Holes in Tubing. a Common Problem in Gas Wells. Rick Nadkrynechny Lynn Rowlan. Gas Well Deliquification Workshop

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1 Gas Well Deliquification Workshop Adams Mark Hotel, February 25-27, 2008 Holes in Tubing a Common Problem in Gas Wells Rick Nadkrynechny Lynn Rowlan

2 Holes in Tubing in Flowing Gas Wells are an Unexpected Common Problem Tubing Hole often misdiagnosed or over-looked. Production Rate Drop looks like Liquid Loading due to Flow Falling Below Critical Rate Reduced gas rate is frequently misdiagnosed Problems occur gradually as hole size increases Lift methods being applied to unload the gas well often fail due to a hole in the tubing. Case studies will show significant increases in gas production after repair of Hole. 2

Spring Tight Spot End of Tubing @ 4325 Ft 1/8 x

3 Look Down Tubing with Acoustic Surveys to see What is 4750 Ft Tight Spot in Tubing Bumper Spring Tight Spot End of 4325 Ft 1/8 x 1/4 in. Small Hole in Tubing Small Hole Liquid Level 3

4 Holes are Unexpected Problem For Example: 10% of 150 flowing gas wells analyzed were found to have holes in the tubing, where no holes were thought to exist. 6 of last 30 Plunger Well Conversions had Tubing Holes Tubing and Casing Pressure are Not Equal with Hole When flow up tubing; High Fluid Level in Casing Likely Indicates a Hole in the Tubing High Cost of using a wire-line to set a standing valve and pressure test the tubing may be avoided Using an acoustic fluid level instrument is a low cost, quick method to troubleshoot a gas well and to identify the presence/location of a hole. 4

5 Use an Acoustic Fluid Level Instrument To Identify The Depth To The Hole 1. Shoot tubing/casing annulus while flowing up tubing Fluid Level should be near tubing intake or below perforations (If no Hole)? Time 12:12:27 5

6 Use an Acoustic Fluid Level Instrument To Identify The Depth To The Hole Shoot down tubing and tubing/casing annulus 1. Shoot tubing/casing annulus while flowing up tubing Fluid Level should be near tubing intake or below perforations (If no Hole) 2. Shut-in well,, continue to shoot casing annulus looking for down kick due to liquid leaking from hole in tubing back into annulus. 3. Increasing Pressure pushes liquid down 4. After hours of shooting tubing and/or casing annulus an upkick from hole should be seen. 6

7 Gas Well Production Curve - Flow Rate Drop in Production due Small hole to Liquid Loading? Began to Shot Fluid Levels to Cause Open Sliding Sleeve and Problem Commingle Two Zones Found Hole in Tubing With Fluid Level Shot Dramatic Drop in Rate 820 Mscfd 250 Mscfd Turner Critical 320 MscfD Replaced Tubing and Gas Flow Returned to 2006 Rate 7

8 Can t be a Hole ~ Tubing is New Depth 4325 Ft from Surface Inside Pipe Outside Pipe 8

9 100.0 mv Sec LL C - Hole Not Visible Time 12:12:27 Csg Psi Shot Casing/ Flowing Up Tubing Explosion ( ft ) Sec C - -LL mv Time 12:24:15 Csg Psi Shot Casing/ Tubing Flow Shut-in 31.6 mv Explosion ( ft ) Sec C - -LL Time 12:29:14 Csg Psi Shot Casing/ Tubing Flow Shut-in Explosion ( ft ) Sec C - -LL mv Time 12:35:58 Tbg Psi Shot Tubing/ Flow Shut-in mv Explosion ( ft ) Sec C - -LL Time 13:09:38 Tbg Psi Shot Tubing/ Flow Shut-in Explosion ( ft ) Ft 9

10 Gas Well Production Curve - Flow Rate Dramatic Drop in Rate 640 Mscfd 100 Mscfd Swabbing w/ Plunger to Remove Kill Fluid. 15 m3 Remain Well Appears to be Liquid Loaded, due to drop off Decline Curve. Shot Fluid Level to Investigate Conversion to Plunger Lift. Found Hole in Tubing Turner Critical 300 MscfD Killed Well to Replace Tubing 10

Many Holes in Tubing Joints(118-121) Hole Depth 3730.1 Ft.

11 Many Holes in Tubing Joints( ) Hole Depth Ft. / Ft/Jt = jts from surface Outside Pipe Inside Pipe 11

12 Shot Down Casing Should Show Liquid Level near Tubing Intake Depth of 6816 Likely Hole 3730 Feet 1625 Liquid Level Well Flowing up Tubing, Shot Down Tubing/Casing Annulus Shows 5213 ft with Tubing Intake 6816 ft. Use Gas SG for Distances 12

13 Up-kick at Same Depth in Tubing/Casing Well Shut-in 1.5 Hrs, Shot Down Tubing Likely Hole Feet Liquid Level Counted Collars for Distances 13

14 Gas Well Production Curve - Flow Rate 04/30/07 Liquid Loading supported installing plunger 6/6/07 plunger equipment was installed and then realized a hole. Service rig 7/27/07 Replaced tubing; more sand troubles; plunger working now 14

Tubing Hole (No Blast Joint) Sand Blast Gas Flow From Upper Set of

15 Tubing Hole (No Blast Joint) Sand Blast Gas Flow From Upper Set of Perforations 1. Well was Liquid Loaded 2. Fluid Level Shots Showed Tubing was OK 3. Installed plunger and couldn t t surface the plunger 4. Took more tbg shot s. s. 5. Then the upkick showed up in the tbg as the well was shut in for a while. 6. Original shot s s did not expose the hole in the tbg as the well was loaded up with Gassy Liquid 15 Above Hole

16 Shots Down Tubing & Casing Hole in 6868 Tubing Shot Casing Shot 16

17 Tubing Press Change When Plunger Falls Past Hole Drop Plunger to Count Joints to Hole Plunger Hits 6945 Plunger Fall Velocity Gradually Increases?

18 Use an Acoustic Fluid Level Instrument To Identify The Depth To The Hole Track Plunger or Soap Stick as it Falls Past Hole 1. When Completed shooting Fluid Levels 2. Release Plunger/Soap Stick and Track Fall 3. Tubing pressure decreases by 2-32 psi at Start 4. Pressure increases when falls past hole Fast pressure increase BIG Hole Slow Pressure increase Small Hole 5. Plunger Velocity changes at Hole 18

19 Hole in Tubing 1. Hole 156 jts from surface or 5054' based on 32.4' joint lengths 2. Hole measured with micrometer to be by Plunger Failed to surface 4 out of 5 runs. 19

20 Pressure Increases as Plunger Falls Past Hole Plunger Depth Tubing Pressure 20

21 Fall Velocity Constant Above Hole Slower Past Hole Slows ~ 200 Ft/Min Faster Average Fall Velocity 217 Ft/Min 146 Feet of Liquid in Bottom of Tubing 21

22 Conclusions DO NOT be surprised if more than 10% of your liquid loaded gas wells have holes in the tubing. Hole Causes Significant Drop in Gas Production. Large gas production increase is possible due to repairing the hole in the tubing and returning the gas well to unloaded flowing state. Shooting fluid levels to detect hole in tubing is a fairly simple process. Tracking plunger and soap stick is a good method to confirm presence of a hole. 22

23 Copyright Rights to this presentation are owned by the company(ies) and/or author(s) listed on the title page. By submitting this presentation to the Gas Well Deliquification Workshop, they grant to the Workshop, the Artificial Lift Research and Development Council (ALRDC), and the Southwestern Petroleum Short Course (SWPSC), rights to: Display the presentation at the Workshop. Place it on the web site, with access to the site to be as directed by the Workshop Steering Committee. Place it on a CD for distribution and/or sale as directed by the Workshop Steering Committee. Other uses of this presentation are prohibited without the expressed written permission of the company(ies) and/or author(s) who own it and the Workshop Steering Committee. 23

24 Disclaimer The following disclaimer shall be included as the last page of a Technical Presentation or Continuing Education Course. A similar disclaimer is included on the front page of the Gas Well Deliquification Web Site. The Artificial Lift Research and Development Council and its officers and trustees, and the Gas Well Deliquification Workshop Steering Committee members, and their supporting organizations and companies (here-in-after referred to as the Sponsoring Organizations), and the author(s) of this Technical Presentation or Continuing Education Training Course and their company(ies), provide this presentation and/or training material at the Gas Well Deliquification Workshop "as is" without any warranty of any kind, express or implied, as to the accuracy of the information or the products or services referred to by any presenter (in so far as such warranties may be excluded under any relevant law) and these members and their companies will not be liable for unlawful actions and any losses or damage that may result from use of any presentation as a consequence of any inaccuracies in, or any omission from, the information which therein may be contained. The views, opinions, and conclusions expressed in these presentations and/or training materials are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Sponsoring Organizations. The author is solely responsible for the content of the materials. The Sponsoring Organizations cannot and do not warrant the accuracy of these documents beyond the source documents, although we do make every attempt to work from authoritative sources. The Sponsoring Organizations provide these presentations and/or training materials as a service. The Sponsoring Organizations make no representations or warranties, express or implied, with respect to the presentations and/or training materials, or any part thereof, including any warrantees of title, non-infringement of copyright or patent rights of others, merchantability, or fitness or suitability for any purpose. 24

Originally Presented at: Gas Well Deliquification Workshop. European Conference Gas Well Deliquification. Holes in Tubing

Originally Presented at: Gas Well Deliquification Workshop Adams Mark Hotel, Denver, Colorado February 25-27, 2008 European Conference Gas Well Deliquification Holes in Tubing a Common Problem in Gas Wells