Well Performance Diagnosis with Temperature Profile Measurements
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AbstractThe measurement of the temperature profile of a well has been a primary part of production logs since the inception of these logs and continues to be a routine production logging measurement. In recent years, the increasing application of fiber-optic based distributed temperature sensors, either permanently installed in the well completion, or temporarily deployed, has provided a source for additional temperature profile data. In this paper, we present methodologies for interpreting numerous conditions in wells from temperature profiles. For each method, the underlying theory of the interpretation, and one or more field examples are presented. The most fundamental well property that can often be obtained from a temperature profile is the well's inflow profile - the locations and relative rates of inflow along the well. Simple analytical methods for interpreting the flow profiles of vertical oil producing wells are presented along with examples of this interpretation.Another key application of temperature profile measurements, particularly for horizontal wells, is the location of water or gas entries in oil-producing wells. We will show how water or gas entries create temperature anomalies along horizontal wells caused by the differences in the Joule-Thomson coefficients of the different phases or by the water or gas source being from below or above the well depth, as in a coning situation. We illustrate how such water or gas inflows can be quantitatively identified by applying standard inversion methods to the measured temperature profiles, yielding the locations and rates of water or gas entries.Another growing application of temperature profile measurements is the analysis of stimulation treatment (fracturing or acidizing) fluid placement. Temperature profiles measured during treatment pumping, during a flowback period, or after shut-in can be analyzed to determine the amount of stimulation fluid placed in different completed intervals along the well. A related analysis method using transient temperature profile measurements provides a means of determining layer properties of permeability, skin factor, and damage depth. This method can be applied before a stimulation treatment to aid the stimulation design, or post-job to evaluate treatment results.
