Madden Systems Tubing Check - Leak To Annulus

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Tubing Checks - Leak To Annulus

This page shows a few examples you could expect to see while looking for a tubing leak into the
tubing annulus. Please keep in mind that these are "ideal" reactions but should give you a good
understanding of the sensor responses we are looking for in such a test.
The tubing has been shut-in and the well has been allowed to flow up the tubing annulus in these
examples. See Tubing Check Strategies for information on proper configuration and test
management.
The first example shows a typical response where the tubing has
been shut-in for a sufficient amount of time to allow all the fluids in
the tubing to be purged down to the highest leak. The building gas
head has displaced this fluid and will remain trapped until the tubing
is opened.
The temperature log shows a cooling anomaly across the leak due
to a pressure falloff and gas expansion. This is very helpful in
finding leaks of small volumes.
This example is exactly the same, but with no, or little gas
expansion, at the leak. This can be caused by a large diameter leak,
numerous small (pinhole) leaks, or just the lack of any free gas at the
leak point. Great care must be taken while interpreting these types of
surveys.
The temperature log shows only a gradient change at the leak. It
can be easy to assume the fluid level in the tubing is the indicator for
a leak. It rarely is, but it is usually close to the leak.
Take a look at the next example.
More Realistic
This plot is like those we actually see in the field. It is rare for the
customer to have configured and allowed the well to stabilize for a
tubing leak test. Allowing the well to stabilize for a tubing check

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Madden Systems Tubing Check - Leak To Annulus

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could take weeks and for economic concerns is not reasonable. That
is why there is usually a fluid level above the leak, unless the leak
moves a lot of fluid.
The Delta PSI, Temperature, Spinner, and Capacitance logs all
indicate a fluid level (gas/oil) interface. Notice how similar the fluid
level appears to a tubing leak.
How do we know the fluid level is not at the leak? Can you
determine why with the data at hand?
We have two very good indicators as to why the fluid level is not the
leak. They are the Temperature and Capacitance logs. The
temperature is the most obvious. See the cooling anomaly at the exit
point? The capacitance is a bit more subtle but very useful. The
fluids above the leak are in a trap and are static. They quickly
separate and show as columns of homogeneous fluids. All fluid from
the leak and down is dynamic and represents the fluid ratio being
produced at that time. The Delta PSI also reflects that, but can be
harder to interpret.
Tubing Check Strategies
Tubing Check Intro

Gas Lift Inspection I

Tubing Check Procedures

Gas Lift Inspection II

Production Logging Page

Test Your Interpretive Skills

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http://www.maddensystems.com/tbg_chk3.htm

12/14/03