Technical Paper: Production Well Testing Optimization Using Multiphase Flow Meters (MPFM)

Society: SPE
Paper Number: 101475
Presentation Date: 2007
 

Abstract

As a part of an integrated improved oil recovery project, it was required to evaluate asphaltene formation arising from contacting nitrogen gas with the reservoir fluid. This paper discusses the experimental work associated with the asphaltene evaluation.

More than 50 wells were tested during this campaign. All these wells were selected carefully to represent anomalies that need to be investigated for possible proactive actions. Some of these wells were tested more than once to qualify and validate the production test results by the MPFM. Production test results were carefully analized and compared with the results of test separators for fair evaluation and interpretation of well's behaviour. The comparison indicated that the multiphase meter results were relevant and accurate.

In conclusions the water cut measured by MPFM was almost three times more than those measured by test separators. This ratio is matched well with the actual field water volumes. The GOR measurements were varying from one well to another but majority of wells showed more gas production by the phase tester compared with test separators specially for the low potential, unsteady wells. In terms of oil production rate, the difference between the phase testers and test separators was marginal in high potential wells and between 20-40% higher by MPFM in low potential wells. These findings helped in optimizing reconciliation and allocation of the water and gas production. In addition to the above findings, phase testers helped in reservoir management decisions and optimization of testing duration and frequency per well, testing remote wells, slugging/intermittent wells due to system back pressure, testing wells located on platforms not equipped with testing facilities, easy mobility of the phase meters between different locations, replacement of portable test separators and cost optimization.

This paper presents the experience gained using a mobile multiphase well testing unit for production testing. The challenges presented by the nature of these operations and the requirements for successful well tests are reviewed. The importance of well testing experience and multiphase flow metering expertise is highlighted. The paper also explains the unique benefits of the multiphase well test data in identifying and evaluating various well performance anomalies and how the measurements are used to monitor well production over time.

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Multiphase Well Testing and Monitoring