Assembling the Complete Deliverability Picture for the FEED Gate
The Gashaka FEED gate closes in four hours. The FPSO facilities team is waiting for your deliverability note. You now hold all five carry-forward values from SP-1 through SP-4, the inputs to the full gas deliverability equation. SP-5 is the integration step: assemble the equation, solve for AOF, derive all associated outputs, and write the recommendation.
SP-5 requires more time than the earlier sub-problems (~60 min) because it has five distinct tasks:
- AOF Calculation: Solve the gas deliverability equation as a quadratic in qg (the D·q non-Darcy term makes it implicit). Report the theoretical AOF at pwf = 0 and the deliverability at the operating pwf,min = 3,500 psia.
- Condensate and Voidage at AOF: Convert AOF to condensate rate (STB/d) and reservoir voidage (res bbl/d).
- p/Z Analysis and IGIP Estimate: Build the p/Z straight line from two data points and extrapolate to IGIP.
- Six-Variable Sensitivity Study: Vary k, h, Z, re, rw, and S by ±30% (±2 for S); calculate P10/P50/P90 AOF.
- Recommendation Memo: Write the FEED-gate engineering note (max 500 words + table).
Your SP-1 to SP-4 Values: Assemble Before Calculating
Fill in the blank column from your own SP-1 through SP-4 results before checking the reference values. If any of your values differ by more than 5% from the reference, re-work the relevant sub-problem before continuing.
| CF Code | Parameter | Your Value | Reference Value | Units | Goes Into |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CF-1d | Flow model | PSS gas deliverability: q ∝ keffh(p̅²−pwf²)/[1,424μZT·G] | — | Equation form | |
| CF-2c | Z-factor at p̅ | 1.40 | — | Numerator and denominator | |
| CF-2d | Bg at p̅ | 0.000714 res bbl/scf | res bbl/scf | Voidage calc | |
| CF-2h | Gas viscosity μg | 0.0312 | cp | Denominator | |
| CF-3a | Effective permeability keff | 35.7 | mD | Numerator | |
| CF-4b | Gbasic | 10.788 | — | Denominator (base) | |
| CF-4c | D·q at DST rate | 4.340 (at 12,400 Mscfd) | — | Denominator (first estimate) | |
| CF-4d | Gtotal at DST rate | 15.128 | — | Denominator (reference at DST rate) | |
| — | h (net pay) | 94 | ft | Numerator | |
| — | T (reservoir) | 745 | °R | Denominator | |
| — | p̅ (initial) | 7,350 | psia | Numerator (p̅² term) | |
| — | pwf,min | 3,500 | psia | Numerator (pwf² term) | |
| — | Rv (condensate yield) | 112 | STB/MMscf | Condensate rate calc |
AOF Calculation: Quadratic Solution
The Gas Deliverability Equation
Quadratic Solution: Exact, One Step
Condensate Rate and Reservoir Voidage at AOF
p/Z Analysis and IGIP Estimate
Six-Variable Sensitivity Study
The base case is the theoretical AOF (pwf = 0) of 91.4 MMscfd. Each variable is varied individually by ±30% (or ±15% for Z, ±2 units for skin S) while holding all others at base case, and the AOF is re-solved as a quadratic each time (the non-Darcy term must be re-evaluated). The facilities team uses the P10 for conservative design. Note: because non-Darcy D·q dominates at AOF rates, the numerator/denominator sensitivities are sub-linear: a ±30% input change in k or h moves AOF only ~±17%, not ±30%, because the q² turbulence term partly absorbs the change.
| Variable | Base Value | Low Scenario (P10) | AOF Low (MMscfd) | High Scenario (P90) | AOF High (MMscfd) | AOF Swing (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base Case | — | — | 91.4 | — | 91.4 | — |
| keff (mD) | 35.7 | −30%: 25.0 mD | 74.4 | +30%: 46.4 mD | 106.1 | ±30% → −19%/+16% AOF (damped by D·q) |
| h (ft) | 94 | −30%: 66 ft | 74.5 | +30%: 122 ft | 106.0 | ±30% → −19%/+16% AOF (damped by D·q) |
| Z-factor | 1.40 | −15%: 1.19 | 100.3 | +15%: 1.61 | 84.4 | lower Z → higher AOF (q ∝ 1/Z) |
| re (ft) | 2,980 | −30%: 2,086 ft | 91.9 | +30%: 3,874 ft | 91.1 | ±30% → ±1% AOF (damped by ln & D·q) |
| rw (ft) | 0.354 | −30%: 0.248 ft | 91.0 | +30%: 0.460 ft | 91.8 | ±30% → ±1% AOF (inside ln) |
| Skin S | +2.5 | S = +4.5 | 89.0 | S = +0.5 (stim) | 93.9 | ±2 units → ±3% AOF (damped by D·q) |
| Combined Low (k, h, S at P10) | — | k=25, h=66, S=4.5 | 58.1 | — | — | P10 AOF = 58.1 MMscfd |
| Combined High (k, h, S at P90) | — | — | — | k=46.4, h=122, S=0.5 | 125.3 | P90 AOF = 125.3 MMscfd |
Key Sensitivity Insights
- k and h are still the dominant uncertainties: a ±30% change in either moves AOF by about −19%/+16% (≈74–106 MMscfd). The swing is sub-linear, not ±30%, because the non-Darcy q² term partly absorbs any rate change. Since k from 12 core plugs has genuine ±40% uncertainty, the true AOF range is even wider.
- Z-factor: lower Z gives higher AOF. Because q ∝ 1/Z, the −15% case (Z = 1.19) raises AOF to ~100 MMscfd while the +15% case (Z = 1.61) lowers it to ~84 MMscfd, a moderate but real effect worth carrying in the PVT uncertainty quantification.
- re and rw uncertainties are negligible for AOF: a 30% change in drainage radius moves AOF only ~1% — the natural log dampens them, and the dominant non-Darcy term dampens them further. Optimising well spacing does not meaningfully improve single-well deliverability.
- Skin is the actionable lever, but its leverage is muted here: a successful stimulation reducing S from +2.5 to +0.5 raises AOF only ~3% (89.0 → 93.9 MMscfd) because non-Darcy turbulence (not mechanical skin) controls this well's deliverability. The real prize is reducing the non-Darcy coefficient (e.g., bigger perforation area / completion), not acidising for skin.
- P10 AOF = 58.1 MMscfd: the conservative design case; the recommended design rate (≈63 MMscfd at pwf,min with a −20% margin) sits close to this, so the facilities concept is robust to the downside.
Complete the L Column for All Five Sub-Problems
Return to your Hub KWL table one final time. Complete the L column for all five sub-problems: this is the deliverable for the KWL component of the assessment. Use the reference structure below.
- Gas-condensates have dew points, not bubble points
- Bg = 0.005035ZT/p from real gas law
- keff = k × krg(Swi)
- G = ln(re/rw) − ¾ + S for PSS
- Gas wells experience non-Darcy turbulence
- Flow model for single-phase gas above pd
- Z > 1 at high ppr, physical reason
- krg = 0.94 vs 1.0, principle vs. magnitude
- D·q magnitude relative to mechanical skin
- How banking impairs deliverability quantitatively
- How to estimate IGIP from single p/Z point
- SP-1: GK-22 is rich gas-condensate; Vogel is wrong; banking at 6,200 psia
- SP-2: Z=1.40 correct; Bg=0.714 res bbl/Mscf; voidage 8,860 res bbl/d
- SP-3: keff=35.7 mD; banking can reduce AOF to 37% of initial
- SP-4: D·q=4.34, 74% larger than S; Gtotal=15.13; stim worth +20%
- SP-5: AOF=91.4 MMscfd (pwf=0), deliv=78.8 at 3,500 psia; cond=10,240 STB/d; IGIP≈112 Bscf; solve quadratic not iterate; non-Darcy dominates
FEED-Gate Engineering Recommendation Memo: Template
Complete this memo using your SP-1 through SP-5 results. Maximum 500 words for the narrative sections; the results table is not word-limited. This is submitted to the facilitator for assessment against the SP-5 marking rubric.
1. Fluid Classification
2. Deliverability Results
| Parameter | Value | Units | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Absolute Open Flow (AOF, theoretical) | 91.4 | MMscfd | PSS gas deliverability, quadratic solve, pwf = 0 |
| Deliverability at pwf,min | 78.8 | MMscfd | Quadratic solve, pwf,min = 3,500 psia |
| Condensate rate at AOF | 10,240 | STB/d | AOF × Rv = 91.4 × 112 |
| Reservoir voidage at AOF | 65,280 | res bbl/d | AOF [Mscfd] × Bg = 91,431 × 0.714 |
| IGIP estimate (volumetric) | ~112 | Bscf | Pore volume / Bgi, 640-acre spacing |
| Recommended design rate | 63.0 | MMscfd | Deliverability × 0.80 margin = 78.8 × 0.80 |
| Recommended condensate design | ~7,060 | STB/d | Design gas rate × Rv = 63.0 × 112 |
3. Sensitivity Summary (P10/P50/P90)
| Scenario | AOF (MMscfd) | Dominant Driver |
|---|---|---|
| P10 (pessimistic: low k, h, high S) | 58.1 | k=25 mD, h=66 ft, S=+4.5 |
| P50 (base case AOF, pwf=0) | 91.4 | k=35.7 mD, h=94 ft, S=+2.5 |
| P90 (optimistic: high k, h, low S) | 125.3 | k=46.4 mD, h=122 ft, S=+0.5 |
4. Key Assumptions and Limitations
5. Condensate Banking Risk Flag: CRITICAL
6. Recommendation
SP-5 Assessment: What the Facilitator is Marking
Your recommendation memo is assessed on eight criteria: (1) correct fluid classification with justification; (2) correct AOF value (±10% tolerance); (3) condensate rate correctly derived from AOF; (4) reservoir voidage correctly derived; (5) IGIP estimate with method stated; (6) P10/P50/P90 sensitivity table with correct dominant variable identification; (7) banking risk quantified (not just mentioned); (8) recommendation distinguishes design rate from AOF and gives justification. A memo that omits the banking risk caveat or uses Vogel instead of the gas deliverability equation scores below 50%.
Just-in-Time Resources
This integration sub-problem draws on every strand of Module 01. Reach for these the moment you get stuck assembling the deliverability chain.
- Module 01 · Topic 4: Drainage Geometry & Radial Flow (the deliverability equation lives here)
- Module 01 · Topic 1: PVT Behaviour & Fluid Classification (μ, Z, Rv)
- Module 01 · Topic 2: Formation Volume Factor & Gas FVF (Bg) (voidage & p/Z IGIP)
- Module 01 · Topic 3: Permeability & Relative Permeability (k·h)
- Lecture 1.4A — Geometry Matters: How Boundary Shape Controls Deliverability
- Lecture 1.4B — Radial Flow to Steady-State IPR: Step by Step
- Lecture 1.1 — Expanding the Phase Envelope: From Gibbs to Reservoir Fluid Dynamics
geometry_calculator.py, verified calculator; reproduce your radial-flow geometry numbers.gas_deliverability.py, verified AOF/deliverability toolkit (in preparation; reproduce your AOF, condensate and voidage numbers once published).
SP-5: Five MCQ
Q1: Why Solve the AOF as a Quadratic
Why must the GK-22 AOF be obtained by solving a quadratic, rather than by dividing N by a fixed Gtotal or by fixed-point iteration on D·q?
Explanation
Q2: Condensate Rate at AOF
At qg,AOF = 91.4 MMscfd and condensate yield Rv = 112 STB/MMscf, the condensate surface rate at AOF is:
Explanation
Q3: Dominant Sensitivity Parameter
From the six-variable sensitivity study, which parameter has the LEAST impact on AOF when varied ±30%?
Explanation
Q4: p/Z IGIP Interpretation
The volumetric IGIP estimate for GK-22 is approximately 112 Bscf. During production monitoring, the p/Z plot is found to curve upward (p/Z declining more slowly than the straight-line extrapolation predicts). This indicates:
Explanation
Q5: Condensate Banking Inclusion in FEED Recommendation
The FEED recommendation memo should flag condensate banking risk because:
Explanation
Discussion Points and Common Errors
This section is for the GK-22 PBL debrief session.
Three Most Common Errors in This PBL
Engineers who missed SP-1's key conclusion sometimes apply Vogel, which underestimates performance for gas wells. The correct PSS gas deliverability model (quadratic solve) gives a theoretical AOF of 91.4 MMscfd (78.8 MMscfd at the operating pwf,min = 3,500 psia). Use the debrief to reinforce that Vogel is not a universal gas-condensate model: it is specifically derived for solution-gas-drive oil reservoirs and is physically wrong for single-phase gas above the dew-point.
Engineers who assume Z = 1 compute Bg = 0.005035 × 1.0 × 745/7,350 = 0.510 res bbl/Mscf, 28% lower than the correct 0.714. This cascades into a 28% underestimate of voidage and a 28% overestimate of the numerator constant N (because Z appears in both Bg and the deliverability equation denominator: the denominator overestimate partially compensates). Net effect on AOF: approximately 13% overestimate. Emphasise that at ppr = 11, Z > 1 is physically correct and must be used.
Engineers who omit D·q entirely (treating Gtotal = Gbasic = 10.788, a Darcy-only linear solve) compute AOF = N₀/(C·Gbasic) ≈ 363 MMscfd, nearly 4× the correct 91.4 MMscfd. For GK-22 the non-Darcy term is not a small correction: D·q ≈ 32 at AOF, three times larger than Gbasic, so dropping it grossly overstates deliverability. This is the most consequential error for FEED gate sizing: it would massively oversize the separator. Emphasise that (a) D·q is dominant, not optional, for high-rate gas wells; (b) the implicit equation must be solved as a quadratic, never by fixed-point iteration (which diverges here); and (c) the Jones correlation D = 3.5×10⁻⁴ is an estimate that requires multi-rate well testing to refine.
Discussion Questions for Plenary Debrief (10 min)
- What would the AOF calculation look like if GK-22 were a horizontal well with 600 ft of open hole? Which terms change and in which direction?
- If the FEED gate decides NOT to include lean gas cycling, what production strategy would you recommend to extend the useful life of the well before banking becomes severe? What rate would you recommend?
- The p/Z analysis gives IGIP ≈ 112 Bscf. The GK-18 discovery well (from which GK-22 was appraised) estimated IGIP at 180 Bscf. What explanations would you consider for the discrepancy, and what additional data would you acquire to resolve it?
- A third appraisal well (GK-25) is planned in a structurally higher position. How would you design its PVT and SCAL programme differently, knowing what you now know from GK-22?