Using ANSYS to Realize a Semi-Analytical Method for Predicting Temperature Profile in Injection/Production Well

Authors: N. Tarom, M.M. Hossain

Abstract:

Determination of wellbore problems during a production/injection process might be evaluated thorough temperature log analysis. Other applications of this kind of log analysis may also include evaluation of fluid distribution analysis along the wellbore and identification of anomalies encountered during production/injection process. While the accuracy of such prediction is paramount, the common method of determination of a wellbore temperature log includes use of steady-state energy balance equations, which hardly describe the real conditions as observed in typical oil and gas flowing wells during production operation; and thus increase level of uncertainties. In this study, a practical method has been proposed through development of a simplified semianalytical model to apply for predicting temperature profile along the wellbore. The developed model includes an overall heat transfer coefficient accounting all modes of heat transferring mechanism, which has been focused on the prediction of a temperature profile as a function of depth for the injection/production wells. The model has been validated with the results obtained from numerical simulation.

Keywords: Energy balance equation, reservoir and well performance, temperature log, overall heat transfer coefficient.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1070611

References:

[1] J. R. H. J. Ramey, "Wellbore heat transmission." SPE Journal of Petroleum Technology, vol. 14, no. 4, 1962.
[2] I. N. Alves, F. J. S. Alhanati, and O. Shoham, "A Unified Model for Predicting Flowing Temperature Distribution in Wellbores and Pipeline." SPE Production Engineering, vol. 7, no. 4, pp. 363-367, 1992.
[3] J. Hagoort, "Prediction of wellbore temperatures in gas production wells.", Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, vol. 49, no. 1-2, pp. 22-36, 2005.
[4] H. D. Beggs, Production Optimization Using NODALTM Analysis2003, 2nd ed. USA: Tulsa, OGCI Inc. and Petroskills LLC, 2003, pp. 57-72.
[5] J. R. Hearst, P. H. Nelson, and F. L. Paillet,Well logging for physical properties, 2nd rd. USA: John Wiley & Sons, 2000
[6] C. S. Kabir, A. R. Hasan, D. L. Jordan, and X. Wang, "A Wellbore/Reservoir Simulator for Testing Gas Wells in High- Temperature Reservoirs." SPE Formation Evaluation, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 128-134, 1996.
[7] C. S. Kabir, A. R. Hasan, E. G. Kouba, and M. Ameen, "Determining Circulating Fluid Temperature in Drilling, Workover, and Well Control Operations." SPE Drilling & Completion, vol. 11, no. 2,pp. 74-79, 1996.
[8] A. R. Hasan, C. S. Kabir, and X. Wange, "A Robust Steady-State Model for Flowing-Fluid Temperature in Complex Wells." SPE Production & Operations, May 2009.
[9] A. R. Hasan, and C. S. Kabir, "Wellbore heat-transfer modeling and applications."Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, vol. 87, no. 0, pp. 127-136, 2012.
[10] J. P. Holman, Heat Transfer, 6th ed. Singapore: McGraw-Hill, 1986, pp. 1-55.
[11] A. Mills, Basic heat and mass transfer, 2nd ed. California: Prentice Hall, 1999, pp. 1-67.
[12] Y. D. Chin, and X. Wang, Mechanics of Heat Loss in Dry Tree Top- Tensioned Risers
[13] G. P. Willhite, "Over-all Heat Transfer Coefficients in Steam And Hot Water Injection Wells." SPE Journal of Petroleum Technology, May 1967.
[14] E. Tanves, R. A. Startzman, and A. M. Cooper, "Predicting Pressure Loss and Heat Transfer in Geothermal Wellbores", in Fall Meeting of the Society of Petroleum Engineers of AIME1975, 1975: Dallas, Texas.
[15] A. R. Hasan, C. S. Kabir, "Aspects of Wellbore Heat Transfer During Two-Phase Flow (includes associated papers 30226 and 30970 )." SPE Production & Operations, Aug. 1994.
[16] A. D. Hill, Prodution Logging - Theoritical and Interpritive Elements.Society of Petroleum Engineers, Texas: Richardson, 2002,pp. 10-18.
[17] N. Tarom, and M. M. Hossain, "Improving reservoir performance using intelligent well completion sensors combined with surface wet-gas flow measurement."APPEA Journal, pp. 181-187, 2012.
[18] ANSYS software manual, ver 13.0, ANSYS Inc., 2010, USA: Canonsburg