Effect of Tapered Internal Diameter Tubing Completion on Oil Well Production Rates

Nodal analysis is conventionally applied to a well completion with a single internal diameter tubing. This study investigated the effect of tapered internal diameter tubing completion on the production rates of an oil well. This was done by applying nodal analysis technique to a virtual well, X-01. A base case with single internal diameter tubing was modelled using PROSPER. The flowrate from the well was 3955.5 STB/day. Tapered internal diameter tubing configurations employing 2 (duplex), 3 (triplex) and 4 (quad) internal diameters were modelled and their operating conditions were determined to obtain the following rates: duplex - 4591 STB/day, triplex - 5222.3 STB/day and quad 5693 STB/day. These results indicate an increase in the flowrate by 16.1%, 32% and 44% respectively when compared with the base case model. It was observed that tapering of the internal diameter lead to an increment in the flow rate which implies an improvement in the production via the tubing.