Video Logging
Plunger Lift
Projects over the last ten years have been focused primarily on horizontal well production and artificial lift but have included a number of other technology development areas related to production engineering.
Projects
Plunger Lift can be an effective method of lifting liquids from most gas wells and liquids rich gas wells. However, there are a number of subtle differences between operating plunger lift in vertical wells and in horizontal wells.
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Developed testing protocols to understand efficiency of plunger lift and optimize 350 hz wells. This led to the development of software to control plungers that is currently incorporated into the software of a major control software provider. Testing also led to the first identification of unanticipated variances in plunger fall times through the build section of horizontal wells and the impact of plunger efficiency.
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Implemented statistical reviews of plunger lift performance in comparison to alternate articial lift methodologies. Provided advice across the NA Businesses to establish best practices.
Video logging has been used effectively to identify major production impairments in horizontal wells. It has also been used to gain critical understanding of the nature of liquid movement along the lateral section of horizontal wells and has contributed to the understanding of scale formation in horizontal wells.
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Although video logging does not provide the qualitative analysis that production logging can, it can complement production logging especially in situations where more than one solution is often possible. It can more clearly define the boundaries of liquid and gas in most cases.
Evaluated alternatives to 3-phase separation for metering production in liquid rich gas wells. Set up trials and completed statistical review of data. Worked with outside consultants, measurement specialists and AER and OGC to implement extended field trials of wet metering techniques.
The installation of artificial systems in multi-stage fractured horizontal wells poses a wide variety of potential pitfalls.
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These wells produce at high rates initially but have rapid decline rates, particularly in the first two years.
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Liquid gas ratios can change significantly over time.
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Water production often declines significantly with time but not in all cases.
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Fracture communication to offset wells (frac hits) can have significant impacts (usually negative).
Transient well bore modeling has been used to identify the ideal installation time for artificial lift and to compare cumulative production vs time for the different types of artificial lift that are supported by the model. The goal is to identify whether there is an AL solution to take the well from IP to abandonment.
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Production Metering
