Horizontal Wells
About
In horizontal wells, the higher inclination at which you can operate, the lower you can draw down bottom-hole pressure. Historically, operators have struggled to successfully operate plungers beyond the 20°-25° inclination range. More recently, experience with horizontal wells led to plunger operations at inclinations approaching 50°, usually with significant efficiency losses. Well Master Corporation has been able to support successful and efficient operation of plungers out to inclinations exceeding 70°. Successfully doing so is dependent upon using tools specifically designed for high inclinations.
​
Traditionally, plunger lift has been used in vertical oil and gas well production and operating knowledge is quite broad. However, today’s operators need a more comprehensive solution that includes horizontal and directional wells. Horizontal wells exhibit vastly different flow regimes, gas holdup and flow patterns than vertical wells. Operating plungers effectively through the heel portion of the well is an extremely challenging aspect as neither vertical nor horizontal models apply, and we have a continually changing geometry as we progress up hole.
​
Our comprehensive engineered approach includes well evaluation and tubing placement recommendations, the application of proprietary flow modeling methods to determine liquid loading rates, Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations to match plunger selection to flow characteristics, appropriate tool selection based on tubing placement and operating parameter recommendations for optimum performance.
Bottom Hole
Spring Assembly
In most horizontal applications, the tubing is high-set (vertically) relative to the top perforation. In high-set tubing applications, we typically recommend use of a Pressure Relieving Standing Valve (PRSV). At high inclinations, the ball existing standing valve designs (inside the valve) may fall out of the seat, making them incapable of retaining liquid beyond about 45° inclination, rendering them ineffective at deeper set points and limiting the ability to reduce flowing BHP.
​
​Well Master’s RHINO HZ line of bottom hole springs with integrated high-inclination standing valves incorporates a valve design which will effectively seal at inclinations up to 70°. Combining this with a pressure relieving valve seat gives you precise control on the maximum hydrostatic load. The result is much improved deliquification, lower flowing BHP capability, a much more consistent and stable operation, and a reduction of the hydrostatic head on your horizontal completions by 100’s of feet.
Engineering
Many operators try to apply vertical well knowledge and experience directly to their HZ wells. This very often results in failure to reach or maintain production targets and often sets off a chain of “trial and error” events, which wastes valuable time and resources. This negatively impacts cash flow, EUR and asset valuation.
​
Well Master offers comprehensive well assessments designed to assist operators in all aspects of applying plunger lift to HZ wells. Our customers routinely rely on us to help with determining optimum placement of production tubing, selecting appropriate tools based on the geometry and flow characteristics of the well, and recommending operating parameters. In addition, we offer a range of training services to help production teams improve their knowledge and build on best practices to optimize the financial performance of their assets.
Dynamic Seal
Plungers
Highly inclined tubing (30° to 70°) represents a very difficult challenge to operate a plunger effectively. Most solid-body plungers rely on close contact between the plunger and the tubing wall to minimize slippage past the plunger. On the other hand, traditional bar stock and pad designs lay against the lower surface of the tubing, permitting gas pressure to be vented over the top of the tool, bypassing our driving energy and resulting in very inefficient lifting.
​
Our ported tools (including Vipers and Venturi Vipers) rely instead on a turbulent gas seal between the plunger and the tubing wall. Once the plunger starts to move, the tangential ports form of gas jets, imparting a torque on the tool.
​
Our Jetted Pad plungers rely on gas pressure from below the tool to inflate the pads out to contact the entire circumference of the tubing walls, creating a seal even when it is eccentric and laying on the side of the tubing. Once the tool begins to move, jets formed by the pads impart a torque on the tool.
​
The gas-jet torque on both our ported and jetted pad plungers cause the plungers to rotate, ensuring even wear of the tool, preventing flat spots, extending run-time, and increasing effectiveness at inclinations far beyond the reach of non-ported tools. This results in higher lift efficiency per cycle, even at inclinations near 70°, and reduced hydrostatic head on horizontal completions by 100’s of feet.
For more information please contact us below or reach out to your Account Manager. To find your Account Manager, check out our Service Map.