Of the several other published correlations [23–25], the technique

proposed by McCoy et al. [26] and used by the Echometer company

should be discussed here. The gradient correction factor of these
authors was based on field measurements and is reproduced
in Fig. 6.11. Its use eliminates the often difficult determination of
annular gas flow rates. For this purpose, the casing valve is closed in
for a short period of time, while the pump is operating and the casing
pressure buildup rate is recorded. For best results, a minimum
pressure increase of 10 psi or a 10-min test period should be used.
From these data, the following parameter group is calculated:

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Figure 6.11. The gradient correction factor correlation of echometer, after McCoy et
al.[26].
L′dp/dt
where:
dp = casing pressure buildup, psi,
dt = pressure buildup time, min, and
L′ = corrected dynamic liquid level, ft.
The gradient correction factor (Hl) is then found from Fig. 6.11, where
the definition of the corrected liquid level is:
(6.23)L′=L+(1−Hl)hl
where:
L = measured depth of the dynamic liquid level, ft,
Hl = gradient correction factor, –, and
hl = height of the gaseous liquid column, ft.
As seen above, calculation of the correction factor requires
an iterative process, because Hl figures in the corrected dynamic
liquid level that, in turn, is used to correlate Hl in Fig. 6.11. Usually,
only a few iterations are necessary to converge to the proper value of
the gradient correction factor, if a starting value of Hl = 1 is used.
Example 6.5
Calculate the gradient correction factor with the Echometertechnique
for the well data given in Example 6.3, if the measured pressure
buildup at the casing head is 7 psi in 10 min
Solution
Assume a starting correction factor of Hl = 1. The corrected liquid level
is by Eq. (6.23):
L′=5,500+(1−1)500=5,500ft.
The correlating group is found as:
L′dp/dt=5,500×7/10=3,850
Correction factor is read off from Fig. 6.11 as:
Hl=0.36.
Use the calculated Hl to find a new corrected liquid level:
L′=5,500+(1−0.36)500=5,500+320=5,820ft.
The correlating group is thus:
L′dp/dt=5,820×7/10=4,074
Reading off from Fig. 6.11:
Hl=0.35.
One more iteration is needed with a new corrected liquid level:
L′=5,500+(1−0.35)500=5,500+325=5,825ft.
The new correlating group is:
L′dp/dt=5,825×7/10=4,078
The correction factor that belongs to this value is Hl = 0.35, which is
the final converged value of the gradient correction factor. The
correction factors calculated in the previous example are much higher
than the value found with the Echometer model, also observed
by McCoy et al. [26].
6.2.3.3.2 Flowing bottomhole pressure
After the pressure gradient of the gaseous liquid column present in a
pumping well's annulus has been determined, the flowing bottomhole
pressure is calculated analogously to the static pressure:
(6.24)pwf=pc+pg+pl
where:
pwf = FBHP, psi,
pc = casinghead pressure during normal pumping, psi,
pg = hydrostatic pressure of the annular gas column, psi, and
pl = hydrostatic pressure of the annular gaseous liquid column,
psi.
As before, surface casing pressure, pc, is measured at the surface,
and gas column pressure, pg, is found from the measured
liquid level depth, L, by calculating the increase of pressure with
depth in the static gas column. The last term of the equation is
evaluated with the use of the gradient correction factor:
(6.25)pl=hlgradlHl
where:
hl = the height above the formation of the gaseous liquid column
in the annulus, ft,
gradl = hydrostatic pressure gradient of the gas-free annulus
liquid, psi/ft, and
Hl = gradient correction factor, –.
Example 6.6
Find the bottomhole pressures for the different correlations used in the
previous examples
Solution
The hydrostatic pressure of the gas column is 30 psi, as calculated
in Example 6.4. Liquid column pressure is found from Eq. (6.25), and
using the different values of Hl we get:
pl=500×0.32×0.57=91psifortheGilbert,
pl=500×0.32×0.69=110psifortheGodbey-Dimon,and
pl=500×0.32×0.35=56psifortheEchometercorrelations.
Flowing bottomhole pressures are calculated by using Eq. (6.24):
pwf=100+30+91=221psifortheGilbert,
pwf=100+30+110=240psifortheGodbey-Dimon,and
pwf=100+30+56=186psifortheEchometercorrelations.