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SteadyStateFlow-1

The document describes three types of flow regimes in fluid dynamics: steady-state, unsteady-state, and pseudosteady-state flow. It explains the conditions under which each flow regime occurs, including mathematical expressions for pressure changes over time and the effects of reservoir characteristics on flow rates. Additionally, it provides examples and equations for calculating flow rates in various scenarios involving oil and gas reservoirs.

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45 views

SteadyStateFlow-1

The document describes three types of flow regimes in fluid dynamics: steady-state, unsteady-state, and pseudosteady-state flow. It explains the conditions under which each flow regime occurs, including mathematical expressions for pressure changes over time and the effects of reservoir characteristics on flow rates. Additionally, it provides examples and equations for calculating flow rates in various scenarios involving oil and gas reservoirs.

Uploaded by

zarixboi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Flow Regimes

There are basically three types of flow regimes that must be recognized in
order to describe the fluid flow behavior and reservoir pressure distribution
as a function of time.
These three flow regimes are:
(1) steady-state flow;
(2) unsteady-state flow;
(3) pseudosteady-state flow.
Steady-state Flow
The flow regime is identified as a steady-state flow if the pressure at every
location in the reservoir remains constant, i.e., does not change with time.
Mathematically, this condition is expressed as:

This equation states that the rate of change of pressure p with respect to time t
at any location I is zero.
In reservoirs, the steady-state flow condition can only occur when the reservoir
is completely recharged and supported by strong aquifer or pressure
maintenance operations.
Unsteady-state Flow
Unsteady-state flow (frequently called transient flow) is defined as the fluid
flowing condition at which the rate of change of pressure with respect to time
at any position in the reservoir is not zero or constant.

This definition suggests that the pressure derivative with respect to time is
essentially a function of both position i and time t, thus:
Pseudosteady-state Flow OR Semi-State Flow
When the pressure at different locations in the reservoir is declining linearly
as a function of time, i.e., at a constant declining rate, the flowing condition
is characterized as pseudosteady-state flow.
Mathematically, this definition states that the rate of change of pressure
with respect to time at every position is constant, or:

It should be pointed out that pseudosteadystate flow is commonly referred


to as Semisteady-state flow and Quasisteady-state flow and is possible for
slightly compressible fluids.
Figure 3 shows a schematic comparison of the pressure declines as a
function of time of the three flow regimes.
The “constant”
referred to in the
above equation
can be obtained
from a simple
material balance
using the
definition of the
compressibility,
thus:
Expressing the pressure decline rate dp/dt in the above
relation in Psi/hr gives:

Eq. (A)

For a radial drainage


Eq. (B)
system, the pore
volume is given by:
Combining Equation (A) with Equation (B) gives:

Eq. (C)

Examination of the above expression reveals the following important


characteristics of the behavior of the pressure decline rate dp/dt
during the semisteady-state flow:

 The reservoir pressure declines at a higher rate with an


increase in the fluids production rate.
 The reservoir pressure declines at a slower rate for
reservoirs with higher total compressibility coefficients.
 The reservoir pressure declines at a lower rate for
reservoirs with larger pore volumes.
FIGURE 3. Flow regimes
Linear Flow Equation for Steady-State Incompressible Fluid

Oil flow equation in oil field units under steady-state flow

Gas flow equation in oil field units under steady-state flow


Radial Flow Equation for Steady-State Incompressible Fluid

for oil flow Oil field units

In terms of average pressure, it is represented as


Steady State with the Effect of Skin
Practically, during drilling and completion operations, the permeability around the
wellbore of most wells have been damaged or reduced thereby causes an impairment
to flow of fluid and thus create an additional pressure drop near the wellbore.
This impairment to flow is known as skin. Incorporating it into the flow equation gives:
Example
Given the following data:

(a) Calculate the well flow rate at steady state radial flow
(b) The flow rate after a successful stimulation job to reduce
the skin factor to 0.93
Solution

(a) The pre-stimulation flow rate is

(b) The post-stimulation flow rate is

The stimulation job improved the well flow rate for about 26% which
implies a successful stimulation operation.
Radial Flow Equation for Steady-State Slightly Compressible Fluid
(Skin Effect)

Where
Example
Calculate the flow rate of a vertical well at steady state producing oil
from the center of a cylindrical drainage area with the following parameters:
Solution
First of all Convert the given data in to oil field units
Solution
Use equation for flow rate
Radial Flow Equation for Steady-State Compressible Fluid (Gases)
Low pressure approximation

High pressure approximation


Example
Use the low pressure approximation method to calculate the
gas flow rate of Garon gas field well JT6 whose pay thickness is
54 ft, permeability is 200 mD, Gas Viscosity is 0.01957cp, Gas
Compressibility factor is 0.845 and current bottom hole flowing
pressure is 2000 psia. Given the following additional
information:

Wellbore radius, rw = 0.351 ft


Drainage radius, re = 1180 ft
Initial Reservoir Pressure, Pi = 3650 psi
Pressure at Standard condition, Psc = 14.7 psi
Temperature at Standard condition, Tsc = 60 Degree C
Reservoir Temperature, T = 175 Degree C
Solution
The radial flow equation for pseudo-steady state
The radial flow equation for pseudo-steady state (With Skin Effect)
The radial flow equation for pseudo-steady state (for Gas)
Example
Given the following data below for a vertical well under pseudo
steady state.
Wellbore radius, rw = 0.4167 ft
Drainage radius, re = 970 ft
Reservoir height, h = 49 ft
Pressure at the outer boundary, Pe = 5400 psi
Wellbore flowing pressure, Pwf = 4800 psi
Formation permeability, k = 45 mD
Oil viscosity, μo = 0.48 cp
Oil formation volume factor, βo = 1.3125 rb/stb

(a) Calculate the flow rate of the well?


(b) Also, at what rate will the well be flowing if the bottom
hole pressure is reduced to 3750 psi?
Solution
(a) Flow rate of the well

(b) If the bottom hole pressure is reduced to 3750 psia, the rate is calculated as

A substantial increase in production was observed when the bottom hole


flowing pressure was reduced.
Example
Calculate the flowing bottom hole pressure for a vertical well
in level J6 reservoir undergoing a pseudo steady state flow
regime with the following data.
Also, if the flow rate of the well increases by 28%, what will be
the bottom hole flowing pressure?
Wellbore radius, rw = 0.375 ft
Drainage radius, re = 1150 ft
Reservoir height, h = 53 ft
Pressure at the outer boundary, Pe = 3857 psi
Flow rate, q = 1835 stb/d
Formation absolute permeability, k = 144 mD
Oil viscosity, μo = 0.92 cp
Oil formation volume factor, βo = 1.2643 rb/stb
Skin, S = 4.16
Solution
The flow equation for a pseudo steady state is given as

The bottom hole flowing


pressure is calculated as

If the rate increase by 28%, the new well flow rate becomes,
Example
Calculate the flow rate for a vertical well in level J6 reservoir
undergoing a pseudo steady state flow regime with the
following data.

Wellbore radius, rw = 0.375 ft


Drainage radius, re = 1150 ft
Reservoir height, h = 53 ft
Pressure at the outer boundary, Pe = 3857 psi
Bottom hole flowing pressure, Pwf = 3405 psi
Formation absolute permeability, k = 144 mD
Oil viscosity, μo = 0.92 cp
Oil formation volume factor, βo = 1.2643 rb/stb
Skin, S = 4.16
Solution

Flow rate, q = 1835 stb/d


Example
Calculate the Flow rate (SCF/D) for a radial well in gas reservoir
undergoing a pseudo steady state flow regime with the Gas
Viscosity 0.01957cp, Gas Compressibility factor 0.845. and other
following data:

Wellbore radius, rw = 0.375 ft


Drainage radius, re = 1150 ft
Reservoir height, h = 53 ft
Pressure at the outer boundary, Pe = 3857 psi
Bottom hole flowing pressure, Pwf = 3405 psi
Formation absolute permeability, k = 144 mD
Reservoir Temperature, = 175 DegreeF
Skin, S = 4.16
Solution

Gas Flow rate, q = 144538 SCF/d


Example
An oil well is producing at a constant oil flow rate of 1200
STB/day under a semisteady-state flow regime. Well
testing data indicate that the pressure is declining at a constant
rate of 4.655 psi/hr. The following additional data are available:

Calculate the well drainage area.


Solution
• q = Qo Bo
• q = (1200) (1.3) = 1560 bb/day
• Apply the following Equation to solve for A.

or
A = 1,742,400 / 43,560 = 40 acres

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