Production Operations & Optimization Flashcards
7 cards from real SPE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Production Operations & Optimization flashcards as text
In a gas gathering system, which parameter is most critical in sizing the pipeline diameter to avoid excessive pressure drop?
Answer: Volumetric flow rate at standard conditions
Volumetric flow rate at standard conditions is the primary sizing parameter because it directly determines the actual velocity and frictional pressure drop in the pipeline.
What is the primary advantage of a coiled tubing unit over conventional workover rig for well interventions?
Answer: It allows live-well operations under pressure without killing the well
Coiled tubing enables through-wellhead intervention on live wells without killing the well with kill fluid, preserving reservoir energy and reducing formation damage risk.
In production chemistry, what is the Langelier Saturation Index (LSI) used to predict?
Answer: The tendency of produced water to form calcium carbonate scale
The LSI compares actual water pH to the pH at which CaCO3 is in equilibrium; a positive LSI indicates scaling tendency, negative indicates corrosion tendency.
A well is producing sand that is causing erosion of surface equipment. Which downhole completion approach provides the most direct sand control?
Answer: Gravel pack completion with a wire-wrap screen
Gravel pack completions use sized gravel placed between the formation face and a wire-wrap screen to mechanically filter sand particles, preventing them from entering the wellbore.
Which Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) technique is best suited for a high-permeability reservoir with light oil and good injectivity, primarily targeting residual oil after waterflood?
Answer: CO2 miscible flooding
CO2 miscible flooding is highly effective for light oil reservoirs after waterflood because CO2 achieves miscibility with light crude, dramatically reducing residual oil saturation beyond what water can achieve.
What is the purpose of a velocity string installation in a depleted gas well experiencing liquid loading?
Answer: To reduce tubing diameter and increase gas velocity above the critical unloading velocity
A velocity string is a smaller-diameter tubing installed inside existing tubing to reduce cross-sectional area, increasing gas velocity above Turner's critical velocity to continuously lift liquids.
In production optimization for a multi-well pad, which approach best allocates total field injection gas among gas lift wells to maximize total field oil production?
Answer: Optimize by equating the marginal oil response to injection gas across all wells
Optimal gas lift allocation sets the marginal production gain per unit of injection gas equal across all wells, which is the classic equal-marginal-response optimization principle.