Petroleum Engineering Commons^™

Relative Permeability And Wettability Implications Of Dilute Surfactants At Reservoir Conditions, Ayodeji Adebola Abe

LSU Master's Theses

The improvement or increase of oil recoverable from discovered reservoirs has always been a very important issue as this helps to meet ever growing energy demand. Several methods have been put forward as means of achieving this objective. Chemical flooding, using surfactants has been considered in enhanced oil recovery processes. Surfactants are used primarily to lower oil-water interfacial tension (IFT) and thus improve production. However, surfactants possess the ability to alter rock wettability and hence increase oil production. Previous investigations were performed at ambient conditions using stocktank oil. Extrapolation of the findings from the ambient conditions testing to reservoir conditions …

Enhanced Gas Recovery Using Pressure And Displacement Management, Thomas Walker

LSU Master's Theses

The work contained in this thesis combines two previous enhanced gas recovery techniques; coproduction of water and gas from water-drive reservoirs and waterflooding of low pressure gas reservoirs. These two techniques allow the control of reservoir pressure and sweep efficiency through planed production or injection of water. A recovery optimization method, which is applicable to any gas reservoir, was developed using the concept of pressure and displacement management (PDM). Two simulation studies were conducted, using Eclipse©, to investigate recovery optimization by coproduction and waterflooding. From the coproduction study it was determined that the water production rate needed to optimize recovery …

Experimental Investigation Of Drilling Fluid Formulations And Processing Methods For A Riser Dilution Approach To Dual Density Drilling, John Shelton

LSU Master's Theses

Oil and natural gas resources in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico are important for the U.S. economy, but development is limited by high costs. Dual density drilling concepts that result in wellbore pressure gradients similar to the natural subsurface gradients can simplify well designs and reduce costs. Riser dilution may be an economical means of achieving such a system. This system would use a low density fluid to dilute the weighted wellbore fluid and give an intermediate density fluid in the riser. Two key concerns addressed in this study are whether a drilling fluid can be formulated that will suspend …

Experimental Investigation Of Dynamic Interfacial Interactions At Reservoir Conditions, Wei Xu

LSU Master's Theses

Much of the research on wettability in the existing literature has been done using stocktank oils and at ambient conditions. The main objective of this study is therefore to examine the validity of ambient measurements in inferring in-situ reservoir wettability. For this purpose, Drop-Shape-Analysis for interfacial tension and Dual-Drop-Dual-Crystal (DDDC) contact angle measurements have been carried out using dolomite rock, Yates reservoir stocktank and live crude oils and Yates synthetic brine at Yates reservoir conditions of 82oF and 700 psi. Two types of surfactants (nonionic and anionic) in varying concentrations have been used to study the effect of surfactants on …

Analysis Of Alternative Well Control Methods For Dual Density Deepwater Drilling, Mikolaj Stanislawek

LSU Master's Theses

The recent push into deepwater is currently limited by high drilling costs resulting from conventional well designs. As a result, dual gradient drilling methods have been proposed. This research investigates riser gas-lift as a potential means to implement a dual gradient system. A primary concern is well control in a system containing so many different density fluids and different flow paths. The specific concerns addressed in this study were kick detection, cessation of formation feed-in, removal of kick fluids, and re-establishing hydrostatic control with a constant bottom hole pressure method. These concerns were studied using a transient, multiphase simulator whose …

Physical Model Experiments Of The Gas-Assisted Gravity Drainage Process, Amit P. Sharma

LSU Master's Theses

The displacement of oil by gas injection in oil reservoirs is an attractive method of improved oil recovery. Commercial gravity-stable gas injection projects have demonstrated excellent recoveries; however, their application has been limited to dipping reservoirs and pinnacle reefs. Horizontal gas floods and the water alternating gas (WAG) processes, practiced in horizontal type reservoirs, have yielded less than satisfactory recoveries of 5-10%. The Gas Assisted Gravity Drainage (GAGD) Process being developed at LSU extends the concept of gravity-stable gas floods to horizontal type reservoirs to improve volumetric sweep and oil recovery. This experimental study consists of a series of visual …

Long Term Pressure Behavior In Turbidite Reservoirs, Feng Wang

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In this study, we investigated several possible mechanisms that would give rise to the anomalous pressure behavior (early concave-up on Horner plot or upward drift on the derivative curve of the log-log plot and asymmetry between the pressure drawdown and buildup behavior) sometimes encountered in the turbidite reservoirs in GOM primarily using numerical simulation and 2-level experimental designs. We ascertained the most influential parameters to the pressure behavior and identified that multilayer commingled system and the leaky compartment model are the most probable mechanisms to cause the anomalous behavior due to layer or zone property contrast to a certain degree. …

Fatigue Of Drill Pipes Used In Horizontal Directional Drilling, Feibai Ma

Doctoral Dissertations

Fatigue is the most common cause of mini-HDD drill rod failure. It can occur at stress levels far below the normal operating stress in most drill stem components. Fatigue failures occur because the drill rod, after it has been forced into a curved path, undergoes a cyclic bending stress oscillating from tension to compression in concert with the other stress components caused by torque, thrust, or pullback.

When a rod breaks underground, there is considerable extra cost caused by the delay in “fishing” out the broken rod as well as the cost of replacing the rod. On the other hand, …

Effect Of Plasma Flux Composition On The Nitriding Rate Of Stainless Steel, Christopher Muratore, Scott G. Walton, D. Leonhardt, Richard F. Fernsler, David D. Blackwell, R. A. Meger

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

The total ion flux and nitriding rate for stainless steel specimens exposed to a modulated electron beam generated argon-nitrogen plasma were measured as a function of distance from the electron beam axis. The total ion flux decreased linearly with distance, but the nitriding rate increased under certain conditions, contrary to other ion flux/nitriding rate comparisons published in the literature. Variation in ion flux composition with distance was explored with a mass spectrometer and energy analyzer as a possible explanation for the anomalous nitriding rate response to ion flux magnitude. A transition in ion flux composition from mostly N2 1 to …

A Re-Evaluation Of Geopressured-Geothermal Aquifers As An Energy Resource, Jeremy Scott Griggs

LSU Master's Theses

The search for more efficient and economical forms of energy generation is a continual process. Natural gas production and electricity generation from geopressured-geothermal aquifers is an unconventional hydrocarbon source that has long been unproductive due to its marginal economics and lack of technological certainty. This thesis demonstrates that, based on modern technological competencies and economic constraints, geopressured-geothermal energy now maintains a viable future as an alternative domestic energy source.

Trajectory And Window Width Predictions For A Cased Hole Sidetrack Using A Whipstock, Harshad Prakash Patil

LSU Master's Theses

The Trackmaster system manufactured by Smith Services consists of a multi-ramped whipstock and a trimill assembly used to perform a sidetrack from a cased well. Smith Services has observed evidence that the trimill assembly may prematurely leave the face of the whipstock and build excess inclination and dogleg severity or may fall into the original well immediately after leaving the end of the whipstock ramp thus creating a need to predict the borehole trajectory for sidetracking operations. The goal of this project was to predict the borehole trajectory and the window profile cut in the casing by the sidetracking equipment …

Evaluation Of New Methods For Processing Drilling Data To Determine The Cause Of Changes In Bit Performance, Jaime Solano

LSU Master's Theses

Drilling operations represent the major cost in finding and developing new petroleum reserves. Poor drilling performance when drilling deep shale and strong rocks, as evidenced by slow rate of penetration (ROP), has a significant detrimental impact on drilling costs. Also, it has been concluded that bit balling is the main cause of low ROP when drilling deep, clay-rich shale with water-based mud. In addition, it is estimated that a potential saving in drilling cost of hundreds of millions of dollars a year can be obtained if bit balling is mitigated and ROP is improved. Several methods have been developed in …

Using Psychotherapy Techniques To Reveal Misconceptions And Improve Learning, Paul Michael Santi, Michele M. Santi

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

When students are aware that they do not understand a concept, the main impediment to developing an understanding is their willingness to ask questions of the instructor or of fellow students. When students think that they understand a concept, but really have some significant misconception lodged in their mental picture of the concept, they may not supplant this misconception for years, if ever. Both situations can be corrected if the students identify the need to ask questions, are brave enough to do so in the traditional academic settings, and if the answers adequately address the actual misunderstanding (which may be …

Improved Bottomhole Pressure Control For Underbalanced Drilling Operations, Carlos Perez-Tellez

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Maintaining underbalanced conditions from the beginning to the end of the drilling process is necessary to guarantee the success of jointed-pipe underbalanced drilling (UBD) operations by avoiding formation damage and potential hazardous drilling problems such as lost circulation and differential sticking. However, maintaining these conditions is an unmet challenge that continues motivating not only research but also technological developments. This research proposes an UBD flow control procedure, which represents an economical method for maintaining continuous underbalanced conditions and, therefore, to increase well productivity by preventing formation damage. It is applicable to wells that can flow without artificial lift and within …

An Experimental Study Of The Applicability Of Flooding Phenomena To The Dynamic Lubrication Method Of Well Control, Rishi R. Ramtahal

LSU Master's Theses

This research investigates the feasibility of the dynamic lubrication method of well control as an alternative to conventional stepwise lubrication. The applicability of flooding phenomena to dynamic lubrication and its use in an optimization method to maximize pumping rates was also investigated. An experimental approach was taken in which experiments were conducted in a 13’ long laboratory apparatus designed to emulate the geometry in a wellhead and also in a full-scale research well. The laboratory experiments were conducted to visually investigate the mechanism of flooding and derive a flooding correlation applicable to this type of system. The full-scale experiments were …

Application Of Mechanistic Models In Predicting Flow Behavior In Deviated Wells Under Ubd Conditions, Faisal Abdullah Aladwani

LSU Master's Theses

Underbalanced drilling (UBD) has increased in recent years because of the many advantages associated with it. These include increase in the rate of penetration and reduction of lost circulation and formation damage. Drilling of deviated and horizontal wells also increased since recovery can be improved from a horizontal or a deviated well. The drilling of deviated wells using UBD method will reduce several drilling related problems such as hole cleaning and formation damage. Prediction of flow and pressure profiles while drilling underbalanced in such wells will help in designing and planning of the well. The main aim of this research …

Removal Of Sustained Casing Pressure Utilizing A Workover Rig, Kevin Soter

LSU Master's Theses

This thesis will analyze the techniques used during the 1989 and 1990 workover programs as well as subsequent operations in 1991/1992. It will also present the techniques and results of the most recent 1999 workover program undertaken to alleviate the most persistent sustained casing pressure (SCP) in a mature Gulf of Mexico field. An extensive literature review is included to better illustrate the complexity of the issues involved and possible SCP mechanisms. The field was drilled during the 1980’s and SCP has been prevalent in some cases previous to initial completion operations. Previous remedial programs resulted in limited success in …

Immiscible And Miscible Gas-Oil Displacements In Porous Media, Madhav Mukund Kulkarni

LSU Master's Theses

Gas Injection is the second largest EOR process in U.S. To increase the extent of the reservoir contacted by displacing fluids, gas and water are injected intermittently - water-alternating-gas (WAG) process, is widely practiced. This experimental study is aimed at evaluating the WAG process performance in short and long cores as a function of gas-oil miscibility and brine composition. This performance evaluation has been carried out by comparing oil recoveries between WAG injection and continuous gas injection (CGI). Miscible (2500 psi) and immiscible (500 psi) floods were conducted using Berea cores, n-Decane and two different brines, namely the commonly used …

Investigation Of Qualitative Methods For Diagnosis Of Poor Bit Performance Using Surface Drilling Parameters, Arash Aghassi

LSU Master's Theses

Bit performance in deep shale when using water-based mud is typically poor. This study is part of a larger research project to improve that performance entitled "Automated Rig Controls for Improved Drilling Costs." The objective of the project is diagnosis of changes in drill bit performance to provide a logical basis for automating draw works control, maximizing bit performance, and reducing drilling costs. The specific goal of this study is a means to diagnose bit performance, specifically to identify bit balling and lithology changes, using real-time drilling data. The research began by identifying symptoms relating to specific causes of bit …

Mechanisms And Control Of Water Inflow To Wells In Gas Reservoirs With Bottom Water Drive, Miguel Armenta

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Water inflow may cease production of gas wells, leaving a significant amount of gas in the reservoir. Conventional technologies of gas well dewatering remove water from inside the wellbore without controlling water at its source. This study addresses mechanisms of water inflow to gas wells and a new completion method to control it. In a vertical oil well, the water cone top is horizontal, but in a gas well, the gas/water interface tends to bend downwards. It could be economically possible to produce gas-water systems without water breakthrough. Non-Darcy flow effect (NDFE), vertical permeability, aquifer size, density of well perforation, …

Low Salinity Flooding In A Selected Carbonate Reservoir: Experimental Approach, Mohamed Yehia Mohamed Mahmoud

Theses

Low-salinity water flooding LoSal^TM has been used to improve oil recovery for many decades. Historically, the mechanisms behind this improvement in oil recovery were attributed to the pressure maintenance and displacement of oil by injected water, i.e. physical mechanism. Recently, evidence from laboratory and field tests indicated that water flooding also involves chemical processes and that modifying of the injection brine salinity and its ionic composition can significantly impact the oil recovery. Several theories regarding the mechanism of LoSal^TM flooding have been discussed in the literature. These include interfacial tension reduction, wettability alteration (cation exchange), change in pH …

Remediation Of Trapped Free-Phase Lnapl, T. M. Whitworth, Andrew Curtis Elmore

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Free-phase light nonaqueous phase liquids (LNAPLs) may be trapped in certain stratigraphic and structural features near or at contaminated sites due to seasonal or other variations in the water table elevation. The purpose of this article is to point out particular subsurface conditions that are conducive to trapping of free-phase LNAPLs and to suggest approaches to remediating LNAPL-contaminated sites exhibiting similar subsurface geometry and stratigraphy. To trap free-phase LNAPL, a structure must have, in addition to closed contours, an upper boundary with pores small enough so that the LNAPL will not enter them. This boundary usually consists of clay-rich sediments. …

Field Analyses Of Rdx And Tce In Groundwater During A Gcw Pilot Study, Andrew Curtis Elmore, Lisa A. Travaglin, Jennifer L. Triplett

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Contaminant concentrations in groundwater are typically analyzed using traditional laboratory analytical procedures approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or state regulatory agencies. The use of off-site laboratories provides very high-quality water quality data at a relatively high cost in terms of time and money. Yet there are many instances when it is desirable to have water quality data measured in the field. The field methods for measuring water quality typically cost much less than the corresponding laboratory methods. However, the usability of the field data may be uncertain when the results are qualitatively compared to duplicate laboratory results. Groundwater …

Best Available Treatment Technologies Applied To Groundwater Circulation Wells, Andrew Curtis Elmore, Thomas Graff

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Groundwater circulation wells (GCWs) are a quasi-in-situ method for remediating groundwater in areas where remediation techniques that limit the water available for municipal, domestic, industrial, or agricultural purposes are inappropriate. The inherently resource-conservative nature of groundwater circulation wells is also philosophically appealing in today's culture, which is supportive of green technologies. Groundwater circulation wells involve the circulation of groundwater through a dual screen well, with treatment occurring between the screens. The wells are specifically designed so that one well screen draws in groundwater and the second returns the groundwater after it has been treated within the well. Historically, the treatment …

A Unified Theory On Residual Oil Saturation And Irreducible Water Saturation, Nick P. Valenti, R. M. Valenti, Leonard Koederitz

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In many mature fields, there is a growing debate as to how much of the remaining oil is mobile in the unswept regions versus immobile in the swept regions. Log measured oil saturations behind the flood front are substantially lower than the residual oil saturations measured from special core analysis. In order to explain this contradiction, data from several fields is analyzed with special emphasis on capillary pressure. The concept of irreducible water saturation, connate water saturation, residual oil saturation and "critical water saturation" are discussed. The conclusions which are supported by experiment and theory, have substantial commercial implications concerning …

Analytical Model To Control Off - Bottom Blowouts Utilizing The Concept Of Simultaneous Dynamic Seal And Bullheading, Victor Gerardo Vallejo-Arrieta

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The current methods for off - bottom control of blowouts involve pumping kill fluid into the well through an injection string. These are the dynamic kill and the momentum kill. The dynamic kill, which is based on the steady state system analysis approach, and the momentum kill, that is loosely based on the Newton's Second Law of Motion, have been used extensively in off-bottom control of actual blowouts. A comprehensive study of these two concepts was performed. The review included an analytical analysis of the published design techniques for both of these methods. The application of these techniques to several …

Numerical Study Of Water Coning Control With Downhole Water Sink (Dws) Completions In Vertical And Horizontal Wells, Solomon Ovueferaye Inikori

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Approximately 2.5 billion dollars is spent annually to solve the problem of produced water in oil and gas wells. Downhole Water Sink (DWS) technology is one industry solution to control water coning in oil wells. DWS technology involves the segregated production of oil and water through separate completions with zonal isolation packer. However, several problems have been experienced in the application of the technology in watered-out oil wells. This study identified two factors that could aid in a better modeling of the technology in old vertical wells – inclusion of capillary transition pressures and relative permeability hysteresis. It also identified …

Analysis Of Diagnostic Testing Of Sustained Casing Pressure In Wells, Rong Xu

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Over 8,000 wells in the Gulf of Mexico exhibit sustained casing pressure (SCP). SCP is defined as “any measurable casing pressure that rebuilds after being bled down, attributable to cause(s) other than artificially applied pressures or temperature fluctuations in the well”. The Minerals Management Service (MMS) regulations consider SCP hazardous and, in principle, require its elimination. In some cases the agency may allow continuing production at a well with SCP by granting a temporary “departure” permit. The departure permits are based on diagnostic tests involving pressure bleed-down through a 0.5-inch needle valve followed by closing the valve and recording pressure …

Numerical Reservoir Characterization Using Dimensionless Scale Numbers With Application In Upscaling, Djuro Novakovic

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Dimensionless space provides a tool for analyzing the behavior of complex systems described by mathematical relationships. The limited application of dimensionless variables in numerical reservoir simulation and experimental design motivated the development of a complete set of dimensionless scaling groups. Inspectional analysis yielded 8 dimensionless groups completely describing the flow system. Further analysis of fluid interaction reduced the number of dimensionless groups to 7. The newly developed dimensionless equations and groups were used for analytical and numerical reservoir characterization, quantifying the behavior of differential and difference equations employed in fluid flow in three-dimensional porous media. The behavior of the dimensionless …

Incorporation Of Cerium And Neodymium In A Uranyl Hydroxide Solid, Chang-Soo Kim, David J. Wronkiewicz, R. J. Finch, E. C. Buck

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The migration behavior of radionuclides in a nuclear-waste repository will be influenced, in part, by their equilibrium solubilities in the presence of radionuclide-bearing solids and/or adsorption affinities as trace components onto the surfaces of solid host phases. Uranium phases that precipitate on the surface of altered spent nuclear fuel may thus influence the mobility of radionuclides released in the near-field environment, since by proximity, these will be the first phases that the radionuclides encounter following their release from the spent fuel matrix. We have evaluated the potential for incorporating radionuclides into crystalline compounds by precipitating uranyl phases from aqueous solutions …