GB2252797A - Controlling production flow of an oil well 36 - Google Patents
Controlling production flow of an oil well 36 Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2252797A GB2252797A GB9203087A GB9203087A GB2252797A GB 2252797 A GB2252797 A GB 2252797A GB 9203087 A GB9203087 A GB 9203087A GB 9203087 A GB9203087 A GB 9203087A GB 2252797 A GB2252797 A GB 2252797A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- controlled
- flow rate
- production
- control
- valves
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 44
- 239000003129 oil well Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 9
- 229930195733 hydrocarbon Natural products 0.000 claims abstract description 22
- 150000002430 hydrocarbons Chemical class 0.000 claims abstract description 22
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 18
- 239000004215 Carbon black (E152) Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000009530 blood pressure measurement Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 238000009529 body temperature measurement Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 21
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 2
- VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N methane Chemical compound C VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005587 bubbling Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000006837 decompression Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003345 natural gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000006641 stabilisation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007704 transition Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B47/00—Survey of boreholes or wells
- E21B47/06—Measuring temperature or pressure
- E21B47/07—Temperature
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/12—Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells
- E21B43/121—Lifting well fluids
- E21B43/122—Gas lift
Landscapes
- Geology (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geophysics (AREA)
- Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)
- Lubrication Of Internal Combustion Engines (AREA)
- Compressor (AREA)
- Organic Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds And Preparation Thereof (AREA)
Abstract
In a process for controlling the production flow rate of an oil well, the well comprises a hydrocarbon production column (12) leading to a well head (30) and provided with at least one gas injection valve (16), the valve (16) being connected to a pressurised gas source (18) by means of a first control valve (24) which enables the gas flow rate towards the interior of the production column to be controlled. In addition, the instantaneous flow rate produced is controlled by means of a second control valve (36), the control process being performed by the two control valves (24; 36). The valves (24; 36) may be adjusted by an automatic system connected to outlet temperature and pressure sensors (38; 40) and inlet gas pressure and flow sensors (42; 44). <IMAGE>
Description
PROCESS FOR CHECKING THE PRODUCTION FLOW RATE
OF AN OIL WELL
The present invention relates to a process for checking the production flow rate of an oil well and, more particularly, to a process of this type intended to be used in a producing well by injecting gas which causes the volume to be reduced as a result of bubbling through the oil column.
In some oil wells the hydrocarbon production flow rate is low either owing to the low pressure prevailing in the oil field or owing to the low amount of gas combined with the hydrocarbons. In order to assist the flow of hydrocarbons along the production column, a production process is conventionally used which injects gas causing the volume in the oil column to be reduced, which process is more commonly known as the "gas lift" process.
In this type of process, a pressurised gas is injected into the hydrocarbons via a series of inlets disposed along the production column.
The entry of the gas is controlled by a single manual valve disposed upstream. In general, the gas used is a hydrocarbon coming from the oil field. The injection of gas causes the weight of the hydrocarbons to decrease and thus facilitates their ascension in the production column.
However, this type of process does not enable the hydrocarbon flow in the production column to be controlled precisely and instantaneously and therefore has given disadvantages. For example, when hydrocarbon production is started, the absence of a control system may mean that the start of production is too abrupt which may lead to the formation of a liquid plug in the production column or damage to the seam-hole connection.
The object of the present invention is, therefore, a process for controlling the production flow rate of an oil well which enables the start of production and the subsequent hydrocarbon flow to be better controlled.
For this purpose the invention proposes a process for controlling the production flow rate of an oil well, which well comprises a hydrocarbon production column leading to a well head and provided with at least one gas injection valve, the valve being connected to a pressurised gas source by means of a first control valve which enables the flow of gas towards the interior of the production column to be controlled, the process being characterised in that, in addition, the instantaneous flow rate produced is controlled by means of a second control valve, the control process being performed by the two control valves enabling the hydrocarbon flow in the production column to be controlled.
Further features and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly from the following description given with reference to the single Figure which is a schematic view of an oil installation enabling the process according to the invention to be performed.
The Figure shows schematically an oil well 10 provided with a production column 12. In a conventional manner the production column 12 is approximately 1000 to 3000 m long. A packer 14 is disposed at the bottom of the production column 12. Gas injection valves 16, which may optionally be calibrated, and of which there are four in the example illustrated, are arranged at optimum intervals along the production column 12. A pressurised gas passes from a source illustrated schematically at 18, via a collector 20 and a conduit 22 provided with a first control valve 24 towards the annular space 26 defined between the production column 12 and the wall 28 of the well 10. In the example shown, the gas used is natural gas, separated from the liquid hydrocarbons, and recompressed.
The annular space 26 is made leaktight by a well head assembly illustrated generally at 30.
When the pressure of the gas in the annular space 26 exceeds that of the hydrocarbons in the production column 12, and when the valve 16 is open, the gas passes into the column and displaces the hydrocarbons towards the well head assembly 30. This assembly 30 comprises an outlet 32 downstream of a safety valve 34 and a second control valve 36. The first and second control valves 24 and 36 are controlled valves. The outlet 32 leads to a production collector (not illustrated). The well head assembly is provided with a temperature sensor 38 and a pressure sensor 40 for the hydrocarbons at the outlet of the well.
In addition, the conduit 22 comprises a pressure sensor 42 for measuring the pressure prevailing in the annular space 26, and a flow meter 44.
In a conventional manner, the supply of pressurised gas is controlled by moving the first control valve 24. In accordance with the
invention, in order to control better the fluid flow in the production column 26, the second control valve 36 is also moved. The two control valves 24 and 36 are controlled in a preprogrammed parametric logic sequence.
Four sub-sequences which may be performed on a production well will now be described by way of example.
- Decompression
In order to enable the pressure prevailing at the well head to decrease progressively, following a previous closure of the well, the second control valve 36 is opened progressively whilst the first control valve 24 remains closed. The pressure prevailing at the well head is constantly measured by means of the sensor 40 and determines the transition to the following stage.
- Start of the well production
The second control valve 36 is partially opened to a predetermined position in order to prevent starting from being too abrupt which could damage either the seam-hole connection or the downstream installations. Subsequently the first control valve 24 is progressively opened in order to create a controlled increase in the pressure of the gas in the annular space 26 to a predetermined pressure. The starting flow rate is maintained whilst the hydrocarbon pressure and temperature are measured at the head of the production column 26 by the sensors 38 and 40. The gas passes progressively via the injection valves 16 towards the interior of the production column 26 causing the hydrocarbons to move towards the surface. The second control valve 36 is then opened beyond its starting position in order to increase the hydrocarbon production speed.
- Stabilisation
The preceding conditions are maintained whilst the temperature and pressure prevailing at the head of the production column 26 are measured until the conditions in the well stabilise.
- Optimisation of adjustment
The aim of this operation is to optimise hydrocarbon production whilst minimising the amount of gas injected. The production flow rate is controlled regularly in order to be able to close the second control valve 36 slowly if this flow rate becomes too great. If the production flow rate is sufficient, the first control valve 24 is closed slowly in order to reduce gas consumption. For a given production flow rate, it is thus attempted to open the second control valve 36 as far as possible and reduce the opening of the first control valve 24 as far as possible whilst respecting the predefined limits.
In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the controlled control valves 24 and 36 may be controlled by an automatic system connected to the various sensors 38, 40, 42 and 44. A system of this type can continuously monitor the various measurements and continuously adjust the control valves 24 and 36 in order to optimise production conditions.
Claims (2)
1. Process for controlling the production flow rate of an oil well, which well comprises a hydrocarbon production column (26) leading to a well head (30) and defining with the well wall (28) an annular space (26), the column being provided with at least one gas injection valve (16), the valve (16) being connected to a pressurised gas source (18) by means of a first control valve (24) which enables the gas flow rate towards the interior of the production column to be controlled, the process further comprising the stage in which the instantaneous flow rate produced is controlled by means of a second control valve (36), the control process being performed by the two control valves (24; 36) enabling the hydrocarbon flow in the production column to be controlled, characterised in that the two control valves (24) are controlled as a function of the temperature and pressure measurements taken at the surface and in the annular space (26), the two control valves (24; 36) likewise being controlled as a function of the measurements of the pressure and gas flow rate coming from the source (18).
2. Control process according to Claim 1, characterised in that the first and second valves (24, 36) are controlled valves, the valves being controlled continuously by a control system as a function of the measurements taken.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR9101722A FR2672936B1 (en) | 1991-02-14 | 1991-02-14 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE PRODUCTION FLOW OF AN OIL WELL. |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9203087D0 GB9203087D0 (en) | 1992-03-25 |
| GB2252797A true GB2252797A (en) | 1992-08-19 |
| GB2252797B GB2252797B (en) | 1994-11-23 |
Family
ID=9409696
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9203087A Expired - Lifetime GB2252797B (en) | 1991-02-14 | 1992-02-13 | Process for controlling the production flow rate of an oil well |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| FR (1) | FR2672936B1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2252797B (en) |
| NO (1) | NO303358B1 (en) |
| OA (1) | OA09589A (en) |
Cited By (12)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2276675A (en) * | 1993-03-17 | 1994-10-05 | Robert Colin Pearson | Control of gas-lift wells |
| EP0756065A1 (en) * | 1995-07-24 | 1997-01-29 | Shell Internationale Researchmaatschappij B.V. | System for controlling production from a gas-lifted oil well |
| FR2783557A1 (en) | 1998-09-21 | 2000-03-24 | Elf Exploration Prod | Method for controlling a liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon production well using injection gas involves using outlet choke and injection gas control valve to control start up phase, that initiates and ramps up production, and production phase |
| FR2783559A1 (en) * | 1998-09-21 | 2000-03-24 | Elf Exploration Prod | Pipe control method for transporting liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons between offshore production plant and treatment plant involves controlling an outlet choke and control valve of gas injection pipe in start up and then production phase |
| US6158508A (en) * | 1998-03-24 | 2000-12-12 | Elf Exploration Production | Method of operating a plant for the production of hydrocarbons |
| US7278481B2 (en) | 2001-10-01 | 2007-10-09 | Shell Oil Company | Method and system for producing an oil and gas mixture through a well |
| WO2009108522A1 (en) * | 2008-02-28 | 2009-09-03 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Phase-controlled well flow control and associated methods |
| CN103015975A (en) * | 2012-12-31 | 2013-04-03 | 河南理工大学 | Gas production rate testing simulation device of coal-bed gas vertical well |
| US8496059B2 (en) | 2010-12-14 | 2013-07-30 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Controlling flow of steam into and/or out of a wellbore |
| US8544554B2 (en) | 2010-12-14 | 2013-10-01 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Restricting production of gas or gas condensate into a wellbore |
| US8607874B2 (en) | 2010-12-14 | 2013-12-17 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Controlling flow between a wellbore and an earth formation |
| US8839857B2 (en) | 2010-12-14 | 2014-09-23 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Geothermal energy production |
Families Citing this family (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2925569B1 (en) * | 2007-12-20 | 2010-01-22 | Total Sa | PROCESS FOR CONDUCTING A HYDROCARBON PRODUCTION WELL |
| FR2954398B1 (en) | 2009-12-18 | 2012-06-01 | Total Sa | PROCESS FOR EXTRACTING HYDROCARBONS |
| CN104047581A (en) * | 2014-05-28 | 2014-09-17 | 苏州市职业大学 | Automatic oil extraction divider system based on sonar |
| CN104790912A (en) * | 2015-04-10 | 2015-07-22 | 中国石油大学(北京) | Automatic chemical adding device for oil wellhead and chemical adding method |
| CN104863568B (en) * | 2015-06-01 | 2017-09-26 | 方永和 | Injection well zonal testing and allocating technology |
Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4025235A (en) * | 1975-11-19 | 1977-05-24 | Newbrough Joseph S | System for improving oil well production |
| US4633954A (en) * | 1983-12-05 | 1987-01-06 | Otis Engineering Corporation | Well production controller system |
| GB2179081A (en) * | 1985-06-26 | 1987-02-25 | Eboroil Projects Limited | Offshore hydrocarbon recovery system |
| US4685522A (en) * | 1983-12-05 | 1987-08-11 | Otis Engineering Corporation | Well production controller system |
| WO1988000277A1 (en) * | 1986-07-07 | 1988-01-14 | B.W.N. Vortoil Pty. Ltd. | Method for startup of production in an oil well |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2633086A (en) * | 1947-06-19 | 1953-03-31 | Mcevoy Co | Gas lift system and apparatus therefor |
| US2679212A (en) * | 1952-06-23 | 1954-05-25 | Phillips Petroleum Co | Gas lift apparatus |
| US4267885A (en) * | 1979-08-01 | 1981-05-19 | Cybar, Inc. | Method and apparatus for optimizing production in a continuous or intermittent gas-lift well |
| US4738313A (en) * | 1987-02-20 | 1988-04-19 | Delta-X Corporation | Gas lift optimization |
-
1991
- 1991-02-14 FR FR9101722A patent/FR2672936B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1992
- 1992-02-12 OA OA60147A patent/OA09589A/en unknown
- 1992-02-13 GB GB9203087A patent/GB2252797B/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1992-02-14 NO NO920586A patent/NO303358B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Patent Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4025235A (en) * | 1975-11-19 | 1977-05-24 | Newbrough Joseph S | System for improving oil well production |
| US4633954A (en) * | 1983-12-05 | 1987-01-06 | Otis Engineering Corporation | Well production controller system |
| US4685522A (en) * | 1983-12-05 | 1987-08-11 | Otis Engineering Corporation | Well production controller system |
| GB2179081A (en) * | 1985-06-26 | 1987-02-25 | Eboroil Projects Limited | Offshore hydrocarbon recovery system |
| WO1988000277A1 (en) * | 1986-07-07 | 1988-01-14 | B.W.N. Vortoil Pty. Ltd. | Method for startup of production in an oil well |
Cited By (22)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2276675B (en) * | 1993-03-17 | 1996-01-03 | Robert Colin Pearson | Oilfield controls |
| GB2276675A (en) * | 1993-03-17 | 1994-10-05 | Robert Colin Pearson | Control of gas-lift wells |
| EP0756065A1 (en) * | 1995-07-24 | 1997-01-29 | Shell Internationale Researchmaatschappij B.V. | System for controlling production from a gas-lifted oil well |
| WO1997004212A1 (en) * | 1995-07-24 | 1997-02-06 | Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. | System for controlling production from a gas-lifted oil well |
| US6158508A (en) * | 1998-03-24 | 2000-12-12 | Elf Exploration Production | Method of operating a plant for the production of hydrocarbons |
| GB2342109B (en) * | 1998-09-21 | 2002-09-04 | Elf Exploration Prod | Method for controlling a hydrocarbons production well activated by injection of gas |
| GB2342109A (en) * | 1998-09-21 | 2000-04-05 | Elf Exploration Prod | Method for controlling a hydrocarbons production well activated by injection of gas |
| FR2783559A1 (en) * | 1998-09-21 | 2000-03-24 | Elf Exploration Prod | Pipe control method for transporting liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons between offshore production plant and treatment plant involves controlling an outlet choke and control valve of gas injection pipe in start up and then production phase |
| US6286602B1 (en) | 1998-09-21 | 2001-09-11 | Elf Exploration Production | Method for controlling a device for transporting hydrocarbons between production means and a treatment plant |
| US6293341B1 (en) | 1998-09-21 | 2001-09-25 | Elf Exploration Production | Method of controlling a hydrocarbons production well activated by injection of gas |
| FR2783557A1 (en) | 1998-09-21 | 2000-03-24 | Elf Exploration Prod | Method for controlling a liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon production well using injection gas involves using outlet choke and injection gas control valve to control start up phase, that initiates and ramps up production, and production phase |
| US7278481B2 (en) | 2001-10-01 | 2007-10-09 | Shell Oil Company | Method and system for producing an oil and gas mixture through a well |
| US8096362B2 (en) | 2008-02-28 | 2012-01-17 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Phase-controlled well flow control and associated methods |
| US7866400B2 (en) | 2008-02-28 | 2011-01-11 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Phase-controlled well flow control and associated methods |
| WO2009108522A1 (en) * | 2008-02-28 | 2009-09-03 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Phase-controlled well flow control and associated methods |
| US8496059B2 (en) | 2010-12-14 | 2013-07-30 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Controlling flow of steam into and/or out of a wellbore |
| US8544554B2 (en) | 2010-12-14 | 2013-10-01 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Restricting production of gas or gas condensate into a wellbore |
| US8607874B2 (en) | 2010-12-14 | 2013-12-17 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Controlling flow between a wellbore and an earth formation |
| US8839857B2 (en) | 2010-12-14 | 2014-09-23 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Geothermal energy production |
| US8851188B2 (en) | 2010-12-14 | 2014-10-07 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Restricting production of gas or gas condensate into a wellbore |
| CN103015975A (en) * | 2012-12-31 | 2013-04-03 | 河南理工大学 | Gas production rate testing simulation device of coal-bed gas vertical well |
| CN103015975B (en) * | 2012-12-31 | 2015-06-24 | 河南理工大学 | Gas production rate testing simulation device of coal-bed gas vertical well |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| OA09589A (en) | 1993-04-30 |
| NO303358B1 (en) | 1998-06-29 |
| GB9203087D0 (en) | 1992-03-25 |
| NO920586D0 (en) | 1992-02-14 |
| FR2672936B1 (en) | 1999-02-26 |
| NO920586L (en) | 1992-08-17 |
| FR2672936A1 (en) | 1992-08-21 |
| GB2252797B (en) | 1994-11-23 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE20 | Patent expired after termination of 20 years |
Expiry date: 20120212 |