Forecasting the Reliability of a Wastewater Disposal System and Predicting Future Corrective Actions using Hydraulic Simulation

Al-Hajri, Nasser M.; Al-Ajmi, Mohammed D.; Al-Subaie, Fehead M.; Al-Zaharani, Rashad M.; Al-Bensaad, Zakareya

doi:10.2118/177488-ms

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 2 publications

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“…Recently, well performance modeling techniques were demonstrated to capture the behavior of a wastewater disposal system (Al-Hajri et al 2015a). This modeling was later used to forecast future injection scenarios (Al-Hajri et al 2015b).…”

Section: Well Performance Modeling and Nodal Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

A numerical method to predict crossflow rate resulted from downhole leaks

Al-Hajri

Al-Ajmi

Mahmoud

2018

J Petrol Explor Prod Technol

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Water injection wells often develop casing leaks that result in crossflow between two formations. The crossflow can be upward or downward depending on the respective location of each formation and the gravitation hydrostatic column between the formations. Traditionally, crossflow rates are measured by running production logs (flowmeter); a process that require well intervention. Such intervention in a well with compromised downhole integrity is not preferred as it incur additional cost and exposes the oilfield operator to possible mechanical risks such as stuck tools. In this work, we present a numerical method to predict crossflow rates without such intervention. The method requires readily available input from the water injection that includes injection flow rates and pressures, in addition, to shut-in well data. The workflow developed in this study includes nodal analysis and well performance modeling. A water injection well (Well-XYZ) was selected to validate the developed workflow as a case study in this paper. Well-XYZ has an upward crossflow that resulted from a downhole leak. The numerical method starts with building a well performance model before the leak develops. The injection data (pressure and flow rates) before leak development are used for this model. Second, a well with the same physical dimensions of Well-XYZ is imagined and modeled as a producing well from the downhole formation to the leak point. The shut-in well data of Well-XYZ are used to build the production well model. Third, we choose the leak point as the system node and obtain its pressure either by direct measurement or through calculation. Once the system node pressure is obtained, it is inputted as the wellhead producing pressure of the imagined well and its production rate will be the crossflow rate. The results of this method were tested by running a production log on Well-XYZ. The results of the production log showed that the method was able to accurately predict the crossflow rate with a less than 2% error. Keywords Downhole leaks · Crossflow · Nodal analysis · Well performance · Water injection List of symbols

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Section: Well Performance Modeling and Nodal Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

A numerical method to predict crossflow rate resulted from downhole leaks

Al-Hajri

Al-Ajmi

Mahmoud

2018

J Petrol Explor Prod Technol

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Model-Assisted Examination of Disposal Systems Capacity Based on Injected Water Quality

2016

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The sustainable operation of disposal systems that are part of wet crude handling facilities, is essential to ensure uninterrupted oil production from such plants. This paper will present the results of hydraulic simulation modeling of the capacity of a wastewater disposal system through an examination of the quality parameters for injected water. Applicable formation damage characterization methods, such as pressure transient analysis and continuous flow measurements, were utilized in this study to build representative models for each disposal well connected to System-A. The models were calibrated in a manner that couples surface and subsurface flow from the disposal pump all the way to the reservoir. Water quality monitoring of disposed water was conducted by measuring the oil in water content. These data were, then, history matched with respective well injection performance to identify potential sources of well injection impairment. An all-inclusive analysis, utilizing hydraulic simulation techniques, was performed to model the current injection performance and forecast the future reliability of a System-A disposal network, taking into account the impact of water quality and reservoir pressure variations. The collective inputs from laboratory analysis along with hydraulic simulation aided in formulating several key findings and recommendations with regard to setting appropriate limits of water quality control parameters.

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Managing Crucial Business Decisions Related to a Wastewater Disposal System Using Hydraulic Simulation

2016

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Business decisions management in the petroleum industry is often constrained by a lack of representative projections, time limitation, and cost implications. Proper administrations of future amendments to existing facilities necessitate accurate predictions of proposed upgrades. The precise outcomes of hydraulic simulation have proven reliable in forecasting operational scenarios related to wastewater disposal (WWD) system. The accurate predictions of hydraulic simulation, coupled with identified time frames and monetary investments, pave the way for accountable and successful managerial decisions. Increased water production from mature fields requires facilities to be upgraded to meet future business demands. WWDs are integral constituents of oil processing facilities as they are the conduit for responsible and environmental disposal of produced water. Facility-A injects wastewater into five disposal wells at a given capacity. Production demands have increased, which subsequently, entail the need to avail extra injection capacity to Facility-A. Long-term plans to an entire system upgrade are well underway; yet, the demand for extra potential is imminent. Many short-term plans were conceptualized to meet the injection requirements in the interim period until the long-term upgraded facility is on stream. A hydraulic simulation model was built and calibrated for Facility-A as a baseline model. Full system analysis of Facility-A disposal network, utilizing hydraulic simulation techniques, was performed to predict the outcome of each proposed short-term scenario. The contemplated scenarios were tapping into a nearby facility's disposal system, installing temporary injection pump at the wellheads, and adding two more injection wells to a new pipeline network. This paper will present in depth the hydraulic simulation results of the abovementioned scenarios and highlight their feasibility as viable short term scenarios. In addition, a detailed account of the associated time periods and respective costs of conceived short-term plans is going to be shown.

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Forecasting the Reliability of a Wastewater Disposal System and Predicting Future Corrective Actions using Hydraulic Simulation

Cited by 4 publications

References 2 publications

A numerical method to predict crossflow rate resulted from downhole leaks

A numerical method to predict crossflow rate resulted from downhole leaks

Model-Assisted Examination of Disposal Systems Capacity Based on Injected Water Quality

Managing Crucial Business Decisions Related to a Wastewater Disposal System Using Hydraulic Simulation

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