Well testing in an exploration environment is usually the first exposure to the actual production potential from a reservoir. The basic equipment must be designed to handle an extensive range of operating parameters and a wide variation of expected production.

Well testing on exploration and appraisal wells entails flowing the well through a temporary completion and production system. The primary intent is to measure pressure and flow rates, and to gather representative fluid samples. These measurements are used to determine commercial viability, as well as to plan potential completion and production facilities.

Planning production facility for a gas condensate field development project

On this gas and gas-condensate field, it was critical to evaluate production potential by testing at the highest possible rate, and obtain condensate composition for the geological model in order to plan production facilities.

A wet-gas meter, chosen over a multi-phase flow meter due to the high volume of gas, provided instantaneous readings to compare with the test separator results.

Onsite sample analysis was part of the quality assurance process, and the split-phase or multi-trace system provided onsite calibration for the instrument readings during the test.

Process design for heavy oil located offshore

For a heavy oil project located offshore, a process design was created that provided:

• A versatile system with multiple points of chemical injection
• Multiple points of heat transfer to reduce viscosity prior to burning
• Well test equipment that was modular in design with a small footprint
• Measurement of liquid carry-over and gas carry-under
• Disposal and clean burn

Complex deepwater cleanup and well testing project

All objectives for this complex offshore project in 4,000 ft of water were successfully met:

• Clean up and safe suspension of the wells prior to installation of a vertical tree/tie-back to the production facilities
• Gathering of well performance data by flowing through a high-rate well test package and multi-phase flowmeter
• Removal of oil in produced water prior to disposal
• Disposal of the oil and gas with a clean burn