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Comparison of Critical Gas Flow Rate Equations to Prevent Liquid Loading

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ICIPEG 2014

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Abstract

Liquid loading is a common problem in mature gas wells that may cease production if the problem is prolonged. Thus, it is required to check for the occurrence of the liquid loading problem. This paper aims to develop a work flow that predicts critical gas flow rate (minimum required gas flow rate) to prevent liquid loading based on the published literature and to analyze effects of temperature, pressure, conduit size, producing depth, and inclination on the critical gas flow rate. Turner et al. model and Guo et al. model are selected to develop a work flow. Fluid characterization is performed using the necessary inputs of fluid properties based on that stated in this paper. This work presents a work flow with two functions, which are estimating critical gas flow rate and performing sensitivity study. It is found that prediction of critical gas flow rate by the Turner et al. model is lower than that of the Guo et al. model. Analyses from sensitivity studies show that critical gas flow rate will be increased if temperature is reduced; pressure is increased; conduit size is increased; producing depth is increased or inclination is reduced. For the set of inputs utilized, the critical gas velocity and flow rate calculated by the Turner et al. model (10.139 ft/s and 0.701 MMscf/d) is lower than that of the Guo et al. model (11.689 ft/s and 0.827 MMscf/d). The success of this project will yield a better insight on liquid loading problem, and it is hoped that the developed work flow can be applied in the industry.

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Abbreviations

A :

Tubing cross-sectional area (ft2)

a g , b g , c g , d g , e g. , f g , m g , n g ,:

Parameters for Guo et al. model

D :

Producing depth (ft)

E k :

Gas-specific kinetic energy (lbf-ft/ft3)

E km :

Minimum kinetic energy required to transport liquid drops (lbf-ft/ft3)

N Re :

Dimensionless Reynolds Number (−)

P :

Pressure (lbf/ft2)

P av :

Average pressure (psia)

P hf :

Wellhead pressure (psia)

Q c :

Condensate make (bbl/d)

Q g :

Gas production day (scf/d)

Q gm :

Minimum required gas flow rate for liquid removal (MMscf/d)

Q o :

Condensate make (bbl/d)

Q s :

Solid make (ft3/d)

Q w :

Water make (bbl/d)

S g :

Gas-specific gravity (−)

S o :

Condensate gravity (−)

S s :

Solid-specific gravity (−)

S w :

Water-specific gravity (−)

T av :

Average temperature (°R)

T wf :

Surface temperature (°R)

T wh :

Wellhead temperature (°R)

V g :

Gas velocity required to transport liquid drops (ft/s)

Z :

Gas compressibility factor (−)

γ c :

Condensate gravity (−)

γ g :

Gas-specific gravity (−)

γ s :

Solid-specific gravity (−)

γ w :

Water-specific gravity (−)

ε :

Tubing wall roughness (ft)

θ :

Hole inclination (rad)

ρ g :

Gas density (lbm/ft3)

ρ l :

Liquid density (lbm/ft3)

σ :

Interfacial tension (dynes/cm)

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their appreciation to Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Malaysia for the directional guidance, valuable assistance, and constructive feedbacks in producing this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Tronoh, Malaysia

    Pei Wen Lim, Mohd Amin Shoushtari, A. P. Ismail bin Mohd Saaid & Salahaldin Sh

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  1. Pei Wen Lim
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  3. A. P. Ismail bin Mohd Saaid
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Correspondence to Pei Wen Lim .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Perak, Malaysia

    Mariyamni Awang

  2. Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Perak, Malaysia

    Berihun Mamo Negash

  3. Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Perak, Malaysia

    Nur Asyraf Md Akhir

  4. Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Perak, Malaysia

    Luluan Almanna Lubis

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Lim, P., Shoushtari, M.A., Ismail bin Mohd Saaid, A.P., Sh, S. (2015). Comparison of Critical Gas Flow Rate Equations to Prevent Liquid Loading. In: Awang, M., Negash, B., Md Akhir, N., Lubis, L. (eds) ICIPEG 2014. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-368-2_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-368-2_7

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