Petroleum Engineering Summer Course 2015 Skin Effect: Clemens Langbauer

Chair of Petroleum & Geothermal Energy Recovery
Petroleum Engineering
Summer Course 2015
Skin Effect
petrowiki.org
Clemens Langbauer
Targets
- Understand the basic concept of skin

- Know the components of the total skin
- Perform basic calculations of the skin factor
Page 2
Overview
Van Everdingen and Hurst (1949)
(for open hole completions/ vertical wells caused by damage)
Characterization of the effects at the near wellbore region as a steady
state pressure difference ps , which is proportional to the skin effect.
ps =
q
s
2kh
Viscosity (cp, Pas)
Permeability (mD, m)
Positive skin
Distortion of the flow lines from normal or a restriction to flow.
Negative skin
The pressure drop in the near-wellbore region is less than would be
from the normal, undisturbed flow (e.g. stimulation)
Source: Petroleum Production Systems, Economides
Page 3
Hawkins Formula
rd
kd
rd
k
rd
S=
1 ln
kd
rw
qB
rd
ps pwf,ideal =
ln
2kh rw
qB
rd
ps pwf,real =
ln
2k d h rw
Page 4
Apparent Wellbore Radius
pe pwf =
qB
2kh
ln
re
rw
+ S and rwa = rw . es
=
Page 5
Apparent Wellbore Radius

Example:
Permeability Impairment
A damaged wellbore has a radius rw of 0,328 ft.
For the first step we assume that the relationship
k
kd
is 5 and the
penetration of damage is 3 ft beyond the well. Calculate the magnitude

of the skin effect! Calculate the apparent wellbore radius!
For the second step we assume that the relationship
k
kd
= 10.
What would be the penetration of damage (rd ) if we want to reach the

k
k
same skin factor for
= 10 with the relationship
=5?
kd
kd
Page 6
Total Skin / Apparent Skin

Apparent skin
(accounts for non-Darcy flow)
= + .
q
Flow rate (Mscf/day)
Non Darcy coefficient
The well skin effect / total skin is a composite variable:

sd
Formation damage skin
sp
Perforation skin
sc+
Completion skin (partial completion and deviation)

Page 7
Formation Damage Skin

- Particle plugging pore space
- Fines migration
- Chemical precipitation
- Fluid damage
- Mechanical damage
- Biological damage
- Drilling damage
- Completion damage
- Production damage
- Injection damage
Page 8

Particle plugging pore space:
When fines are moving through a porous
medium, they will often be deposited, and if
this deposition occurs in the pore throats, a
severe reduction in the permeability may
result.
Page 9

Fines migration:
The fines may come from external sources or the porous medium itself.
Mobilization due to:
- change in the chemical composition

- shear forces applied by the moving fluid
Formation damage is often caused by the dispersion of fine clay

particles when the salinity of the interstitial water is reduced or the ionic
composition is changed
Page 10

Fluid damage:
Emulsions, Relative Permeability and Wettability Changes
The damage caused by fluids is due either to a change in the apparent
viscosity of the oil phase or to a change in relative permeability.
-
The apparent viscosity of emulsions may be far higher than the

viscosity of oil
An increase of the water saturation around the wellbore, results in a

reduction of the relative permeability of oil
Certain chemicals can alter the wettability of the formation, changing

the relative permeability characteristics entirely.
Page 11

Mechanical damage:
The formation near the wellbore can also be damaged by physical
crushing or compaction of the rock.
Biological damage:
Bacteria injected into the formation, particularly anaerobic bacteria, may
grow rapidly in the formation, plugging the pore spaces with the
bacteria themselves or with precipitates that result from the biological
activity of the organisms.
Page 12

Drilling damage:
Drilling damage results from the invasion of the formation by drilling
fluid particles and drilling fluid filtrate. Since the invasion depth is small
(1 in up to 1 ft), it is often possible to overcome drilling mud particle
damage by perforating through the damage region or acidizing.
Completion damage:
Damage can be caused by invasion of completion fluid into the
formation, by cementing, by perforating or by well stimulation
techniques.
Page 13

Production damage:
The high velocity in the porous medium
near the well is sometimes sufficient to
mobilize fines that can then plug pore
throats. Fines often start to migrate, when
the phase they wet is mobile.
Injection damage:
Injection damage may occur due to solid

particles in the injected fluid, incompatibility
of injected and formation water, or by
growth of bacteria.
Page 14
rd
k (h)
rd
sd =
1 ln
kd
rw
Page 15
Perforation Skin
Page 16
Perforation Skin
Perforations with a diameter between 0,25 and 0,4 in. and a tunnel
between 6 and 12 in. are typically created.
Source: Well Completion Design, Bellarby
Page 17
Perforation Skin
Karakas & Tariq (1990):
= + + +
-
Plane flow effect sh
Vertical converging effect sv
Wellbore effect swb
Crushed zone skin sc
Dimensionless Variables:
hD =
hperf
lp ()
kh
kv
rpD =
rp
2.hperf
1+
kv
kh
rwD =
rw ()
lp ()+rw ()
Page 18
Perforation Skin
Page 19
Perforation Skin
perf
Page 20
Perforation Skin
Plane flow effect:
sh = ln
rw
.(rw ()+lp ())
for phasing angles other than 0
sh = ln
4.rw
lp ()
for the case of 0 phasing
Page 21
Perforation Skin
Wellbore effect:
swb = c1 ec2 rwD ()
c1 , c2
.. Coefficients (Table Page 21)
Crushed zone skin:
sc =
hperf
lp ()
k
kc
1 ln
rc
rp
Page 22
Perforation Skin
Vertical converging effect:
sv = 10a hD b1 rpD b
a = a1 log rpD + a2
(Coefficients in Table at Page 21)
b = b1 rpD + b2
This effect is the largest contributor to the perforation skin!
Page 23
Perforation Skin
Combination of damage and perforation skin:
Perforations terminate inside the damaged zone: <
sdp =
k
kd
1 ln
rd
rw
k
kd
sp
Perforations extend beyond the damaged zone: >

lp = lp 1
kd
k
ld
rw = rw + 1
kd
k
ld
sdp = sh + sv + swb + sc
Page 24
Perforation Skin
Example:
Perforation (& Damage) Skin
Calculate the skin effect caused by the perforations in combination
with the damaged skin for two different cases (rd = 20 in, rd = 7,25 in,
rw = 100m ). Evaluate the difference in the production rate (steady
state).
perf
Page 25
Perforation Skin
Page 26
Partial Completion and Deviation

Partial Completion:
The height that is opened to the
perforation
is
smaller
than
the
reservoir height.
Reasons: - bad perforation job
- avoid water/ gas coning
is a positive skin !
Page 27

Odeh (1980):
z
0,2126.( hm +2,753)
rwc = rw . e
sc = 1,35.
h
hp
0,825
ln h
kh
kv
+ 7 1.95 ln rwc 0,49 + 0,1 ln h
kh
kv
rwc is rw for an interval either starting at the top of the reservoir or

finishing at the base.
Page 28

Deviation:
Slant (borehole or formation) increases the length of the opened
section. The larger the angle of slant, the larger the negative
contribution to the total skin.
is a negative skin !
Page 29

Besson (1990):
(valid for all angles, except completely horizontal)
=
kh
kv
L=
h
cos
1
h
+ .
4. rw
h
Lh. 2
s = ln
+
ln
L. .
. L
4. rw (1 + 1/
Anisotropy ratio
Length of the fully completed well
Page 30
Page 31

Simplified tables for combinations of
completion skin are available!
Dimensionless reservoir thickness:
hD =
h
rw
Page 32

Example:
Completion Skin
A well with rw = 0,328 ft is completed in a 33 ft reservoir. In order to
avoid water coning problems, only 8 ft are completed and the
midpoint of the perforations is 29 ft above the base of the reservoir.
Calculate the skin effect due to partial completion and skin for a
vertical well. What would be the composite skin effect if = 45 ?
Page 37
Total Skin
Total Skin
Cemented and perforated wells:
Deviated well:
sT =
h
F
L
sa = ln
F=
Vertical well:
sdp + sa + sc+
2
1+F
1
k
cos+kv .sin
h
sa Anisotropy skin
h Height reservoir
sT = sdp + sc(+)
Page 38
Total Skin
Open Hole wells:

h
F
L
Deviated well:
sT =
Vertical well:
sT = sd + s(c)(+)
sd + sa + s(c)+
Page 39
Apparent Skin
Apparent skin:
A result of the increase in velocity (turbulent flow non Darcy flow)
due to expansion of the produced fluid (e.g. gas) and the reduction of
the cross-section.
Especially important for high-rate oil and gas producers
The pseudo skin factor comprises of two components:
-
Rate - dependent effect
Phase - dependent effect
Page 40
Apparent Skin
Rate dependent effect:
s = sT + D. q
Flow rate (Mscf/day)
Non Darcy coefficient

- Well tests
- Empirical correlations
Apparent skin
Page 41
Apparent Skin
Well tests:
Page 42
Apparent Skin
Emperical correlation: (for gas)
Zulfikri, Dake & Beggs (different methods are available)
D = 2,22. 1015 .
.g .k.h
.rw .hp 2
Non-Darcy coefficient (day/Mscf)
hp
Completed intervall (ft)
Gas gravity (-)
Net thickness (ft)
Gas viscosity (cp) at BHP
Page 43
Apparent Skin
= a. k b
k
Permeability (md)
Turbulence coefficient
Page 44
Apparent Skin
Page 45
Apparent Skin
Example:
Apparent Skin
Calculate the apparent skin factor for a deviated, cased gas well ( =
30) with a radius of 0,328 ft and a production rate of 20000
Mscf/day. The reservoir consists of consolidated sandstone, a height
of 100 ft and an average permeability of 3 md.
sdp = 1,25
sc+ = - 0,5
L = 80 ft
kv
kh
h = 100 ft
= 0,02 cp
= 0,5
g = 0,65
Page 46
Apparent Skin
Phase dependent effect:
Phase dependent skin effects are associated with phase changes
because of the near wellbore pressure gradient.
Page 47

Deadline: 26.08.2015
9:00
Homework
Apparent Skin:
A well test with two different production rates was performed in a gas
well. Calculate by the use of the well test results the total skin and the
Non-Darcy coefficient. (use the Russell and Goodrich Solution for
pseudo steady state)
Test 1: pwf 1 = 3500 psi
Test 2: pwf 2 = 2500 psi
q1 = 932 Mscf
q2 = 2645 Mscf
g = 0,9
T = 240F (700R)
h = 5 ft
re = 500 ft
p = 4000 psi
k = 10 mD
rw = 0,3125 ft
Page 48

9:00
Homework
Well Completion:
In 100 ft thick oil reservoir (no Non- Darcy effects) a deviated well
bore ( = 65) was drilled. The driving mechanism of the reservoir is a
gas cap at the top and an aquifer at the bottom.
Now you have to decide if the well should be completed open hole or
with casing and perforations.
Which completion would you select an why? (calculate the skin
factors for both cases and consider this when you make your
decision)
rw cased = 4,5 in
rw open hole = 8 in
Page 49

Homework
9:00
rd = 10 in
Permeabilities:
k h = 20 mD
k v = 10 mD
k d = 5 mD
Completion:
2/3 of the reservoir height, positioned in the middle
Perforations:
lp = 12 in
12 spf
Phasing = 45
rp = 0,2 in
k c = 3 mD
rc = 0,3 in
Page 50

Petroleum Engineering Summer Course 2015 Skin Effect: Clemens Langbauer

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Chair of Petroleum & Geothermal Energy Recovery

Chair of Petroleum & Geothermal Energy Recovery

- Understand the basic concept of skin

Chair of Petroleum & Geothermal Energy Recovery

Viscosity (cp, Pas)

Chair of Petroleum & Geothermal Energy Recovery

Chair of Petroleum & Geothermal Energy Recovery

Apparent Wellbore Radius

Source: Petroleum Production Systems, Economides

Chair of Petroleum & Geothermal Energy Recovery

Apparent Wellbore Radius

penetration of damage is 3 ft beyond the well. Calculate the magnitude

For the second step we assume that the relationship

What would be the penetration of damage (rd ) if we want to reach the

Chair of Petroleum & Geothermal Energy Recovery

Total Skin / Apparent Skin

Flow rate (Mscf/day)

Non Darcy coefficient

The well skin effect / total skin is a composite variable:

Formation damage skin

Completion skin (partial completion and deviation)

Chair of Petroleum & Geothermal Energy Recovery

Formation Damage Skin

Chair of Petroleum & Geothermal Energy Recovery

Formation Damage Skin

Source: Petroleum Production Systems, Economides

Chair of Petroleum & Geothermal Energy Recovery

Formation Damage Skin

- change in the chemical composition

Formation damage is often caused by the dispersion of fine clay

Source: Petroleum Production Systems, Economides

Chair of Petroleum & Geothermal Energy Recovery

Formation Damage Skin

The apparent viscosity of emulsions may be far higher than the

An increase of the water saturation around the wellbore, results in a

Certain chemicals can alter the wettability of the formation, changing

Source: Petroleum Production Systems, Economides

Chair of Petroleum & Geothermal Energy Recovery

Formation Damage Skin

Source: Petroleum Production Systems, Economides

Chair of Petroleum & Geothermal Energy Recovery

Formation Damage Skin

Source: Petroleum Production Systems, Economides

Chair of Petroleum & Geothermal Energy Recovery

Formation Damage Skin

Injection damage may occur due to solid

Source: Petroleum Production Systems, Economides

Chair of Petroleum & Geothermal Energy Recovery

Formation Damage Skin

Source: Petroleum Production Systems, Economides

Chair of Petroleum & Geothermal Energy Recovery

Source: Petroleum Production Systems, Economides

Chair of Petroleum & Geothermal Energy Recovery

Chair of Petroleum & Geothermal Energy Recovery

Plane flow effect sh

Vertical converging effect sv

Wellbore effect swb

Crushed zone skin sc

Source: Well Completion Design, Bellarby

Chair of Petroleum & Geothermal Energy Recovery

Source: Well Completion Design, Bellarby

Chair of Petroleum & Geothermal Energy Recovery