Applications of Nodal Analysis Technique for Appalachian Wells' Production Problem

Abstract

SPE Members Abstract A software package has been developed in which a gas simulation model and Nodal analysis model are used in conjunction with fracture simulation. The software package is also tied to a microcomputer database system to provide pertinent data for well analyses. The gas simulation model generates inflow performance for various production conditions while performance for various production conditions while Nodal analysis studies the inflow and outflow conditions. Since specific Appalachian production conditions are used for both models, the software package will prove to be a useful tool for improving package will prove to be a useful tool for improving production in the Appalachian area. production in the Appalachian area. Artifical lift "rabbit" production, bailing/swabbing operation, restimulation of the new zone and deeper drilling are the conventional methods to improve the technique has been used with specific wells to evaluate the potential results of using each recovery enhancement method. Nodal analysis is an optimization technique to analyze production problems and predict solutions. This technique can predict the "critical" pressure for artificial lift and can predict the inflow performance of a well. The new bailing operation can then be scheduled accordingly. In addition, this technique can also estimate, the skin damage within an existing well and be used to justify restimulating the new zone or drilling deeper. In the Appalachian area, tight formations and relatively depleted reservoirs are major problems. The current marginal economic situation does not allow producers to improve production by pressure enhancement and multiple production by pressure enhancement and multiple stimulation. A solution can be obtained by analyzing the problem and predicting the outcome of urging various production enhancement methods. Then, the operator can select the proper method to use. Introduction In our last paper (SPE 17057), we presented the detailed procedure for evaluating and determining a bailing operation. A decline curve analysis program is being applied to fit the bailing cycle of each well in order to determine the futur bailing schedule. The bailing cost and other economic parameters are used to determin the economic limits for bailing cycle investment. Lease contracts, current gas prices, geographic location, weather conditions and prices, geographic location, weather conditions and farming activities wil be optimized into a working list to establish a priority list as to the bailing operation of each well. An artifical intelligence program is being used for selecting and evaluating program is being used for selecting and evaluating the priority list of the bailed wells. In addition, a database system is also being compiled to supply pertinent data for the bailing evaluation. We are now pertinent data for the bailing evaluation. We are now in the process of putting three programs together for a bailing evaluation package. The success of bailing relies solely on economics. For example, if the production rate is low (5 MCF/day) and bailing frequency is excessive in a year, then, bailing will not be an effective production method. An alternative production method production method. An alternative production method or recovery technique will be applied to the well; namely, mechanical plunger (rabbit), sucker-rod (pump-jack), stimulation of upper zones or drilling deeper into newer zones. We realize that evaluating production problems is also an integral part of the production problems is also an integral part of the bailing evaluation package. Therefore, compiling theoretical backgrounds and searching for new design criteria from the field studies are the objectives of this paper. The most effective means to handle production problems is to design a proper production method. problems is to design a proper production method. This method is the natural choice by which to redesign a production well. Nodal analysis is an optimization technique used to analysis production problems and predict solutions. A better outflow problems and predict solutions. A better outflow prediction will be used as the completion design. prediction will be used as the completion design. P. 265