A mechanistic model for predicting and optimising oil-sand flow in horizontal wells

Bello, O., Falcone, G. , Teodoriu, C. and Udong, I. (2011) A mechanistic model for predicting and optimising oil-sand flow in horizontal wells. Oil and Gas Science and Technology = Revue de l' Institut Francais du Petrole, 66(6), pp. 979-989. (doi: 10.2516/ogst/2010034)

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Abstract

Smart well completion technology for sand management is being used more and more in the petroleum industry to increase productivity and cumulative hydrocarbon production over that of classical sand control techniques. While an understanding of the geomechanics aspects of sand production has begun to emerge, predicting and optimising two-phase oil-sand flow performance characteristics in horizontal wellbores remains a challenge. This theoretical study analysed two-phase, oil-sand suspended flow in a horizontal well by developing a new phenomenological model to predict lift velocity and pressure drop profiles, which are key parameters for designing optimal deployment of horizontal wells in an unconsolidated reservoir. Computations of average pressure drop for two-phase oil-sand flow in a horizontal well are in reasonable agreement with values predicted by a previous model for a relatively wide range of operating conditions. However, the new model eliminates the need for empiricism in predicting the wellbore hydraulics for oil-sand multiphase flow in horizontal wells and is applicable to different wellbore geometries. The proposed computational methodology has been applied to a hypothetical case study to demonstrate its field applicability.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Falcone, Professor Gioia
Authors: Bello, O., Falcone, G., Teodoriu, C., and Udong, I.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Systems Power and Energy
Journal Name:Oil and Gas Science and Technology = Revue de l' Institut Francais du Petrole
Publisher:Institut Francais du Petrole
ISSN:1294-4475
ISSN (Online):1953-8189
Published Online:17 May 2011

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