarica (2011) Stratified Flow  Low Liquid Loading Gas/Liquid Flow in Horizontal and Slightly Downward Inclined Pipes

Literature Review … Zhang and Sarica (2011) Flow Patterns: Smooth Interface 2D Waves 3D Waves Roll Waves Entrainment

Literature Review … Zhang, and Sarica (2011) Upward Inclination   HL Qg < Qcritical Transition from SS to SL flow   dP/dL Almost All Empirical Correlations are Inadequate for the Predictions of Low Liquid Loading Flow Behavior Mechanistic Models Requires Improvement of Closure Relationships

Literature Review … Liang-Biao Ouyang (2000) Influence of Influx on Single Phase and Multiphase Wellbore Flow Experiments 1993-1997 100-ft (30.5 m)-Long Horizontal Wellbore Axial Flow and Radial Influx Different Wellbore IDs, Gravel Packs, Perforation Types and Densities Pressure Drop Prediction

Literature Review … Most of These Studies were Focused on Horizontal Pipes Knowledge in Horizontal Wells Multiphase Flow is Limited Complex Configurations (Undulations) have not been Investigated in Majority of Studies Multiple Fluid Entry Locations have not been Considered

Study Plan Experimental Design and Construct a Versatile Facility Perform Testing Based on Prioritized Schedule Model Development for Prediction Loading and Flow Conditions

Small Scale Facility Overall Cost ~ $50,000 Two Months of Construction Time Facility will be Ready by Nov. 1st, 2012 Low Modification Effort Quick Results Preliminary Results can be Utilized for Large Scale Loop Design and Instrument Selection and Location Some Artificial Lift Methods can also be Tested Needs to Be Identified

Small Scale Facility … C8 40’ ( 240D ) 2 ’’ C7 C3 C2 C1 C6 2 ’’ C5 C4 PT1 2 1 C5 C4 2 ’’ DP2 DP1 TTW Water Tank Control Valve CVW Coriolis Meter MMW Quick Closing Valve Camera 2 ’’ Submergible Pump 1 No Intrusive Capacitance Sensor

Experimental Range … C8 40’ ( 240D ) 2 ’’ C7 C3 C2 C1 C6 2 ’’ C5 C4 PT1 2 1 C5 C4 2 ’’ DP2 DP1 TTW Water Tank Control Valve CVW Coriolis Meter MMW Quick Closing Valve Camera 2 ’’ Submergible Pump 1 No Intrusive Capacitance Sensor

Experimental Range … Flow Pattern Map (= -1)

Experimental Range … C8 40’ ( 240D ) 2 ’’ C7 C3 C2 C1 C6 2 ’’ C5 C4 PT1 2 1 C5 C4 2 ’’ DP2 DP1 TTW Water Tank Control Valve CVW Coriolis Meter MMW Quick Closing Valve Camera 2 ’’ Submergible Pump 1 No Intrusive Capacitance Sensor

Experimental Range … Flow Pattern Map (= 0)

Experimental Range … C8 40’ ( 240D ) 2 ’’ C7 C3 C2 C1 C6 2 ’’ C5 C4 PT1 2 1 C5 C4 2 ’’ DP2 DP1 TTW Water Tank Control Valve CVW Coriolis Meter MMW Quick Closing Valve Camera 2 ’’ Submergible Pump 1 No Intrusive Capacitance Sensor

Experimental Range … Flow Pattern Map (= +1)

Testing Program Static Liquid Tests Dynamic Liquid Tests qLin=0 Liquid Volume, VL>0 Dynamic Liquid Tests qLin>0

Static Tests

Static Tests

Static Tests

Superficial Gas Velocity Static Tests Gas Superficial Gas Velocity

Static Tests Gas

Static Tests … Gas

Dynamic Tests Water Gas VSW=0.003 m/s – 0.03 m/s VSG=0.3 m/s –16 m/s

Dynamic Tests … Flow Pattern Pressure Drop Liquid Holdup Determine Multiphase Flow Characteristics for Undulating Section Flow Pattern Pressure Drop Liquid Holdup Water Blockage Phenomena Note: Dr. Sarica I have to check which would be the pressure at the inlet when vsg-51 m/s so maybe this value will change

Instrumentation Clamp on Capacitance Sensor

Instrumentation … Quick Closing Valve System T2 PRESURRIZED VESSEL V2 AIR T1 P1 QCV V1 TEST SECTION WATER

Instrumentation … Flow Pattern Observation Flow Pattern Evaluation Videos in the Inlet, Undulating and Vertical Section by Utilizing Outdoor Surveillance Cameras High Speed Camera Will be Connected to the Undulating Section

Instrumentation … Film Flow Direction Wall Shear Stress Sensor Wall Shear Stress Measurement Near Wall Flow Direction Indicator Commercial Device for Direct Wall Shear Stress Measurement Lenterra RealShear™ F - Series

Near Future Tasks Completion of Construction of the Facility (November 2012) Testing Starting in November 2012

Thanks …

Questions