How to run a Nodal Analysis with PipeSIM

Introduction

This document is intended to provide a basic tutorial to run a single Nodal Analysis using PipeSIM software, helping the
first time user to familiarize with the software functionalities while providing easy access to screens for data input and
options to start with.
At first sight PipeSIM looks very complicated and tricky, because the application of the software goes beyond a single
well analysis. As soon as Field Users get familiar with the software they will find a very powerful tool to perform either
quick and easy estimations or complicated and well-engineered evaluations.
Important to mention is that the software provides a rich Help, where users will be able to find good tutorials and
guidance that solve most of the questions. The User Guide, included in the installation and the documentation available
in PipeSIM Reference Page in InTouch will also help the users to master the application.
Nodal Analysis theory will not be discussed in this document.

Tutorial structure

This following conventions and structure is applied to this tutorial:

A problem example is given. That information will be used to fill the screens. The outlined steps are specifically
designed to accomplish what is required in the problem example.
The Red boxes indicate the steps to follow. Follow the steps in the order specified
The Blue boxes are intended to provide complementary information.
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The gray areas are designated to specify useful Tips.


Problem: Using the following data, construct a basic well model and determine what will be production of the well after
an acidizing treatment if the skin is lowered to zero.

Fluid Properties (Black Oil):

Water Cut 10 %
GOR 500 scf/stb
Gas SG 0.8
Water SG 1.05
Oil API 36

Wellbore data:

MD (ft) TVD (ft)
0 0
1000 1000
2500 2450
5000 4850
7500 7200
9000 8550







Geothermal Gradient:

MD (ft) Temp (F)
0 50
9000 200



Tubing Data:

Bottom MD (ft) ID (in) OD (in)
8600 2.992 3.5
9000 6.184 7.0




Reservoir and Completion Model:

Completion model: Single Perforations
Reservoir Pressure 3600 psia
Perforated Interval 8660 to 8700 ft
Reservoir Temperature 200 F
Permeability 100 mD
Porosity 12 %
Wellbore radius 4.25 in
Skin (from Build up test) 10


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Workflow Steps

1. Open PipeSIM and after the Tips screen (if activated) you will find this menu:


Self explanatory
Blank screen to create your own model
1. Select Wizard to build the Model
Multiple Wells and
Production Systems
Single well and Pipeline
Models Options

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Wizard Icon
Tips:
A new model can be created anytime using the Wizard accessible in two additional ways:



2. Creating a model using the WIZARD. For Instructions to create a model without the Wizard go to Section 7.0.

2.1. Click on the Wizard option and fill the required general project information

Screen by screen guide
to fill up the required
data
2. Fill out the Project Data
3. Go to the next screen
Open the specific help
page from the PipeSIM
Help Menu
2.2. Click on Next button to Open the Single Branch Profile or Single Well Profile:
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8. Go to the next
7. Select your working directory and
name your file
6. Select the position of the Node
5. Nodal Analysis from dropdown
4. Option for Producer Well

Tips:
- More information about Operation Type option (system Analysis, Pressure/Temperature Profile, etc) can be
found in PipeSIM Help: PipeSIM Help Operations.
- More information on how to build a model go to: PipeSIM Help How do I? Steps in Building Models.
- The User Guide also provides information about these topics.


2.3. Setting the Units for the Analysis

11. Go to the Next
10. Verify units
9. Select English

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Tips:
The Custom option activates additional features.




The Units Screen can be accessed anytime from
Main menu:

Setup units

Information about this screen in PipeSIM Help:

Multiflash Units
You can save a file with customized
units for use in future simulations.




2.4. Fluid Properties Screen

12. Select Fluid Model
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Select the correlation
that better fits to your
fluid properties.

14. Fill the Fluid
If PVT data is available, the
simulation can be improved by
using these options.
If PVT data was
used you can create
a file to be used in
future simulations or
share with other
users
15. Provide the fluid
information
Use this option for more accurate
simulations (Volatile oil, Gas Condensate)
13. Define Fluid Properties
16. Click OK, then
Next in the Fluid
Properties Screen


Tips:
- Information about Fluid Models can be found in PipeSIM Help:
Component and Options Fluid Modeling
- In the User Guide go to:
Model Overview Fluid Data



2.5. Flow correlations screen

19. Click Next
Tips:
- Details about what correlation apply in every situation can be found in PipeSIM Help:
Component and Options Flow Correlations
- The Friction Holdup Factors are used to calibrate field data.
- Use Single Phase for Water injector wells
- This screen can be accessed anytime from the Main menu:
Setup Flow Correlations
Use this option when
pipeline is modeled.
17. Source of Flowcorrelations
18. Select the correlation
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2.6. Final screen to define the profile of the single well.
21. Add the tubing
22. Click Finish to create
the Basic Model
20. Define the completion type

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2.7. Basic model created.

Represents
the node
Wellhead
before choke
or any other
equipment

Represents the reservoir
and completion (open
hole, perforations, gravel
pack, etc.)
The red rectangle means that
basic information is missing
Represents
the well



3. Entering Reservoir Information
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27. Accept the data and
close the screen
23. Double click
the Completion
24. Fill the reservoir Data
26. Complete the Reservoir
Information
25. Select the Reservoir
Model



Tips:
- Information about Model Type in PipeSIM Help:
Components and Options Well Performance Analysis Module
- Use the Plot IPR option to create a quick IPR plot
of your completion.
- Detailed completion data for skin calculations can be used.
- Rate Dependent Skin, also known as Turbulence Factor in other Nodal Analysis programs.




4. Entering Well Information

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28. Double click
on the Tubing Icon
The Simple Model could be used;
however, no detail survey can be
entered in Single Model option
31. Calculate the
Angle
29. Select the dependent
parameter
32. Go to Geothermal
Survey to input
temperature data.
30. Fill the survey
data

4.1. Entering Temperature Data

34. Go to Tubing
Configurations to
complete the well data.
33. Enter surface
and bottomhole
temperature. MD
or TVD, depending
on data available




4.2. Entering Tubing and Casing Information
This data is not required
unless there is flow
through the annulus.

36. Click OK to accept
the data and close the
screen
35. Fill the tubing
bottom depth and
IDs. Basically the
flow conduit
Set the last
depth at top of
perforations, not
bottomhole.
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Tips:
- More Information about this screen in PipeSIM Help:

Components and Options Well Performance and Analysis Module Tubing

- Use the Backspace key to delete data from cells (Do not use Delete, Space or 0 keys)
- Set the last depth of tubing at the top of perforations/completion. Think on this as the fluid path from
completion to surface.
- Another good option is to use Single Model as the Tubing Model, then convert the model to
Detailed and fill out the additional required information as the detailed survey.
- You may have data filled in both Tubing Models screens (Detailed and Single), the software will
use the data from the Preferred Tubing Model option selected in this screen.




5. Running the Nodal Analysis

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Run different sensitivity on the IPR and TIC to match the simulated BH node (Q, BHFP) with the real production data.

37. From the Main menu Select
Operations Nodal Analysis
39. Define the
Wellhead Pressure
40. Select the Object
for Sensitivity
41. Select Skin as
variable to sensitize
42a. This is to run sensitivities
on IPR curve (fluid, production,
and reservoir data).
For example, manually enter
the Initial and Final Skin for the
simulation.
43. Run the Model
This is the name of your
Reservoir/Completion to
select as the Object
42b. This is to run sensitivities on
TIC (fluid, production, and tubing
data).
Tips:
- When Inflow/Outflow sensitivity is used, the simulation will run with the data entered in this screen
only, not with original data. When comparison with original values is required, include those values in
this screen.
- Put a name to your completion for better identification.
- More information in the PipeSIM Help: Operations Nodal Analysis
- If you want the intersection between the Inflow and Outflow curves displayed in the Report,
include data for both, even though you are not doing Sensitivity Analysis for Outflow.
38. It will ask you to save your
J ob if you did not do it before.

6. Final Plot and Report

6.1. A Nodal Analysis Plot will be created after finishing the simulation.
Use this Menu to Edit the
Plot as desired
Drag a Box, with the left
click, anywhere From Upper
Left to Lower Right to zoom
the graph. A small box from
bottom to top will restore
the original plot
Use the right click to drag
the plot and displace the
scales
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To simulate the effect of a velocity string,
run different cases with different tubing ID
and length.
Notice that the minimum liquid loading
decreases with smaller tubing ID.




























6.2. Go back to the Main Screen and Select the options: Reports User Reports (Nodal Analysis)
44. Select the User Defined
Report option

45. Select the Report
Options and Click OK
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A neat report ready to present will be created.

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7. Building a Model Without the Wizard.

Start with a Blank Screen selecting the New Single Branch Model Option

1. Left Click on the Vertical
Completion Icon (Do not drag)
2. Left Click on any spot on the
screen. The vertical completion
will show up
3. Do the same
with the Boundary
Node
4. And the Node
for the Nodal
Analysis at
bottomhole
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5. Left Click on
Tubing Icon.
6. Left Click and
drag the mouse
fromthe Node to
the Upper
Boundary icons
(Connect them)
7. Select a
Connector Icon
8. Connect the
Reservoir to the Node

Model Completed.
about
g


ill the information F
the Project Data,
Reservoir Fluids and
Flow Correlations usin
the Setup Menu.

ollow the Instructions F
provided in Sections 2.1
through 2.5
Tips:
can Save your basic Models and use them as template for future simulations. It is not - You
necessary to create a New Model every time you require running a Nodal Analysis

8. System Analysis:

The system analysis is run to help you decide which flow correlation to use
You can always change your flow correlation to match your BH production node (Q, BHFP) as follow:




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But you can run sensitivity based on different flow correlations to decide which is better for your case:




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-BHFP to be calculated versus TVD
-WHP input
-Flow rate input
Select different flow correlations. See help to
decide which ones are good for your case.



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Select the flow correlation which gives a close BHFP to your case.




9. References and useful information about PipeSIM:

PipeSIM Reference Page InTouch, content ID 3381331.
PipeSIM User Guide. This comes with the PipeSIM installation
InTouch Content number 3846744: Nodal Analysis: A Workflow Comparison of Prosper, Wellflo, Perform &
PIPESIM. This document is based on an older version of PipeSIM; however, many of the conclusions are still
valid.
PipeSIM 2006.1 Fundamentals Manual. Located in the following link:

http://omniworks.slb.com/SGL/OmniWorks/sis_training/training_materials/SIS_Production_Training_Materials.htm