Restarting Oil Wells Seminar

Restarting Oil Wells Seminar free download

An Overview Seminar of Restarting Oil Wells Presented by 20 Years Petroleum Engineering Expert

This "Restarting Oil Wells" seminar, presented by a 20 years experienced Sr. Petroleum Engineer, provides a detailed guide on the principles, challenges, and methods for successfully bringing oil wells back into production after a shutdown.

The presentation is structured around several key topics, beginning with Integrated Asset Modelling, which emphasizes system-wide optimization by coordinating production and injection wells to maximize fluid recovery. Effective Wells Monitoring and Guidance is crucial, achieved through tools like the Operation Well Plot and real-time data tracking. These tools monitor critical parameters such as daily oil production, water volume, pressures (upstream and downstream), temperatures, and choke sizes, allowing engineers to identify deviations and make informed decisions. For instance, a guidance table might recommend actions like "Investigate cause of higher back pressure" or "Confirm flowing and report to RMT" based on the collected data.

A core section addresses The Basic Problem Of Production, which is the process of moving fluids from the reservoir to the separator. This journey involves overcoming pressure drops at several stages: from the reservoir to the wellbore, up the wellhead, across the choke, and through the flowline. This process is managed by controlling engineered factors like completion design and choke settings, while contending with natural reservoir conditions such as pressure, water cut, and fluid chemistry (PVT).

When a well is shut in, the fluids inside undergo significant changes. Gas separates from the liquid and forms a gas cap at the top, while water settles at the bottom of the wellbore. This separation can make the tubing head pressure a deceptive indicator of the well's ability to flow. Consequently, a slow depressurization of the well is often ineffective. The document stresses that velocity is the key to unloading a well; a rapid opening of the well is needed to create enough speed to lift the segregated fluid column, a principle compared to opening a shaken coke bottle.

For a Successful Oil Well Restart, four key points are emphasized: 1) only open the tubing, 2) keep the annulus closed to focus energy, 3) use a large choke to maximize initial flow, and 4) be patient. However, this process has potential Concerns, including sanding (formation damage), the formation of hydrates due to the Joule-Thomson cooling effect, and general process instability.

If a well fails to restart using standard procedures, the seminar outlines several intervention methods:

• Flashing: Rerouting the well to a de-pressurized spare header and train to lower back-pressure.

• Flowback: Using a specialized package to flow the well to a flare pit.

• Nitrogen Lift: Circulating nitrogen with coiled tubing to lighten the fluid column.

• Electrical Submersible Pump (ESP): An artificial lift method that is effective for flow but can be operationally complex.

• Swabbing: Mechanically pulling fluid out of the well using a slickline and swab cup assembly.

• Gas Lift: Injecting gas into the annulus to reduce fluid density and aid flow.

Seminar Chapters

• Integrated Asset Modelling (System Optimization)

• Operation Well Plot

• Wells Monitoring and Guidance

• The Basic Problem Of Production

• Successful Oil Well Restart Key-Points