Co-Current and Countercurrent Migration of Gas Kicks in “Horizontal” Wells

1999 ◽  
Vol 121 (2) ◽  
pp. 96-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Baca ◽  
J. Smith ◽  
A. T. Bourgoyne ◽  
D. E. Nikitopoulos

Results from experiments conducted in downward liquid-gas flows in inclined, eccentric annular pipes, with water and air as the working fluids, are presented. The gas was injected in the middle of the test section length. The operating window, in terms of liquid and gas superficial velocities, within which countercurrent gas flow occurs at two low-dip angles, has been determined experimentally. The countercurrent flow observed was in the slug regime, while the co-current one was stratified. Countercurrent flow fraction and void fraction measurements were carried out at various liquid superficial velocities and gas injection rates and correlated to visual observations through a full-scale transparent test section. Our results indicate that countercurrent flow can be easily generated at small downward dip angles, within the practical range of liquid superficial velocity for drilling operations. Such flow is also favored by low gas injection rates.

2003 ◽  
Vol 125 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Baca ◽  
D. E. Nikitopoulos ◽  
J. R. Smith ◽  
A. T. Bourgoyne

Results from experiments conducted in downward liquid-gas flows in inclined, eccentric annular pipes, with water-air and water-polymer-air mixtures as the working fluids, are presented. The gas was injected near the middle of the test-section length. This flow is directly relevant to what is found in down-grade portions of “horizontal” wells. Flow maps, in terms of liquid and gas superficial velocities, indicating the transitions between counter-current and co-current gas flows have been determined experimentally for four dip angles. The counter-current gas flow observed was always in the slug regime while the co-current one appeared as stratified. Counter-current flow fraction and void fraction measurements were carried out at various liquid superficial velocities and gas-injection rates and correlated to visual observations through a full-scale transparent test section. Results indicate that increase of the liquid yield point favors the development of counter current flow which is shown to occur at representative liquid superficial velocities and gas injection rates. Thus, counter-current flow can be easily generated at small downward dip angles, within the practical range of liquid superficial velocity for drilling operations, especially at low gas-injection rates.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentina Zharko ◽  
Dmitriy Burdakov

Abstract The paper presents the results of a pilot project implementing WAG injection at the oilfield with carbonate reservoir, characterized by low efficiency of traditional waterflooding. The objective of the pilot project was to evaluate the efficiency of this enhanced oil recovery method for conditions of the specific oil field. For the initial introduction of WAG, an area of the reservoir with minimal potential risks has been identified. During the test injections of water and gas, production parameters were monitored, including the oil production rates of the reacting wells and the water and gas injection rates of injection wells, the change in the density and composition of the produced fluids. With first positive results, the pilot area of the reservoir was expanded. In accordance with the responses of the producing wells to the injection of displacing agents, the injection rates were adjusted, and the production intensified, with the aim of maximizing the effect of WAG. The results obtained in practice were reproduced in the simulation model sector in order to obtain a project curve characterizing an increase in oil recovery due to water-alternating gas injection. Practical results obtained during pilot testing of the technology show that the injection of gas and water alternately can reduce the water cut of the reacting wells and increase overall oil production, providing more efficient displacement compared to traditional waterflooding. The use of WAG after the waterflooding provides an increase in oil recovery and a decrease in residual oil saturation. The water cut of the produced liquid decreased from 98% to 80%, an increase in oil production rate of 100 tons/day was obtained. The increase in the oil recovery factor is estimated at approximately 7.5% at gas injection of 1.5 hydrocarbon pore volumes. Based on the received results, the displacement characteristic was constructed. Methods for monitoring the effectiveness of WAG have been determined, and studies are planned to be carried out when designing a full-scale WAG project at the field. This project is the first pilot project in Russia implementing WAG injection in a field with a carbonate reservoir. During the pilot project, the technical feasibility of implementing this EOR method was confirmed, as well as its efficiency in terms of increasing the oil recovery factor for the conditions of the carbonate reservoir of Eastern Siberia, characterized by high water cut and low values of oil displacement coefficients during waterflooding.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Tatyana V. Kritskaya ◽  
Vladimir N. Zhuravlev ◽  
Vladimir S. Berdnikov

We have improved the well-known Czochralski single crystal silicon growth method by using two argon gas flows. One flow is the main one (15–20 nl/min) and is directed from top to bottom along the growing single crystal. This flow entrains reaction products of melt and quartz crucible (mainly SiO), removes them from the growth chamber through a port in the bottom of the chamber and provides for the growth of dislocation-free single crystals from large weight charge. Similar processes are well known and have been generally used since the 1970s world over. The second additional gas flow (1.5–2 nl/min) is directed at a 45 arc deg angle to the melt surface in the form of jets emitted from circularly arranged nozzles. This second gas flow initiates the formation of a turbulent melt flow region which separates the crystallization front from oxygen-rich convective flows and accelerates carbon evaporation from the melt. It has been confirmed that oxygen evaporated from the melt (in the form of SiO) acts as transport agent for nonvolatile carbon. Commercial process implementation has shown that carbon content in as-grown single crystals can be reduced to below the carbon content in the charge. Single crystals grown with two argon gas flows have also proven to have highly macro- and micro-homogeneous oxygen distributions, with much greater lengths of single crystal portions in which the oxygen concentration is constant and below the preset limit. Carbon contents of 5–10 times lower than carbon content in the charge can be achieved with low argon gas consumption per one growth process (15–20 nl/min vs 50–80 nl/min for conventional processes). The use of an additional argon gas flow with a 10 times lower flowrate than that of the main flow does not distort the pattern of main (axial) flow circumvention around single crystal surface, does not hamper the “dislocation-free growth” of crystals and does not increase the density of microdefects. This suggests that the new method does not change temperature gradients and does not produce thermal shocks that may generate thermal stresses in single crystals.


2020 ◽  
Vol 219 ◽  
pp. 02001
Author(s):  
Nikolay Ilkevich ◽  
Tatyana Dzyubina ◽  
Zhanna Kalinina

This paper proposes taking into account new properties of gas supply systems in a mathematical model of flow distribution in comparison with the traditional formulation. The approach suggests introducing an arc coefficient, which allows for changes in the magnitude of gas flow passing along the arc, a vector of an increase in the arc throughput, and lower constraints on the gas flow along the arc. We also propose considering a new economic environment, namely, new criteria for optimizing the flow distribution and setting fictitious gas prices for consumers. These criteria enable us to take account of the priority gas supply to a definite group of consumers. As an example, the calculation of gas flows for the aggregated Unified Gas Supply System (UGSS) for 2030 is considered. This calculation takes into account the arc coefficients and the increase in the throughput of arcs.


1947 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. A317-A336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ascher H. Shapiro ◽  
W. R. Hawthorne

Abstract Recent developments in the fields of propulsion, flow machinery, and high-speed flight have emphasized the need for an improved understanding of the characteristics of compressible flow. A one-dimensional analysis for flow without shocks is presented which takes into account the simultaneous effects of area change, wall friction, drag of internal bodies, external heat exchange, chemical reaction, change of phase, injection of gases, and changes in molecular weight and specific heat. The method of selecting independent and dependent variables, and the organization of the working equations, leads, it is believed, to a better understanding of the influence of the foregoing effects, and also simplifies greatly the analytical treatment of particular problems. Examples are given first of several simple types of flow, including (a) area change only; (b) heat transfer only; (c) wall friction only; and (d) gas injection only. In addition, examples of flow with combined effects are given, including (a) simultaneous friction and area change; (b) simultaneous friction and heat transfer; and (c) simultaneous liquid injection and evaporation. A one-dimensional analysis for flow through a discontinuity is presented, allowing for energy, shock, drag, and gas-injection effects, and for changes in gas properties. This analysis is applicable to such processes as: (a) the adiabatic normal shock; (b) combustion; (c) moisture condensation shocks; and (d) steady explosion waves.


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