When:  Apr 20, 2017 from 11:00 AM to 01:00 PM (CT)
Where:   The Wood Group, 17420 Katy Freeway, Thoroughbred Building, Room T1200SW, Houston, TX, 77094, US

When & Where



The Wood Group, 17420 Katy Freeway, Thoroughbred Building, Room T1200SW
Houston, TX 77094
US

Apr 20, 11:00 AM - 01:00 PM (CT)


Description

Presenter:

Robert Sutton, Consultant


Bio:

Rob Sutton is a petroleum consultant in Houston, Texas. He started his 35 year career with Marathon Oil Company in their Gulf Coast Offshore District in 1978.  He moved to Marathon's Denver Technology Center in 1985 where he worked in the Reservoir Management Department and developed Marathon's in-house nodal analysis software.  He moved with the technology organization to Houston in 2001 and retired from Marathon in 2014.  Rob has remained in the Houston area where he currently consults and is a Research Associate at University of Tulsa.

Rob received a BS in Petroleum Engineering from Marietta College.  He also holds an MS in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.  He has authored 28 papers for SPE along with 10 journal publications.  He wrote the chapter on oil PVT correlations in the recently updated Petroleum Engineering Handbook as well as coauthored a chapter in Gas Well Deliquification. Rob received SPE’s 2014 Production and Operations Award.

Rob was an SPE Distinguished Lecturer for the 2012-13 and 2015-16 lecture seasons.


Presentation Abstract:

The lateral section in horizontal wells used to develop unconventional reservoirs is analogous to a surface flowline. In the case of the well, the lateral reaches out into the reservoir a mile or more to access reserves and deliver production to the well. At the surface, flow assurance disciplines are employed to ensure adequate performance of a flowline/pipeline. These principles be applied to the downhole horizontal lateral.

Many operators are drilling toe-up laterals with the idea that the water will drain to the heel where it can be pumped from the well. The resulting multiphase flow scenario results in a situation where undersaturated natural gas in contact with water in the lateral can result in significant vaporization of the free water. Concentrated salts can result in salt/scale deposits that could block the lateral. Most of the wells have multiple traps along the lateral, and the fraction beyond the first trap from the heel can be significant. Given the projected long life of the well and the need to operate at low bottomhole pressure, a flow assurance problem requires more than a simple deliquification strategy.

Program Agenda:

1100–1130 Registration and Networking

1130–1300 Lunch

1145–1200 Technical Section Updates
1200–1300 Presentation and Q&A

Pricing

registration type
regular
    Member
$25.00

    Non-member/Guest
$30.00

    Student
$10.00

Contact Information