RAM Application Example Gas Reservoir With Sand Production Problems

Basic Reservoir Data

.67 API dry gas 12000 ft. reservoir, 231F, 6012 psi 62 feet oil 25 Md permeability 30% porosity estimated from cores 25% water saturation 150 BCF from volumetrics (3 compartments) 1437 acres estimated (3 compartments 26 BCF and 191 acres in compartment of interest 4.5 inch tubing No active aquifer , stratagraphic trap 40 MMCF/D maximum gas rate for facilities 55 psi minimum flowing surface pressure (with compression)

Top of Structure
Fault Block Modeled

Gas Map
Fault Block Modeled

Future Plugback Workover

Well Sanded Up, Workover needed

Problem and Proposed Solution

Statement of the Problem :

First well completed and sanded up within 30 days 125 psi drawdown when sand production commenced
RAM analysis of multi rate well test and buildup prior to production

and rate/surface pressure at time well sanded up

Proposed Production Solution:

75 psi maximum pressure drop near well bore to prevent sand production in the future Work over first well and complete future plugback wells so that 75 psi drawdown maintained

RAM Analysis of Problem

Drawdown is very sensitive to rate and reservoir pressure Gas rate must be maintained at or below 10 MMCF/D to have drawdown less than 75 psi and minimize sand influx
Drawdown vs. Reservoir Pressure

Drawdown in Perforations

800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 0 2000 4000 6000 Reservoir Pressure

40MMCF/d 10 MMCF/D

Gas Rate vs. Reservoir Pressure

45000 40000 35000 30000 25000 20000 15000 10000 5000 0 0 2000 4000 6000 Reservoir Pressure

10/40 MMCF max rates

Gas Rate, MCF/D

40MMCF/d 10 MMCF/D

RAM Analysis of Problem

Drawdowns at lower reservoir pressures/low rates can equal/exceed drawdowns at high reservoir pressures/high rates
drawdown@ 2.5 MMCF/D = drawdown@40 MMCF/D

Gas rate must be maintained at or below 10 MMCF/D to have drawdown less than 75 psi and minimize sand influx
Drawdown vs. Gas Rate
800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 0 10000 20000 30000 40000 Gas Rate,MMCF/D

Drawdown, psi

40 MMCF/D 10 MMCF/D

RAM Creates Relationship Between Cum Gas Produced and Required Well Surface Pressure

Blue curve has 10 MMCF/D and 75 psi drawdown constraint Relationship holds as long as skin does not change
RAM models skin change with time and adjusts curve below for operator

Surface Pressure Gas vs. Cum Gas

5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 0 5000 10000 15000 20000 Cum Gas , MMCF 10 MMCF/D 75 psi max drawdown

Surface Pressure, PSI

Production Forecasts

Violet curve has 10 MMCF/D and no drawdown constraints Blue curve has 10 MMCF/D and 75 psi drawdown constraint
Gas Rate vs. Time
12000
Gas Rate, MCF/D

10000 8000 6000 4000 2000 0 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 Time, days 10 MMcf/D 75 psi drawdown 10MMCF/d

RAM Production Forecasts 10 MMCF/D Cases

Blue curve has 10 MMCF/D and no drawdown constraints Violet curve has 10 MMCF/D and 75 psi drawdown constraint For unrestricted drawdown and 75 PSI max drawdown well produces 13 BCF before drawdown exceeded and sandup For 75 PSI max drawdown well produces 25 BCF
Drawdown vs. Cum Gas
200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 0 10000 20000 30000

10MMCF/d 10 MMCF/D 75 psi Drawdown

Sand up likely if well rate not restricted, 75 psi drawdown

Conclusions

RAM system capable of telling operator the minimum flowing surface pressure for a given perforation drawdown
Varies with cumulative gas produced from the reservoir

RAM can estimate production gains possible through proper management of the well drawdown and sand production elimination RAM provides production engineers alarms and simple tools for analyzing short and long term production benefits of drawdown control