Prosper® Tutorial 03:

Modelling an oil well

with black oil PVT
matching
 Objectives
The main objectives of this example are to show:

 How to set up a PROSPER model for an oil producing well.

 How to match calibrate the black oil correlations against actual PVT lab
measurements.

 How to enter the IPR data.

 How to describe the down hole equipment.

 How to perform a system calculation (VLP + IPR) to estimate the well flow rate for a
given WHFP.

 How to generate a well performance curve.

 How to generate and export lift curves.

 Statement Of The Problem
The main objectives of this example are to show:

A well is to be drilled to produce oil from an oil reservoir.

Fluid data (PVT), reservoir data (IPR) and down hole equipment description (VLP) are provided.

It is required to:

- Build a PROSPER well model for an oil producing well.

- Calibrate the black oil correlations against lab data.

- Use the model to estimate the initial flow rate against a well head flowing pressure of 250 psig.

- Generate a well performance curve (Rate vs. well head flowing pressure).

- Generate lift curves to be utilised by a simulator (Reveal, GAP, MBAL, Eclipse, VIP, etc).
 PVT Input Data

The basic available PVT data are:

Parameter Value
Solution GOR: 400 scf/stb
Oil Gravity: 30 API
Gas gravity: 0.75 (Air =1)
Water salinity: 80000 ppm
Impurities (CO2 , N2 , H2S): None
Bubble point pressure: 2500 psig at 200 degF
 PVT Input Data

Further PVT data are given in tabular form below at 200 degF:

Gas Oil Ratio in scf/ Oil Viscosity in

Pressure in psig stb Oil FVF in rb/stb centipoises
1500 237 1.138 1.34
2000 324 1.178 1.15
2500 400 1.214 1.01
3000 400 1.207 1.05
4000 400 1.198 1.11
 System Equipment Input Data

The system equipment input section is sub-divided into 5 sub-sections:

 Deviation survey.

 Surface equipment.

 Down hole equipment.

 Geothermal gradient and.

 Average heat capacities.

 System Equipment Input Data
Deviation survey:

In PROSPER, the deviation survey can have its origin anywhere: well head, sea-bed,
platform, RKB etc.

The key thing is to describe all the equipment in the well in a manner consistent with the
origin selected.

The well head depth does not have to coincide with the origin of the deviation survey.

Measured Depth in ft True Vertical Depth in ft

0 0

8000 8000
 System Equipment Input Data
Surface Equipment:

All equipment located downstream of the well head are part of the surface equipment. The
surface equipment can include: well head chokes, risers, flow lines, fittings, and so on.
In this example the surface equipment will not be modelled.

Down hole Equipment:

The down hole equipment include the tubings, casings, nipples, Sub-surface Safety
valves and so on.

Equipment Measured Internal Roughness in Rate multiplier

type depth in ft diameter in inches
(down to) inches
Xmas Tree
(Well Head) 0 N/A N/A N/A
Tubing 7800 3.992 0.0018 1
Casing 8000 8.3 0.0018 1
 System Equipment Input Data
Static Geothermal Gradient:

The geothermal gradient expresses the rate of increase in temperature per unit depth. The geothermal
gradient is independent of the well flow rate.

When using the rough approximation temperature prediction method, the geothermal gradient is
entered versus measured depth. PROSPER internally converts the measured depth into true
vertical depth. It is the temperature gradient based upon the true vertical depth that is used during the
calculation.

Note: The overall heat transfer (also called

Measured Depth in ft Static temperature in deg F U value) is a composite number that
captures the different heat transfer mechanisms
0 70 taking place: conduction, convection and
radiation. It can be thought of as the inverse of
8000 200 the thermal resistance in the surroundings of the
wellbore.

The overall heat transfer coefficient is 8 btu/h/ft2/F.

 System Equipment Input Data

Average Heat Capacities.

Here are the default average heat capacities that will be used:

Phase Heat Capacity in btu/lb/F

Oil: 0.53
Gas: 0.51
Water: 1
 System Equipment Input Data
Reservoir Input Data:

PROSPER has more than 20 different inflow models for oil wells. The IPR model
selection depends upon the purpose of the study, the suitability of the particular model and
the data available for the study.

IPR model: Darcy / Enter Skin by hand

Static Reservoir Pressure: 4000 psig
Reservoir Temperature: 200 degF
Water Cut: 0%
Total GOR: 400 scf/stb
Compaction Permeability No
Reduction model:
Relative Permeability: No
Reservoir Permeability: 150 mD
Reservoir Thickness 100 ft
(True stratigraphic thickness) :
Drainage Area: 340 acres
Dietz shape factor: 31.6
Well bore radius (Drill bit radius): 0.354 ft
Mechanical skin: +2
 Step by Step

The following pages provide a step-by-step procedure that will lead to the solution of the
problem:

- Build a PROSPER well model for an oil producing well.

- Calibrate the black oil correlations against lab data.

- Use the model to estimate the initial flow rate against a well head flowing pressure of 250
psig.

- Generate a well performance curve (Rate vs. well head flowing pressure).

- Generate lift curves to be utilised by a simulator (Reveal, GAP, MBAL, Eclipse, VIP, etc).
 Step by Step
System Options:

Simply select | File | New if a PROSPER file is already open.

Otherwise, select | Options | Options and make the following choices:
Fluid: Oil and Water. All other settings can be left to their defaults options.

Select | Done to complete

this step.
 Step by Step
PVT data Input:

In order to enter the PVT data, simply select | PVT | Input Data and populate the screen as
shown below:

Parameter Value
Solution GOR: 400 scf/stb
Oil Gravity: 30 API
Gas gravity: 0.75 (Air =1)
Water salinity: 80000 ppm
Impurities (CO2 , N2 , H2S): None
 Step by Step

In order to enter the lab measurements at different pressures, select the | Match Data button
and populate the table as follow:
 Step by Step

Select | Done to get back to the PVT input screen.

 Step by Step
PVT regression:

Now select |Regression | Match All to kick the non-linear regression algorithm. The
following screen will confirm when the regression is completed.

In order to quality-check the regression, select | OK | Parameters and this is what can be
seen in the next slide:
 Step by Step

Please consult the online help to get the details about the regression algorithm. Ideally, Parameter 1, which is a
multiplier, should be close to unity whereas (Parameter 2) is expected to be around nil.

On the basis of the results obtained here, we will proceed with the combination Glaso / Petrosky.
For this, select | Done | Done and choose the appropriate black oil correlations as per screen-shot next:
 Step by Step

Select | Done and this complete this step.

 Step by Step
Saving the file

Like working with any other computer program, it is good practice to save the file
frequently in order to avoid data loss in case the computer crashes.
To save a file, simply select | File | Save as.
Afterwards, simply browse to the place where the file is to be saved.

It is suggested to save the file as *.OUT file.

The rest is self-explanatory.

 Step by Step
System Equipment Description:

In order to describe the system equipment (i.e the hardware in and around the well
bore), simply select | System | Equipment (Tubing etc) | All

Now by selecting | Edit, the software will take the user through all the screens
necessary to input the equipment data starting with the deviation survey.
.
 Step by Step

Deviation Survey.

Here are the data:

Measured Depth in ft True Vertical Depth in ft

0 0

8000 8000
 Step by Step

Note: It is possible to input or import a large deviation

survey table into PROSPER. A filtering algorithm is
implemented that will select up to 20 of the most relevant
data points describing the well trajectory.
For this, the | Filter button located on the top right of this
screen is to be used.

Select | Done and the screen labeled Surface Equipment

will follow.
 Step by Step
Surface Equipment:

This model will not include any surface equipment.

Selecting the "Cancel" button located on the top left of the screen will take the user to
the next screen: the down hole equipment description screen.
 Step by Step
Down Hole Equipment.

The down hole equipment includes the tubings, casings, nipples, Sub-surface Safety
valves and so on.

Equipment Measured Internal Roughness in Rate multiplier

type depth in ft diameter in inches
(down to) inches

Xmas Tree
(Well Head) 0 N/A N/A N/A

Tubing 7800 3.992 0.0018 1

Casing 8000 8.3 0.0018 1
Step by Step
The deepest entry in the down hole equipment
section is the datum depth for the static
reservoir pressure that will be entered in the IPR
section.
It is recommended to take the top perforation
as the reference depth for the static reservoir
pressure. This implies that the down hole
equipment description must stop at the top of the
perforation. This is also true for multiple-zone
completion because the pressure drop between
the zones will be taken into account by the
appropriate Inflow model (multi-layer IPR model
with dP or multilateral IPR model).

Select | Done to proceed to the next screen: the

geothermal gradient.
 Step by Step

Geothermal gradient.

The data available are:

Measured Depth in ft Static temperature in deg F

0 70

8000 200
 Step by Step

Select | Done to proceed to the average heat capacity screen.

.
 Step by Step
Average Heat Capacities:

The default average heat capacity values will be used for this example

Note: The | Default button will reset any user-entered values.

 Step by Step
With | Done the entry screen of the Equipment data section will be accessed.
 Step by Step
Equipment Summary:

From the Equipment Data screen, one can generate a sketch of the well bore with |
Summary and this is what would appear:

If one then selects | Draw Down hole this is the sketch of the well bore that appears:
 Step by Step

Select | Main to exit the screen.

Saving the PROSPER file:

It is recommended to save / overwrite the file at this stage.
To save the file, simply select | File | Save and then simply answer YES to overwriting the file.
 Step by Step
Inflow Performance Relation (IPR).

To select the IPR model, simply select | System | Inflow Performance and make the
appropriate choices as follows:

IPR model selection:

IPR model: Darcy

Static Reservoir Pressure: 4000 psig
Reservoir Temperature: 200 degF
Water Cut: 0%
Total GOR: 400 scf/stb
Compaction Permeability Reduction
model: No

Relative Permeability correction: No

 Step by Step

To proceed, simply select the Input Data button (red if invalid) in the top right corner of
the screen above:
 Step by Step

IPR data entry:

Reservoir Permeability: 150 mD

Reservoir Thickness (True

stratigraphic thickness) : 100 ft

Drainage Area: 340 acres

Dietz shape factor: 31.6
Well bore radius (Drill bit radius): 0.354 ft
 Step by Step

From the screen above, select the the tab "Mech/Geom Skin" at the bottom left corner of
the screen to enter the mechanical skin:
 Step by Step
IPR : Skin value entry Mechanical skin: + 2
 Step by Step
IPR : Generating an IPR plot

Once the IPR data input is completed, it is a good practice to create an IPR plot to verify that
everything makes sense. For this, simply select | Calculate and the software will create
and display the following plot:

Please select | Main and then save the PROSPER file with | File | Save to secure all
changes made so far.
 Step by Step

Estimation of the well flow rate.

The response of a well bore combines fluid properties (PVT), reservoir data (IPR) and tubing
response (VLP).
The fluid properties are used to compute the reservoir response (IPR) and the tubing
response (VLP).
For a given set of boundary conditions (given reservoir pressure and well head flowing
pressure), the well flow rate is the intersection between the IPR curve and the VLP
curve.

In order to compute this intersection point with PROSPER, simply select | Calculation |
System | 3 Variables as per screen-shot next:
 Step by Step

After selecting the system calculation, one needs to enter the well head flowing pressure as
per screen-shot next:
Step by Step
The top node pressure is the pressure downstream of
the system. Since here there is no pipeline in this
PROSPER model, the top node pressure is the
well head flow pressure.

The parameters Water Cut and GOR were entered

earlier on the IPR screen. For the fluid description,
there was also a need to enter the GOR on the PVT
screen.

However, during the life of a well either parameter

may change. Therefore, this screen allow the user to
sensitize both.

When sensitizing on the water cut and / or the

GOR, PROSPER will use the new sensitivity
values for the calculations It will no longer use the
GOR and the water cut values entered on the IPR
screen or the GOR from the PVT screen. The same
principle applies to all sensitivity variables specified
elsewhere.
 Step by Step

 Surface Equipment Correlation: This applies to any pipeline in the model. Since this
model does not include any pipeline, the choice of a pipeline correlation is irrelevant.

 Vertical Lift Correlation: Petroleum Experts 2.

 Solution Node: Bottom Node.

 Rate Method: Automatic – Linear.

 Left-Hand Intersection: DisAllow.

 Step by Step
One can proceed with | Continue | Continue and Calculate with the following results:

One can read an oil rate of 10 500 stb/d as solution rate. The corresponding BHFP
reads: 2584 psig.
 Step by Step
If one selects | Plot | System Plot, the system plot (VLP + IPR plot) is displayed as follow:

Select | Main to get back to the main PROSPER screen and save the file to secure all
changes made so far.
 Step by Step

Well Performance Curve Generation.

A well performance is a plot of flow rate versus well head pressure at a given reservoir
pressure.

Therefore, generating a well performance simply means running sensitivities on the well
head flowing pressure, from a very low well head pressure to the highest possible well
pressure that will shut-in the well.

In this example, we will vary the well head flowing pressure from 50 psig to 1200 psig.

For this, simply select | Calculation | System (IPR VLP) | 3 Variables | Continue and here
select the sensitivity variable "First Node Pressure":
 Step by Step

One can manually populate the cells with the desired values or generate them
automatically with | Generate. Afterwards, one needs to enter the first value, the last
value, the number of values and the sequencing algorithm:
 Step by Step

To complete the process, simply select | Generate and then the input cells are
populated accordingly:

One can see that on this screen up to 3 variables can be sensitized on simultaneously.
It is generally possibly to sensitize on any number of parameters.
 Step by Step
With | Continue | Calculate, ten (10) sets of VLP and IPR are computed.
To visualize a plot of the solution rate versus first node pressure, select | Sensitivity.

This is the plot of the Bottom Hole Flowing Pressure versus First Node pressure, the
first node being the well head.
 Step by Step
In order to plot the oil flow rate versus the first node pressure, one simply needs to select
| Variables and then | Gas Rate for the Y axis variable:

With | Done, the well performance curve appears as follow:

 Step by Step
In order to plot the oil flow rate versus the first node pressure, one simply needs to select
| Variables and then | Gas Rate for the Y axis variable:

This completes this section.

Select | Main to return to the main screen of PROSPER.
 Step by Step
Lift Curve generation for other applications.
1. Introduction.
Lift curves express the pressure drop across a tubing for a given set of variables. Different software providers use different
formats and acronyms for lift curves.

The most common acronyms are:

- VLP for Vertical Lift Performance.
- TPD for Tubing Performance Data.
- TPC for Tubing Performance Curves.
- VFP for Vertical Flow Performance and so on.

For naturally flowing oil wells, the variables involved in lift curve generation are:
- Liquid rate.
- Well Head flowing pressure (= first node pressure).
- Water Cut and.
- GOR

Even though in this case, four (4) variables will change, the lift curves are referred to as 3-Variables VLP. The rate
variable is taken for granted as one cannot calculate pressure drop without flow rate.
The 3 VLP variables for a naturally flowing oil well are: WHFP, GOR & Water Cut.
 Step by Step

Recommendation:

In this example, we will demonstrate how to generate lift curves with PROSPER since lift curve generation is a key
task that PROSPER is used to perform. However, if a project involves the generation of lift curves for multiple wells,
a more efficient approach would involve the use of GAP, the network modelling and optimisation tool
developed by Petroleum Experts.

Here are the reasons why:

GAP will instruct PROSPER to generate the lift curves using the very same PROSPER well model created by the
user and linked to the well icon in GAP.

GAP uses PROSPER to generate and save lift curve for any number of wells in batch- mode. This can be done
overnight for instance to save time.

GAP will ask for the right VLP variables input depending upon the well type. The variable selection for lift
curves can sometimes be delicate because different simulators use different names for the same quantity (example
gas lift injection rate versus. GLR injected).
 Step by Step
2. Steps.

In order to generate wells' VLP, one first needs to work out the variables involved. Here these variables
are liquid rate, WHFP, GOR and Water Cut.
The second step is to choose values for the variables in such a manner that the host application (GAP,
MBAL, REVEAL, Eclipse, etc) can reasonably interpolate between them to find the solution needed.
Extrapolation and very large variable spacing are to be avoided.

In this example, the following values will be used:

 Liquid Rate: from 100 stb/d to 15 000 stb/d. The performance curve generated earlier shows that
the well can produce a maximum of 12 000 stb/d without artificial lift.

 WHFP: from 50 psig to 1500 psig; Those values will cover the following situations: from nearly fully
open well to the full shut-in (see performance curve generated earlier).

 Water cut: from 0 to 100%.

 GOR: From 300 scf/stb to 15000 scf/stb.

 Step by Step
In order to enter the data for the lift curve generation , select | Calculation | VLP (Tubing
Curves) | 3 Variables.

The next screen shot can be used to enter the range of rates to use:
 Step by Step
The next screen shot can be used to enter the range of rates to use:
 Step by Step

A few notes:

The values for top node pressure, water cut and GOR will be overwritten through the
sensitivity variables.

One should make sure that the right VLP correlation is selected. Here, the Petroleum
Experts 2 correlation will be used.

The "User Selected" rate method gives control to the user to enter the rates he /she think
will best describe the expected operating ranges of the well.

One should also ensure that the first and last node are correctly selected.
 Step by Step
In order to proceed, simply select | Continue, select the relevant variables and populate the
entries as per screen-shot below:
 Step by Step
In order to proceed, simply select | Continue, select the relevant variables and populate the
entries as per screen-shot below:

Now simply select | Continue to

proceed.

The lift curve calculation is triggered

with | Calculate.

Be patient as this might take a while!

At the end, a message will confirm that

the calculation has completed.
 Step by Step

It is always a good practice to plot and visualise the lift curves before exporting them.
 Step by Step
In this example, simply select | Plot and this is what appears:

One can see that the lift curves do all

have the right shape (J -curve) and look
smooth.

One can return to the previous screen

with | Finish.

In order to export the lift curve, simply

select the button "Export Lift Curve".
 Step by Step

The following screen will appear where one has to select the format for the host
application (here Eclipse):
 Step by Step

The process is completed with | Continue |

Save and the file is saved and edited
automatically for viewing:

Select | File | Exit | Main and this completes the

exercise.