CLEAN UP A WELL

BASIC WELL TESTING TRAINING

PT. PROWELL ENERGI INDONESIA
CLEAN UP

Lecture Objectives, by the end of this lecture, YOU should be able to:

 Dentify the 3 limits of the Clean-up

 Explain the Critical Flow
 Explain the GOR
 Understand the choke performance charts
 Estimate the Duration of the Clean-up
The Purpose of the Clean Up Job

To eliminate all foreign fluid (mud filtrates, completion fluid, etc.), contained in
the invaded zone and the well bore so that representative reservoir fluids may
be produced during the Test.

To establish the highest possible flow rate compatible with the:

 Well equipment
 Reservoir Characteristics
 Surface Equipment Capabilities

Avoid sand breakthrough

Avoid gas or water coning
Use a choke at least as large as the largest choke that will be used during the
actual Test
 The 3 limits of Clean up
1. Flow rate and Pressure should be the highest compatible with surface Testing
equipment.
To monitor carefully the Pressure downstream choke manifold (limited by the WP of
piping, separator manifold inlet, burners, etc.)

2. In GAS well, the drawdown should not exceed 25% of the static pressure
- example:
if WHSIP= 5000psi,
WHFP (still upstream choke) should not go bellow 3750 psi

3. In GAS well, gas Velocity should not exceed:

 160 feet/sec (dry gas)
 80 feet/sec (gas with liquid, solids)

Unofficial note: These values are recommended to be respected between CM &

Separator, principally downstream chokes (CM and/or Heaters).
“Architest” software is helping us.
Gas Velocity in Pipe

Velocity according to = P, Q , ID
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-supports & clamp welded to deck (off-shore)

-Heavy concrete load (on land)

SAFETY:
For all flow lines and
compulsory for all HP &
Vent lines
Critical Flow
Critical Flow
 A flow condition that occurs across the choke, in which pressure
fluctuations downstream of the choke cannot affect the conditions
upstream of the choke.
 The choke is called EFFECTIVE, when Critical flow is achieved through it.
 It is good to flow under Critical flow conditions, because any variations of
pressure downstream the choke (at heater, separator, oil manifold, tank,
etc.), will not affect the pressure (& flowrate) upstream the choke (down-
hole gauges recorder)

CRITICAL FLOW conditions thru a choke exists when:

1. For an Oil well
downstream pressure < 0.6 upstream pressure
2. For a Gas well
downstream pressure < 0.5 upstream pressure
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GOR (Gas Oil Ratio) units: scf/bbl or

m3/m3

GOR > 5000 scf/bbl GAS Well

GOR < 5000 scf/bbl OIL Well

Example: - If a GOR = 4000 scf/bbl, that
means is an Oil well, and for each barrel
of oil produced , the well is producing
4000 scf of gas.
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• GOR (Gas Oil Ratio) units: scf/bbl or

m3/m3

Estimation

For an Oil well, if GOR is unknown:

GOR (scf/bbl) = 0.1 x Depth (feet)

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CHOKE PERFORMANCE CHARTS

OIL & GAS Flowrates estimation, during

Clean-up:
• using Fixed choke
• Flowing under Critical flow conditions
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Choke
performance chart

GAS Flowrate
Estimation
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Choke
performance chart

OIL Flowrate
Estimation
Estimation of the duration of
the Clean Up
or well is it producing clean hydrocarbons?

1. BSW < 1% Solids

Basic Sediment & Water taken at CM. If you pass flow thru separator with more
than 1% solids, it will be full of solids rapidly, etc.

2. SALINITY measurement of water if any.

H2O coming from Formation or Mud/cushion?
 Water not coming from the formation, the BSW must be < 1% to consider
clean-up finished.
 If it is Formation H2O, the well is producing water and there is no limit in BSW
% to consider that the clean-up is achieved.

3. PH measurement (after Acid job)

PH > 7
Measurements done on produce water (BSW)
Acid will damage mechanical devices from separator, piping, tanks, etc.
Estimation of the duration of
the Clean Up
4. Stabilization of WHP
Particularly for Gas wells to determine if the wellbore is free of liquids.
Check WHP steady with DWT, Foxboro.

5. Stabilization of BHP
When surface read out available (rarely during clean-up)

6. Visual examination of the flare

White or gray smoke may indicates presence of water.
Fast changes may indicates venue of H2O surges.

7. A minimum amount of fluid has been produced

At least equal to the wellbore volume (tubing content + rat hole content)

8. Surface Flowrate stabilization

Using Choke Performance charts.
THE END