Productivity Index
• A commonly used measure of the ability of the well to produce is
the Productivity Index.
• Defined by the symbol J, the productivity index is the ratio of the
total liquid flow rate to the pressure drawdown.
• For a water-free oil production, the productivity index is given by:
Productivity Index Conditions
It is important to note that the productivity index is
a valid measure of the well productivity potential
only if the well is flowing at pseudo steady state
conditions.
Therefore, in order to accurately measure the
productivity index of a well, it is essential that the
well is allowed to flow at a constant flow rate for a
sufficient amount of time to reach the pseudo
steady-state.
Productivity Index Calculation
• The productivity index can be numerically calculated by
recognizing that J must be defined in terms of semi-steady state
flow conditions
Inflow Performance Relationship
This graphical representation of the relationship that exists
between the oil flow rate and bottom-hole flowing pressure is
called the inflow performance relationship and referred to as
Inflow performance relationship (IPR).
Features of the Straight-Line IPR
• When Pwf equals average reservoir pressure, the flow
rate is zero due to the absence of any pressure
drawdown.
• Maximum rate of flow occurs when Pwf is zero. This
maximum rate is called absolute open flow and
referred to as AOF.
• The slope of the straight line equals the reciprocal of
the productivity index.
Pressure Dependent Variables Affecting PI
Above equation reveals that the variables affecting the productivity index
are essentially those that are pressure dependent, i.e.:
• Oil viscosity μo
• Oil formation volume factor Bo
• Relative permeability to oil kro
Schematically Illustration of the Variables as a
Function of Pressure
Behavior of Pressure Dependent Variables
Above the bubble-point pressure pb
• The relative oil permeability kro equals unity (kro =
1) and the term (kro/μoBo) is almost constant.
As the pressure declines below pb:
• The gas is released from solution, which can cause
a large decrease in both kro and (kro/μoBo).
Empirical Methods to Generate IPR
• The following empirical methods that are designed to generate the
current and future inflow performance relationships:
• Vogel’s Method
• Wiggins ’Method
• Standing’s Method
• Fetkovich’s Method
• The Klins-Clark Method
Vogel’s Method
Vogel plotted the dimensionless IPR curves for all the reservoir cases and arrived at
the following relationship between the above dimensionless parameters:
Vogel’s methodology can be used to predict the IPR curve for the following two
types of reservoirs:
• Saturated oil reservoirs Pr ≤ pb
• Undersaturated oil reservoirs Pr > pb
Vogel’s Method:
Saturated Oil Reservoirs
Step 1. Using the stabilized flow data, i.e., Qo and
pwf, calculate (Qo)max from:
Step 2. Construct the IPR curve by assuming various
values for pwf and calculating the corresponding Qo
from:
Vogel’s Method: Undersaturated Oil Reservoirs
(Pwf ≥ Pb)
Step 1. Using the stabilized test data point (Qo and pwf) calculate the productivity
index J:
Step 2. Calculate the oil flow rate at the bubble- point pressure:
Step 3. Generate the IPR values below the bubble- point pressure by assuming
different values of pwf < pb
Vogel’s Method: Undersaturated Oil Reservoirs
(Pwf < Pb)
Step 1. Using the stabilized well flow test data and combining above equations,
solve for the productivity index J to give:
Step 2. Calculate Qob by using:
Step 3. Use below Equation to calculate Qo at various values of pwf below
pb, or:
Wiggins’ Method
• Wiggins proposed generalized correlations that are suitable for predicting the IPR
during three-phase flow.
• The generated relationships are limited by the assumption that the reservoir
initially exists at its bubble-point pressure.
Standing’s Method
Standing’s methodology for predicting a future IPR is summarized in the following
steps:
Step 1. Using the current time condition and the available flow test data,
calculate (Qo)max from Equations below.
Step 2. Calculate J* at the present condition, i.e., J*p.
Step 3. Using fluid property, saturation, and relative permeability data, calculate
both (kro/μoBo)p and (kro/μoBo)f.
Step 4. Calculate J*f by using below Equation. Use the other equation if the oil
relative permeability data are not available.
Step 5. Generate the future IPR by applying below equation.
Fetkovich’s Method
Muskat and Evinger (1942) attempted to account for the observed nonlinear flow
behavior (i.e., IPR) of wells
They expressed Darcy’s equation as:
Where, kro = oil relative
permeability k = absolute
permeability, md
Bo = oil formation volume factor
mo = oil viscosity, cp
• Fetkovich (1973) suggests that the pressure function f(p) can basically
fall into one of the following two regions:
Vertical Lift Performance (VLP)
What is VLP?
It is a plot of the pressure losses vs. production rate in
the system. Multiphase flow correlations are used in
calculating the VLP.
Vertical Lift Pressure Losses
Hydrostatic Losses – Due to the density of the
fluid column.
Frictional Losses – Due to the viscous drag.
Kinematic losses – Due to the expansion and
contraction of the fluid and the change in the
cross – sectional area, which leads to
acceleration and deceleration of the fluid.
Factors Affecting the VLP
• Choke
• Gas liquid ratio
• Tubing size or diameter
DEAD WELL
WORKING WELL
Chok
e
THE CHOKE CREATE THE FLOW RESTRICTION BY
OFFERING A RESTRICTION FLOW PATH FOR PATH FOR
THE FLUID TO PASS THROUGH.
CHOKE HOLD A BACKPRESSURE ON A FLOWING
WELL TO MAKE THE BACK-PRESSURE INCREASE
THE BOTTOM HOLE FLOWING PRESSURE.
INCREASE THE BOTTOM-HOLE FLOWING PRESSURE
DECREASE THE PRESSURE DROP FROM THE
RESERVOIR TO THE WELLBORE (PRESSURE
DRAWDOWN) THUS, INCREASING THE BACK
PRESSURE IN THE WELLBORE DECREASE THE FLOW
RATEFROM THE RESERVOIR.
GAS/LIQUID RATIO
• THE EFFECT OF CHARGING GAS LIQUID RATIO IS NOT AS
STRAIGHTFORWARD AS CASE OF CHARGING WELL HEAD
PRESSURE.
• IT HAS DIFFERENT EFFECT ONTWO COMPONENT PRESSURE
LOSS IN TUBING-FRACTION AND HYDROSTATIC.
• INCREASE IN GAS LIQUID RATIO LIGHTENS THE MIXTURE
DENSITY AND THERE FORE REDUCES DUE TO HYDROSTATIC
PRESSURE.
• LARGE QUANTITY OF GAS WILL HOWEVER RESULT IN LARGER
PRESSURE LOSSES DUE TO FRACTION.
TUBING SIZE OR DIAMETER
• THE EFFECT OF TUBING DIAMETER ON VERTICAL
LIFT PERFORMANCE OR NATURAL FLOW IS
SIMILAR TO THE EFFECT OF GAS LIQUID RATIO.
• GENERALLY, INCREASE IN TUBING DIAMETER
INCREASE THE RATE OF FLOW, HENCE IMPROVE
LIFT PERFORMANCE.
• FLOW RATE INCREASE UNTIL A CRITICAL A
CRITICAL DIAMETER IS REACHED.
• FOR HIGHER DIAMETER RATE WILL DECREASE,
THIS DUE TO CHANGE OF DOMINANCE IN
PRESSURE LOSS FROM FRACTION TO GRAVITY
AND HOLDUP FORCE THAT INCREASE WITH
INCREASING PIPE DIAMETER.
