Unipetro Seminar 5/18/2004

Acoustic Liquid Level

Surveys

1898
Batcheller
Patent

• Locating stuck tubes

in pneumatic mail
systems.
• Used Blank Pistol
• Timed Round Trip
Travel Time to a
Stuck Carrier

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Lehr and Wyett

1936 Patent

In 1962 Echometer
purchased trade name
from Halliburton.

Deptograph – C. P. Walker 1937

Famous
Famous Supreme
Supreme Court
Court Ruling:
Ruling:
You
You cannot
cannot patent
patent aa principle
principle of
of physics
physics or
or an
an idea.
idea.

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Application
to Gas Lift
Well – OGJ
Dec 1938

Fluid-level
detection in oil
field has been
practiced for a
long time.

Model D

Most often used

Acoustic Liquid
Level Device:

Paper Strip
Chart Amplifier
Recorder

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Explosion
Pulse
Generation

1. Utilizes an external gas supply to generate an acoustic pulse.

2. Volume chamber charged to a pressure in excess of the well
pressure.
3. Keeps the inside of the chamber cleaner and results in less
maintenance.

Implosion
Pulse
Generation

1. External gas supply not necessary.

2. Well’s casing pressure should be greater than 200 PSI.
3. Uses the well’s pressure to generate a pulse.
4. Lower pressure in gas gun volume chamber by release of gas .
5. Implosion forces sand, moisture and other debris into the gas
gun volume chamber.
6. Requires more maintenance including frequent replacement of
“O” rings.

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Acoustic Liquid Level Video

Model D with Compact Gas Gun

Generate
Acoustic Pulse
Acoustic Wellhead Attachment:
1. Acoustic pulse generator
2. Bigger Volume Better
3. Microphone
4. Optional pressure gage.
Energy from Gun:
1. 45 caliber = 150 psi
Acoustic Pulse Generators Include:
2. 10 gauge = 300 psi
1. dynamite cap
3. More energy on initial
2. 45 caliber blank blast results in larger
3. 10 gauge black powder blank wave sent from gun

4. compression gas pulse 4. See collars with fast

opening valve
5. rarefaction gas pulse

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Implosion Gas Gun

◆ Gas Bottle not needed

◆ Size of volume chamber:
– Small for high pressure 1 in. by 12 in.
– Large for low pressure 2 in. by 24 in.
◆ No chamber needed for very low pressure wells (15 psi
or less): Open valve for 1 second then close valve.

Microphone
Crystal
1. Converts Pressure to
Voltage.
2. An Increase in
Pressure Results in
Crystal Output of
Positive Voltage
3. An Decrease in
Pressure Results in
Crystal Output of
Negative Voltage
4. Microphone Crystal is
Sensitive and Fragile.

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New Noise Model D

Canceling Connected
to Microphone
Microphone by Coax Cable
1. Converts Pressure
Change to Voltage.
2. Dual microphone
cancels vibration
3. Used in Compact,
Remote Fire, and
5000 Psi Gas Guns.
4. Microphone Crystals
are Sensitive and
protected in rugged
housing
5. Mylar cover can be Compact Gas Gun with
(Microphone Exposed)
scratched.

Model D
1. Functions similar to a
radio - use knob to
selects a particular
frequency.
2. Sensitivity – increases
volume of signal.
3. Deeper the well, then
the higher the
sensitivity may need to
be increased.
4. Chart Drive with a
voltmeter, records
voltage signal from
microphone.

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New
Model M
Dual Channel
Paper Strip Chart
Amplifier Recorder

Traveling Wave

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Compression
Echoes Pulse
Implosion
Pulse

in Well Bang! Shot

1. Changes in cross-sectional Collar

area cause sound waves to
reflect back to microphone
Collar
2. Initial kick from gun blast.
3. Series of small kicks Collar
indicate the tubing collars.
4. Low frequency kick from Collar
Liquid level recorded.
5. Recorded signal trace Collar
corresponds to the pulse
traveling from the gun’s
microphone to the liquid Liquid
level and then back to the
surface.

Time to Depth Relationship

1. The Depth from the gun to an
anomaly in the casing annulus is
directly proportional to the time,
RTTT, for the acoustic pulse to
travel from the gun down the
casing to the anomaly and reflect
back to the microphone.

2. Microphone housed in the gas

gun detects the blast from the
shot and reflected sound from
collars, liners, perforations, liquid
level, plus other obstructions in
the annular space.

3. Acoustic data acquired for a

predetermined numbers of
seconds, based on the formation
depth.

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PORTABLE WELL ANALYZER With

With Sensors
Sensors

WELL ANALYZER
COMPUTER - SOFTWARE
SOFTWARE -- ELECTRONICS
ELECTRONICS
1. Computer with graphic
display to acquire,
analyze, and process
digital data.

2. High accuracy analog

to digital converter

3. User-
User-friendly software

4. Well Analyzer is used

to determine the
distance to the liquid
level in a well

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WELL ANALYSIS
Integrated Portable
Well Analyzer

Common
Methods of
Obtaining
Bottomhole
Pressure

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SINGLE and MULTI

MULTI-- SHOT
ACOUSTIC TESTS
1. SINGLE SHOT ACOUSTIC TESTS DETERMINE THE
WELL INFLOW PERFORMANCE AND THE MAXIMUM
PRODUCTION RATE.

2. MULTI-
MULTI-SHOT PRESSURE TRANSIENT TESTS
DETERMINE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE
FORMATION, SKIN DAMAGE AND RESERVOIR
PRESSURE.

3. MULTI-
MULTI-SHOT ACOUSTIC LIQUID TRACKING TESTS
PERMIT LIQUID LEVEL TRACKING IN WORKOVER
AND DRILLING OPERATIONS.

Signal
Frequency
Frequency content of
the reflected acoustic
signals varies:
1. Depends on the
characteristics of the
initial pulse
2. Pressure in the gas
3. Distance traveled
4. Type of cross
sectional area change.

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Filtering
1. As the pulse travels in a gas, the Fluid level
amplitude of the signal decays. instruments are
2. High frequency energy decays designed to
more rapidly than the low include various
frequency energy. Acoustic filters, which
response from the collars at the accent signals
top of the well contains high that correspond
frequency energy. (<3000’) to these
3. Response from deep collars frequency ranges
contains medium frequency
(>3000’)
4. Signal from the liquid level is
mostly low frequency energy.
Especially apparent in deep wells
with low casing pressure.
Low Frequency:
a) See No collars
b) Tubing Anchors
c) Liner Tops

Background Noise Can Mask LL

150 psi Charge

Identify and
Isolate Noise
Source

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Connecting to Well

BEFORE OPENING CASING VALVE

1. Know the pressure on the well at the surface.
2. Be alert that equipment ratings exceed well pressure.
3. Check the threads on the wellhead valve for corrosion ,
wear, or damage.
4. For 2” NPT make 4 1/2 turns for SAFE connection to
Wellhead.
5. Close off other connections to casing annulus.
6. CHARGE gas gun volume chamber ABOVE the
estimated casing pressure.
7. Make Sure Casing Valve between Gas Gun and Casing
annulus is Open before shot is fired.

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Sucker Rod Pumped Well

ACOUSTIC
ACOUSTIC TEST
TEST PERFORMED
PERFORMED WITH
WITH
REMOTE
REMOTE FIRE
FIRE GAS
GAS GUN
GUN AND
AND WELL
WELL ANALYZER
ANALYZER

1
5
4
3

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Fill Pressure
Pressure
Transducer
Solenoid Valve

Volume Chamber

2 inch
Filler Valve NPT to
Bleed Valve wellhead

Function of Remote
Fire Gas Gun
1. Volume chamber filled with
compressed gas.
2. Pressure gage determines when
chamber filled approximately 150 psi
above the casing pressure.
3. Solenoid Valve quickly opened by
press of the enter key at the laptop
computer.
4. Acoustic pulse generated by sudden
release of high pressure gas from
volume chamber.
5. Microphone detects the sound from
the shot, acoustic pulse reflected
from collars and well bore changes,
and liquid level.
6. Accurate strain gage pressure
transducer electronically measures
temperature and casing pressure.

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Fill Volume Chamber with

Compressed Gas
1. Gas gun volume
chamber is filled with
compressed gas.
2. Pressure gage used to
determine when
chamber is filled
approximately 150 psi
above the casing
pressure.
3. Quick release of gas into
casing annulus delivers
an acoustic pulse to the
casing annulus gas.

Note: 300 psi = 10 gage shot

WELL DATABASE

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Ready to Acquire Acoustic Shot

Prepare to acquire
shot by following steps
detailed on
INSTRUCTIONS on
panel.

1st: Charge Gas Gun

1st:
2nd: Close the gas gun
bleed valve
3rd: Open the casing valve
between the gas gun
and well.
4th: Close the casing valve
to flowline.

At this point the graph

is displaying acoustic
background noise.

Fire Shot!
Message: “Shot PULSE
was Detected from
Gun”
Gun” displayed once
gun is fired.

Acoustic data
acquired for a
predetermined
numbers of seconds,
based on the
formation depth.

NOTE:
If shot pulse was
not detected after
the gun was fired,
press Abort (Stop
acquisition of shot
data) button,
recharge at a
higher pressure
and re-
re-fire.

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Acoustic Trace - RTTT

1. Liquid level automatically determined by the computer from

reflected acoustic signals digitally processed, filtered, and
displayed versus time.
2. Measures time for the acoustic pulse to travel from the surface
through the casing annulus gas to the liquid level and reflect
back to the surface (round trip travel time, RTTT).

Use Marker to Select Liquid Level

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Acoustic Trace with Depth Determination

Collars count depth (C) is
noted on the acoustic signal.

The Liquid Level Depth (LL) of 4371 feet is determined by multiplying

multiplying
the RTTT (Seconds) by the collar reflection rate (JTS/sec) times the
average joint length (Feet). (8.152*17.8891*29.97=4371 feet)

Analysis Method: Count Collars

Automatic analysis will determine the depth to the liquid level

for 95% of the wells

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Measure Annular Gas Flow Rates

Measurement of small pressure changes

require precision instrumentation.

1. Direct Measurement of annular gas flow in the field with a critical

critical flow prover is a
tedious process.
2. Accurate annular gas flow rate can be determined from a short term
term casing
pressure buildup test.
3. A short casing-
casing-pressure-
pressure-buildup test by closing the casing valve while the well
continues to pump and gas continues to flow into annulus.
4. The rate at which casing pressure increases is measured.

Casing Pressure Buildup – dP /dT

dP/dT
1. At the well the computer will
beep at 15 second intervals to
signal you that the casing
pressure is being recorded
and the pressure buildup rate
is being determined.
2. After observing the pressure
buildup for a minimum of 2
minutes,
3. The buildup line is selected by
drawing a line from the origin
of the plot to the last point
recorded.
4. If the buildup line does not fit
through most of the data, wait
for the next point to be plotted
and stop the buildup when the
curve best-
best-fits through the all
of the points.

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6 BOPD Additional Production Available

REMOTE
REMOTE FIRE
FIRE GAS
GAS GUN
GUN AND
AND WELL
WELL ANALYZER
ANALYZER video
video

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SAFETY
1. Bleed off well pressure, before removing gas gun from well.
2. Keep threads clean and in good shape
3. DO NOT exceed working pressure of gun. Check casing
pressure before connecting gun to well:
• Compact Gas Gun Working Pressure ~~~~~~~~~~~ 1500 PSI
• Remote Fire Gun Working Pressure ~~~~~~~~~~~ 2000 PSI
• 5000 Psi Gas Gun Working Pressure ~~~~~~~~~~~ 5000 PSI
• High Pressure Gas Gun ~~~~~~~~~~~15000 PSI
PSI
• 10 Gauge Working Pressure ~~~~~~~~~~~ 1000 PSI
• Quick Load Working Pressure ~~~~~~~~~~~ 1000 PSI
4. Make sure gun is securely attached to well.
5. Make sure casing valve is open before firing gun.
6. Keep Black Power guns on safety until ready to fire.
7. DO NOT fire black power gun into a well on a vacuum or into
hydrocarbon gases mixed with air. Major explosions have
occurred when a oxygen/hydrocarbon mixture was ignited.

Chemical Pots

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Effect of Gas on Collar Spacing

Normal Well - Direction of Pulse

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Well Analyzer
and Chart
Recorder
Pen Response due to 1 ML of Air from Bulb

Both Have
Same Direction
of Reflected
Response

Example How TWM Displays Reflected Pulse

Initial Acoustic Pulse – caused by explosion of compressed gas into the casing
annulus, explosion into annulus forms compression traveling wave.
wave.

Reflected Pulse –
caused by
DECREASE in the
annular cross-
cross-
sectional area IS
displayed as an
downward kick on
the acoustic trace.

Reflected Pulse –
caused by
INCREASE in the
annular cross-
cross-
sectional area IS
displayed as an
upward kick on the
acoustic trace.

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Direction of Kick

Direction of Pen Response (Explosion Shot)

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Liner

Liner with Obstruction

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Shallow
Liquid
Level

Very Shallow Liquid Level

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Hole in the Tubing

TWM Explosion Vs Implosion Example

Data collected on
a shut-
shut-in gas well 400 Psig Compression
JW-
JW-131 using
Compact Gas
Gun.

Compact Gas
Gun charged to
400 Psig to
generate the
compression
acoustic pulse.
205 Psig Implosion

Well’s casing
pressure of 205
Psig used to
generate
implosion pulse.

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Acoustic Velocity in Air

Lightening

See Flash
then, hear
“BOOM”. Speed of sound

1100 FT/Sec

Light travels around the world 8 times in one second. Sound in air
travels 1100 feet per second. If a person “sees” the flash and hears
the “BOOM” 5 seconds later, then the lightening is 5500 feet away.
away.

If an echo is heard one second after the holler

and reflects off a canyon wall (speed of the wave
is 1100 FT/Sec), then what is the distance to the
canyon wall?

Acoustic velocity of dry air:

1. 32°F (0°C) and standard
pressure is 1087 ft./sec. (331.45
meters/sec.)
2. Changes directly with
temperature at the approximate
rate of 1.075 ft./sec./°F (or 0.59
meters/sec./°C).

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An echo is heard one second after the holler

and reflects off a canyon wall.

Speed of the
sound wave is
1100 FT/Sec

Then what is the distance to the canyon wall?

An echo is heard one second after the holler

and reflects off a canyon wall.

Speed of the
sound wave is
Distance is 550 Feet 1100 FT/Sec

Then what is the distance to the canyon wall?

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No Collars or Inside Tubing

Acoustic Velocity/Gas Specific Gravity:

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Determine Acoustic Velocity

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Depth to Liquid Level NOT Obvious

Charts do not repeat

Multiple Downhole Reflections

Liquid Level Below Liquid Entry

Liquid Level Below Partial Annulus Obstruction

Then Move the Liquid Level

RAISED by shutting down Producing Well.

DEPRESSED by increasing casing pressure, if

casing gas is produced.

Proving Liquid Level – MOVE IT

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Proving Liquid Level

Annular
Gaseous
Columns GASEOUS COLUMN CHARACTERISTICS
1. Gas must be venting from Casing
Annulus
2. Considerable downhole noise:
• Closing casing valve gets rid of noise
• Sensitivity must be set higher than
normal.
3. Liquid Level may be erratic.
4. Casing Pressure increases when casing
valves are closed in.

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Gaseous
Column
Correction
Factor

For Casing Pressure

Build-up Test need to
close casing valve for
10 psig or 10 minutes
or whichever is less.

Gaseous
Gaseous
Liquid
Liquid
Column
Column
Gradient
Gradient

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Liquid Level
Depression
Below
Bottom of
Tubing

Foam

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Gaseous Liquid Column VS Foam

Lab Test Show Foam Unstable

Foam

1MCF/day

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Slim Hole
Low
Pressure

Trouble Shoot Acoustic Survey Data

1. Don’t leave Casing to Flowline valve closed too long and push
Liquid Level below pump.
2. Know downhole obstructions from accurate wellbore schematic -
wellbore configuration is reflected in acoustic signal.
3. Inspect the well noise before shooting. If excessive noise exists:
exists:
• Close Casing Valve and Determine if Noise from Downhole
• Use a larger charge in the gas gun
• Increase the casing pressure to attempt to reduce the noise level
level .
4. Inspect the acoustic trace. If an insufficient liquid level kick
kick is
obtained, data is otherwise unsatisfactory, or shot not detected:
detected:
• Increase the pressure in the volume chamber
• Additional casing pressure improves collar and liquid level response.
response.
• Inspect connections and Acoustic Cable
• Shut down Noisy Pumping Unit (Surface Equipment) and Re- Re-shoot

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Advances
in Gas Guns
Previous Acoustic Modern Acoustic Wellhead
Pulse Generators Attachments
Include:
• dynamite caps 1. Acoustic pulse generator
2. Microphone/pressure
• 45 caliber blanks gauge acoustic signal
• 10 gauge black receiver
This Gas Gun can be
powder blanks 3. optionally
used Inathe
pressure gage
Explosion
for casing pressure
or Implosion mode
measurement.

Gas Gun Advantages

• Safer - Burning particles of black powder can result in
injury to people or present a fire or explosion hazard.

• Less expensive - Compressed gas is much cheaper

than blanks.

• Blanks can be difficult to ship, especially overseas.

DO NOT ship with live round in chamber, federal
offence if discovered.

• Gas gun microphones are superior and more reliable.

• The energy of the acoustic pulse is directly related to

the volume and pressure. More pressure and a larger
volume chamber will cause a stronger initial blast.

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Compact 1. Consists of a microphone and a ten cu-

cu-in
volume chamber with a ¼” outlet valve.
2. Outlet valve will open rapidly when the
Gas Gun trigger is pulled.
3. Volume chamber pressure gauge
measures the pressure in the gas gun
volume chamber.
4. Volume chamber is charged to 150 psi
more than the casing pressure, use
additional pressure if required
5. Gas Valve will bend if volume chamber
charged to more than 1500 psi.
6. If internal gas valve is open, gauge
indicates the pressure between the gas gun
and the casing annulus valve.
7. If the casing annulus valve open, gauge
indicates the casing pressure.
8. If CGG leaks replace O- O-rings.
9. No serviceable parts in Microphone,
always replace o-o-ring if removed.
10. Proper torque for the bolts is
approximately 50 inch-
inch-pounds.

Compact 1. Cocking arm - lifted to depress and

close the valve between the gas
Gas Gun chamber and the casing.
2. Casing Pressure Bleed Valve - bleeds
pressure between the casing valve and
the compact gas gun. Turn the knob
counter clockwise to release the
pressure.
Filler-bleed valve - used to pressurize
3. Filler-
the gas gun volume chamber or to
remove gas from the gas gun volume
chamber. Gas is bled from the chamber
by rotating the knob clockwise.
4. Trigger Pawl - pull to release the gas
valve between the gas gun volume
chamber and the casing.
5. Microphone - twin-disc pressure
sensitive device that cancels vibration.

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Automatic
Remote Fire
Gun – 1st

Remote Fire
Gas Gun - 2
1. Solenoid Remotely Fires
Gun
2. Sudden Release of Gas
Generates Acoustic Pulse
3. Microphone Detects
Downhole Acoustic
Reflections

Volume chamber pressure gauge

4. measures the pressure in the gas gun volume chamber.
5. used to determine if the chamber pressure is sufficiently high (explosion mode)
to generate the acoustic pulse.
6. pressure should be approximately 150-psi in excess of casing pressure, unless
additional pressure is required to obtain desire results.

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Zero the Pressure Transducer

Remote Fire 1. Solenoid lifts dart valve and allows gas

pressure to bleed off the top of the gas
Gas Gun - 2 valve. Gas pressure then forces the gas
valve open, causing an acoustic pulse to
be delivered as gas flows from the
volume chamber into the well.
2. Gas valve does not hold pressure from
the well.
3. Gas pressure closes the volume chamber
inlet port.
4. If valve is left open, well fluids will flow
backwards through the gun and into the
volume chamber. Flow may entrain sand
and other debris. Deposits may prevent
the gas gun from operating properly.
5. Charge the volume chamber with clean
gas before the casing valve is opened and
as soon as the shot has been recorded.

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PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE
FOR REMOTE FIRE GAS GUN video
video

1. When the gun is placed onto the well, charge the gas gun volume chamber to
a pressure in excess of well pressure before opening the casing valve.
2. Protect the remote fire gas gun housing threads from corrosion.
3. Clean the dart valve, if gas is constantly leaking from the hole underneath the
pressure gage.
4. Replace the O-ring on the gas valve, if gas is leaks from the bottom of gun.
5. Clean the orifice and orifice housing if they become clogged.
6. Lubricate O-rings on the moving gas valve.
7. Do not fill the gas gun with liquid CO2.
8. Keep debris out of the filler connector housing.
9. Replace filler connector housing when small fill tube is damaged.
10. The internal wire on the remote fire gas gun microphone BNC connector can
be broken.
11. When switching the filler connector from an empty bottle to a full bottle,
remove the filler connector from the empty bottle and wait 5 minutes for the
swollen O-ring to reduce in size.
12. The microphone cannot be repaired in the field, do not disassemble.
13. When wells are chemically treated at the surface, the Echometer gas gun
should be cleaned at the end of each day.

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5000 psi Gas Gun

1. Normally used in the implosion mode.
2. Excellent noise-canceling microphone
3. 1/2-inch ball valve generates good pulse,
when opened rapidly and the well pressure
exceeds 200-psi.
4. If dirty due to debris imploding from well,
then volume chamber and microphone
assembly can be flushed with solvent.
5. Requires very little maintenance.
6. Excellent for gas lift, flowing and high-
pressure shut-in wells.
7. Used in explosion mode by charging gas
gun volume chamber to 200 psi in excess of
the well pressure.

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High Pressure
15000 psi. Gas Gun
1. Attached to the well through an
autoclave adapter or directly through
1/2 inch NPT threaded valve.

2. Pressure in volume chamber bled to a

pressure not more than 1000 psi less
than the existing pressure on the well

3. Poppet valve is rapidly opened to

release gas from the well into the gas
gun volume chamber to generate the
pressure pulse

CO2 Gas & N2 Gas Advantages

1. Approximately 50 shots from 7.5 ounce CO2 container
2. 5 pound bottle if more shots needed.
3. Fill CO2 from siphon-type bottle.
4. Large amount of CO2 gas contained in small cylinders.
5. CO2 critical temperature is 88 Deg F & 1070 PSIA.
6. If the bottle contains liquid, the pressure is 650 PSI at 50
oF, 300 PSI at 0 oF and 120 PSI at –50 oF.

7. As long as the temperature of the CO2 gas is high

enough that the vapor pressure exceeds the well
pressure, carbon dioxide gas is the most convenient
gas to use for acoustic testing.
8. If the well pressure exceeds the vapor pressure of
carbon dioxide, nitrogen gas is the most common gas to
use for acoustic testing.
9. Nitrogen gas supplied at 2200 PSI and the pressure is in
excess of the needed pressure to charge the gas gun.

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7.5 oz. CO22

Container
1. Constructed of steel
2. Test pressure of 7200
PSI and service pressure
of 1800 PSI.
3. Rupture disc bursts at
3100-3600 PSI.
4. 12" long by 2" O.D.
5. Weight is 4 Lbs.
6. Capacity is 7.5 oz. of
liquid CO2, which is
sufficient for 50 tests.
7. Thread is 5/8 by 18 thd/in.
UNF external.

Fill Volume Chamber with

Compressed Gas
1. Gas gun volume
chamber is filled with
compressed gas.
2. Pressure gage used to
determine when
chamber is filled
approximately 150 psi
above the casing
pressure.
3. Quick release of gas into
casing annulus delivers
an acoustic pulse to the
casing annulus gas.

Note: 300 psi = 10 gage shot

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Unipetro Seminar 5/18/2004

5 Lb. CO22
Container
1. Constructed of aluminum
2. Test pressure of 3000 PSI
and a service pressure of
1800PSI.
3. Dimensions are 20" long
by 5.25" O.D.
4. Weight is 10 lbs.
5. Capacity is 5 lb. of liquid
CO2, which is sufficient
for 500 tests.
6. Gas valve has 0.965-14
NGO R.H. external
thread.

Remote Fire
Gas Gun

Set up for pressure

buildup test.

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Unipetro Seminar 5/18/2004

CO2 Vapor Pressure vs Temperature

Reduced Number of Shots @ Max Psi

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Unipetro Seminar 5/18/2004

Capacities of Standard Nitrogen

Cylinders and Echometer Part Number

Number of Shots
Filling Gun with
CO2 or N2 Gas
CO2

N2

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Unipetro Seminar 5/18/2004

Number of Shots for 114 SCF, 2200 psi, Nitrogen Bottle

12.5 Cu. inch 10 Cu. inch 22 Cu. inch

2000

1800

1600
Gas Gun Chamber Pressure, psi

1400

1200

1000

800

600

400

200

0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000
Numbr of Shots

Questions ?

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Unipetro Seminar 5/18/2004

Energy in Acoustic Pulse

Depends on:
a) Size of Volume Chamber
b) Pressure in Volume Chamber
c) Gas Pressure in Well
1. Premium Tubing Connection
in 2 7/8 inch Tubing
2. Volume Chamber on 15,000
Gas Gun is one (1) cubic inch.
3. Uses the well’s 14000 psig
pressure to generate and
carry pulse.
4. Collar Reflections seen to
9500 feet in well.
5. Internal Flush Joint Tubing
have 0.015 inch Gap.

Duration
of Casing
Pressure
Buildup
Test ?
Field Test
1. The casing valve was closed with 79 feet of gaseous liquid column above the pump intake
2. An annular gas flow rate of 72 MCFD was determined from 1.5 psi/min casing dP/dT
3. Multiple surface dynamometer cards were collected immediately after the casing valve
was closed.
4. Full dynamometer surface cards were displayed until the 57th dynamometer card that
suddenly changed in shape to a complete pumped-off condition. The increasing casing
pressure temporally stopped flow from the reservoir and resulted in severe fluid pound.

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Unipetro Seminar 5/18/2004

Duration
of Casing
Pressure
Buildup
Test

Recommended time for the casing pressure buildup test is 2 minutes.

minutes.

Open the casing valve immediately

after completing acoustic test and before performing dynamometer test

A. L. Podio, University of Texas 53