Determining The Bottom Hole Pressure

University of Zakho
College of Engineering
Petroleum Engineering Department
Drilling Engineering
Assignment
Prepared by: Ahmed Amir Ali
Supervisor:Mr. Ali
1- The methods of determining the Down-hole pressure
1. Walker’s method
Walker’s well testing method (is based on the following theoretical
considerations. Under steady-state conditions, i.e., pumping a constant liquid rate,
the pumping well’s flowing bottomhole pressure is independent of the actual depth
of the liquid level in the casing annulus. This is easy to see because a constant
liquid removal from a well means a stable pressure at the bottom. Since the
annulus is directly connected to the pump intake (no packer is present), the
pressure at the bottom of the annular gaseous fluid column should be equal to the
well’s bottomhole pressure. However, annulus pressure at that depth is the sum of
three components: surface pressure and the pressures of the gas and fluid columns
that exist above the formation. Therefore, the same bottomhole pressure can exist
with a shorter fluid column if surface gas pressure plus gas column weight is
greater, and vice versa.
Figure 1 illustrates the basics of Walker’s method
Figure 1Walker’s method for determining the flowing bottomhole pressure in a pumping
well
Since Walker’s method is only valid for stabilized conditions, great care
must be taken to reach steady-state fluid levels in both tests. Since this process
can take considerable time, sometimes even several days, the use of this
bottomhole pressure determination method is limited.
2. Agnew method
Agnew proposed an approximate calculation model based on dynamometer
measurements. He utilized the data of the well-known standing and traveling valve
tests to arrive at an approximate bottomhole pressure. The accuracy of the
procedure is highly dependent on the proper execution of these tests and also can
be affected by downhole problems such as excessive friction, which considerably
change measured rod loads.
3. Gas blow-around method

One old practical method is the so-called gas blow-around method, which can
be applied in wells with considerable gas production. Its principle is that if the
fluid level is depressed to the pump setting depth, then pump intake pressure is
found from the hydrostatic pressure of the gas column. Since the length of the gas
column is precisely known (it is at pump level), its pressure can be calculated very
accurately. The inaccuracies of bottomhole pressure calculations, introduced by
errors in fluid level and fluid gradient values, are thus eliminated. The testing
procedure requires the use of a pressure regulator and a dynamometer at the
surface. The casing pressure is increased with the regulator until gas is blown
around from the annulus into the pump. This occurs when the dynamometer card
shows typical gas interference symptoms. The main drawback of this procedure is
the usually long time required for stabilized conditions to occur.
4. Cullender and Smith Method
This Excel spreadsheet employs the Cullender and Smith method to calculate
Bottom Hole Pressure on a shallow, dry gas well. The bottom hole pressure is
simply the pressure at the bottom of an oil-well shaft
Many reservoir engineering calculations require the static bottom hole pressure.
However, this can be difficult to measure experimentally. A number of researchers
have developed other techniques to calculate bottom hole pressure from
measurements at the wellhead.
The Cullender and Smith (1956) method is generally considered accurate and
models the variation of compressibility Z with temperature T and pressure P
This is the Cullender and Smith equation
It needs to be numerically integrated. In the attached spreadsheet, we have simply

divided the entire length into four sections and integrated via a simple trapezoidal
method.
2-Tubing Cutting devices

1. Explosive cutters
Explosive cutters and chemical cutters has for a long time been the preferred,
method of cutting stuck cut drillpipe and tubing. Maybe this is because this type
of cutters has been on the
market longer than the other
cutting alternatives. “Why
change a winning team”.
The explosive cutters

are constructed as a
linear shaped charge formed
into a circle around the body
Fig. 2 Explosive Cut

of the cutting tool. When the cutter is placed on the right depth, either by using a
CCL or placed on a NO-GO, the field engineer sets of the cutter, by sending an
electrical impulse to a detonator, witch again sets of the charge. There are several
problems that
arise when using an explosive
cutter. After the cut is made, the pipe that is cut, usually “flares up” (figure 2),
and if an overshot is used for pulling the tubing, the top of the pipe needs to be
dressed before an overshoot can be placed over the fish.
Another problem is that an explosive cutter can damage the pipe outside the pipe
that is cut, this is typically in cases when a too great charge is used to cut a
certain wall thickness, or the tubing is worn down so the actual tubing wall
thickness is less than expected. The ideal size for an explosive cutter is
approximately 80 % of the tubing ID, this might be a problem in some wells
with partially collapsed tubing and scale buildup. Centralization is also
important for an explosive cutter to work optimally; with the cutter lying on low
side in a well, you might not be able to cut the tubing. The cut of an explosive
cutter will also be affected by the metallurgy of the pipe and coating.
Most of the cuts done by an explosive cutter are not “100% cuts”, there is often
some metal left that keeps the tubing over and under the cut area together, this
material needs to be yielded of when the upper section of the tubing is pulled.
Cuts done by an explosive cutter has a higher success rate when the tubing is in
tension. Tubing in tension will self-separate after the cut given that the tension
pulled is great enough to apply tension all the way down to cutting depth, and
the cross section area left of the tubing is small enough that the tension applied
is great enough to separate it.
Other problems with an explosive cutter is the risk of handling explosives, this
requires skilled personnel and safe working environments. Several precautions
must be made when rigging up an explosive cutter. Always connect the
detonator to the tool string before you connect the explosives to the detonator
this principle is called EBBA (electric before ballistic). This can be challenging
on rigs/vessels/locations with limited rig up height. Explosives must be stored in
a dedicated place on the rig, and transported to the rig in dedicated containers
2. Chemical cutters
Chemical cutters are also a well-tested method for cutting stuck tubing. The
chemical cutter working method is that an electrical igniter set of a reaction
inside the cutter which creates a pressure build up in the upper part of the tool.
The pressure forces a set of anchors out that holds the tool in place during the
cutting process, when the anchors reaches the wall and centralizes the tool,
another chamber inside the tool opens and a bromine trifluorid mixture is
exposed to a mixture of oil and in some tools; steel wool.
Figure 3 Chemical Cut
When these substances starts to react with each other pressure and temperature
will rise, and when this pressure reaches the well pressure the corroding mixture
is sprayed out onto the tubing wall and cut the tubing.
The main advantage of running a chemical cutter compared to an explosive

cutter is that the chemical cutter don’t flare up the tubing, if an overshoot is used
for fishing it will not require any dressing.
As with the explosive cutter there are several setbacks of using a chemical
cutter. The fluid in the tubing must preferably have a low viscosity. The tubing
is preferably cut in tension. Most cuts done by a chemical cutter are not 100%
cuts and the tubing must be yielded off by pulling with the rigs top drive.
Chemical cutters is also more sensitive to a differential pressure inside and
outside the tubing, it is preferred to punch a hole or open a sliding sleeve in the
tubing before running in with the chemical cutter.
The chemicals in a chemical cutter are highly reactive. It must therefore be

transported and stored according to a procedure for dangerous chemicals. The
handling and rig up problems is the same as with an explosive cutter.
3. Radial cutting torch

The radial cutting torch is another type of cutter which contains material that’s
not classified as explosives or chemicals. Radial cutting torches is often referred
to as a RCT. The energy created from the RCT to cut the tubing/pipe/casing is
created from termite pellets which consist of a proprietary mixture of powdered
metals.
The RCT works like this: The operator applies power to an “igniter” that is placed
on top of the cutter. This igniter is called
thermal generator.
The thermal generator heats the termite

pellets until they start a chemical reaction
witch turns the termite pellets into a molded
plasma with a temperature 6000 deg.
Celsius. The heat produced inside the cutter
builds up an internal pressure in the torch,
when this pressure exceeds the wellbore
pressure, a sleeve in the bottom of the tool
shifts down and the high energized molded Figure 4 RCT Cut
plasma is sprayed onto the tubing wall, this
action can be compared to a 6000 deg C. high pressure sand blaster.
Since the RCT is not classified as a dangerous chemical or an explosive it can

be transported with a passenger aircraft which significantly reduces the
mobilization time. The RCT as the explosive and the chemical cutter have a
better chance of success if the tubing is in tension when the cut is made.
Even though the RCT is not classified as an explosive or a dangerous chemical
you don’t need much experience in medical practice to understand that
personnel exposed to a 6000 deg. Celsius high pressure sand blaster wouldn’t
have good odds to survive, therefore the RCT should be handled with the same
precaution as explosive cutters.

Determining The Bottom Hole Pressure

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University of Zakho

Prepared by: Ahmed Amir Ali

3. Gas blow-around method

4. Cullender and Smith Method

This is the Cullender and Smith equation

It needs to be numerically integrated. In the attached spreadsheet, we have simply

2-Tubing Cutting devices

The explosive cutters

Fig. 2 Explosive Cut

Figure 3 Chemical Cut

The main advantage of running a chemical cutter compared to an explosive

The chemicals in a chemical cutter are highly reactive. It must therefore be

3. Radial cutting torch

The thermal generator heats the termite

Since the RCT is not classified as a dangerous chemical or an explosive it can

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