Five Years' Experience Using Coriolis Separators in North Sea Well Testing

Shumakov, Yakov; Akbayev, Beibit; Vigo, Morounranti; Theuveny, Bertrand

doi:10.2118/171752-ms

Day 4 Thu, November 13, 2014 2014

DOI: 10.2118/171752-ms

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Five Years' Experience Using Coriolis Separators in North Sea Well Testing

Yakov Shumakov

Beibit Akbayev²,

Morounranti Vigo

et al.

Abstract: Accurate, reliable, and repeatable flow rate measurements during well testing are critical for appropriate reservoir characterization. Recently, well tests have become shorter and more challenging, with the application of new interpretation techniques heightening the need for high resolution and more accurate flow rate measurements. Although conventional well test separators have seen significant improvements over the last few decades in separation efficiency, flow rate measurement accuracy, reliability and re… Show more

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Cited by 9 publications

References 6 publications

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ESP-DST Well Testing in a Complex Reservoir in the Barents Sea: Establishing New Methodologies and Lessons Learned

Leonardis

Shumakov

Morton

et al. 2017

Day 1 Wed, April 05, 2017

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This paper describes a unique combination of equipment and techniques that enabled an ESP-DST well test on a shallow, horizontal well drilled in a faulted and heterogeneous reservoir with complex fluids, in Arctic conditions. The technical challenges of the performed well test included designing a bespoke ESP-DST string compatible with the shallow reservoir and designing a surface well test spread capable of efficient separation for safe and environmentally friendly disposal, and obtaining accurate flow rate measurements, as well as performing a test with interpretable data given the uncertainty and complexity of the formation, and the complexity of the well itself. The success of the performed well test was the result of an integrated approach to well test design and real-time support provided throughout. This process included the selection of optimum ESP-DST string design for multizone testing in a high angle well including an innovative arrangement of an ESP encapsulated in a POD and installed in the riser. Integration of ESP with the surface well test package was also important and the design of the surface well test package included a Coriolis type of separator and multiphase flow meter for accurate flow rate measurements. During drilling, the contingency plan to mitigate against losses was implemented which had a significant effect on the well testing program. To address this, and to understand if the well objectives could still be achieved, an uncertainty-based well test design and interpretation methodology, taking into account reservoir uncertainties and their interaction with each other, which uses numerical models and a global sensitivity analysis method was applied. This method identifies which uncertain reservoir parameters can be interpreted confidently and indicates the test duration. From the hundreds of numerical simulation cases produced during the design stage of the test, matches were obtained during monitoring to give an indication of the future pressure behavior, which allowed the duration of final build-up to be optimized. The ESP-DST well test was successfully performed on a horizontal well drilled in the Wisting discovery in the Barents Sea. The well was successfully free flow tested giving a maximum achieved flow rate of 5,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. All the well test objectives were successfully achieved, despite the change to the contingency drilling plan.

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ESP-DST Well Testing in a Complex Reservoir in the Barents Sea: Establishing New Methodologies and Lessons Learned

Leonardis

Shumakov

Morton

et al. 2017

Day 1 Wed, April 05, 2017

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Successful Well Test Operations in Complex Reservoir Fluids: Lessons Learned and Best Practices Over 40 Years of Worldwide Operations

Shumakov

Hollaender

Theuveny

2018

Day 3 Wed, November 14, 2018

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Today many exploration, appraisal and development welltest operations are performed in new frontiers. These include extreme environmental conditions and reservoirs bearing complex reservoir fluids, such as heavy oil, or fluids with a high concentration of H2S, CO2, high wax and asphaltenes content, which have rarely been tested in the past. Many failures and operational issues have hindered the interpretability of data, significantly increased the total costs of such well tests or led to severe HSE incidents. Currently, such operations are often designed and executed on a case-by-case basis, and there are no practical recommendations available that would summarise the well testing experience in such environments to guide the operating companies through the process of efficiently planning welltest operations. Consequently, operations are often planned on a "copy-paste" basis, with potentially disastrous consequences. This paper describes in detail the challenges associated with safety, flow assurance, safe handling and disposal of produced fluids, and data quality during current welltest operations with complex reservoir fluids or challenging environmental conditions. Complex reservoir fluids, including highly corrosive fluids, introduce unique challenges that need to be addressed at the design stage of the test, each requiring an appropriate design of surface well test spread and DST string, as well as the overall job operation and equipment planning to incorporate "what-if" scenarios. To address these issues, we summarize the best well-testing practices, and for each of the cases outlined illustrate proven welltesting techniques. Examples show that it is nearly impossible to perform the well test and handle complex reservoir fluids at surface using a traditional approach and standard well test equipment. Novel well testing equipment such as new generation welltest separators equipped with Coriolis mass flow meters, new generation burners and others, in combination with recently developed well testing techniques, allowed us to overcome these challenges. The paper provides practical recommendations, supported by case studies, highlighting the results and lessons learned from successful operations around the worlds in the following well test areas: –Heavy oil testing–Well test operations in high H2S and CO2 environment–Well test operations in reservoir fluids with high wax or Asphaltene content–Deepwater welltest operations with a high risk of hydrate formation–Well test operations with production of foamy oil–Heat management–Viscous fluid management–Contingency planning Recipes for success are provided to ensure that safe operation can be performed in the challenging environment while keeping the cost in line with the AFEs.

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First Successful ESP-DST Well Test in Heavy Oil Unconsolidated Sandstone in Caspian Sea

Dosmukhambetov¹,

Taubayev²,

Yesbolov³

et al. 2022

Day 3 Wed, March 23, 2022

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The Caspian offshore is a prolific area for hydrocarbon accumulation. Since it is an offshore, it is a challenging area in terms of strict environmental regulations and safety. At the early stage of the project it was clear, that formation properties of the exploration well require artificial lift assistance to produce during well testing. Therefore, designing proper DST string with ESP was crucial to the success of well testing. This paper describes unique combination of technologies and techniques that enabled a DST with ESP in combination with the Y tool, that provides capabilities to run thePLT below the pump. Also, one of the main challenges of well testing operation was to handle heavy oil fluid at surface. Being in environmentally sensitive area, designing a surface well testing equipment in a limited footprint, that enables efficient separation and disposal of heavy oil was very critical. Another challenge was unconsolidated formation with the high risk of sand production under drawdown, therefore downhole testing string and ESP pump supposed to withstand large quantity of solids during the production. The key technology that enabled testing was a new generation of abrasion resistant ESP pumps, that are designed to handle extensive solids production. The heavy oil also posed a number of risks. The surface equipment was specifically designed to heat oil in the tanks and if required to mix with diesel before flaring operations. Local regulation does not permit production during the night time and allows limited number of days for well testing. Therefore, well testing design must enable to acquire all necessary information within short period of test duration. The real-time data transmission and interpretation was a key to achieve main goal of the testing in exploration well - to accurately characterize the reservoir. This was the first successful ESP-DST in Caspian Sea. Despite of many challenges, the technologies that were selected for well testing operation was proven to be reliable. This allowed Operator to untap previously not accessible hydrocarbon reserves.

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Five Years' Experience Using Coriolis Separators in North Sea Well Testing

Cited by 9 publications

References 6 publications

ESP-DST Well Testing in a Complex Reservoir in the Barents Sea: Establishing New Methodologies and Lessons Learned

ESP-DST Well Testing in a Complex Reservoir in the Barents Sea: Establishing New Methodologies and Lessons Learned

Successful Well Test Operations in Complex Reservoir Fluids: Lessons Learned and Best Practices Over 40 Years of Worldwide Operations

First Successful ESP-DST Well Test in Heavy Oil Unconsolidated Sandstone in Caspian Sea

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