Well Nodal Analysis

Well Nodal Analysis is the fundamental petroleum engineering technique published in 1979 by Joe Mach ^[1]. For his invention Joe Mach was honored as a JPT Legend of Production and Operations in 2009^[2].

Well Nodal Analysis is used to predict the well rate and performance by combining the reservoir inflow with the wellbore lift capacity by intersecting the IPR and VLP curves on a pressure vs rate plot.

For the given reservoir Well Nodal Analysis calculates how much oil, water and gas can be produced by the given well.

PQplot is a Well Nodal Analysis software available online at www.pengtools.com.

The Power of Well Nodal Analysis

Location of various nodes ^[1]

Well Nodal Analysis is the cornerstone of petroleum engineering. It allows to:

Calculate the well production potential and identify the performance gaps to maximize oil and gas production.
Evaluate the various well nodes impact on production. Nodes: reservoir, perforation, tubing string, restrictions, downhole safety valves, the surface chokes, the surface flow lines and separator.

Typical Applications

Estimation of well production potential and absolute open flow (AOF)
Tubing sizing
Selection of the operating wellhead pressures
Artificial lift design. Gas lift. ESP sizing.
Sensitivity studies

Math and Physics

Well Nodal Analysis is done on a pressure vs rate plot. IPR and VLP curves intersect at well operating point.

Well IPR curve: Darcy's law, Vogel's IPR, Composite IPR.

Well VLP curve: Hagedorn and Brown multiphase flow correlation