Production and Transport of Oil and Gas [antikvár]

Preface Oil and gas production in the broad sense of the word can be subdivided into three more or less separate fields of science and technology, notably (1) production processes in the reservoir (reservoir engineering), (2) production of oil and gas from wells, and finally (3) surface gathering, separation and transportation. The present book deals with the second and the last of the three topics. Chapter 1 reviews those calculations concerning flow in pipelines a knowledge of which is essential to the understanding and designing of single-phase and multi-phase flow in wells and in surface flow lines. In compiling Chapters 2-5, which deal with oil and gas wells and in the treatment of those subjects, I have followed the principle that the main task of the production engineer is to ensure the production of that amount of liquid and/or gas prescribed for each well in the field's production plan, at the lowest feasible cost of production. The technical aim outlined above can often be attained by several different methods of production, with several types of production equipment and, within a given type, with various design and size of equipment; in fact, using a given type of equipment, several methods of operation are possible. Of the technically feasible solutions, there will be one that will be the most economical; this, of course, will be the one chosen. I have attempted to cover the various subjects as fully as possible, but have nevertheless by-passed certain topics which are treated in other books, such as the dynamometry of sucker rod pumps and gas metering. A discussion of these topics in sufficient depth would have required too much space. Chapter 6 deals with the main items of surface equipment used in oil and gas fields. In this case, I have also aimed at conveying a body of information setting out the choice of the technically and economically optimal equipment. Equipment is not discussed in Chapters 7 and 8 which treat the flow of oil and gas in pipelines and pipeline systems. The reason for this is that comparatively short pipelines are encountered within the oil or gas field proper, and the relevant production equipment is discussed in Chapter 6; on the other hand, it seemed reasonable to emphasize the design conception which regards the series-connected hydraulic elements of wells, on-lease equipment and pipelines as a connected hydraulic system with an overall optimum that can be and must be determined. It should be emphasized, however, that this method of designing also requires a knowledge of rheology. 11