SPE - Society of Petroleum Engineers Production and Operations Questions and Answers

Question 1

A production engineer is evaluating artificial lift methods for a deep, high-gas-oil-ratio (GOR) well that is expected to produce sand.
Which of the following artificial lift systems is generally most suitable for these conditions?

Accepted Answer

Gas Lift

Answer

Sucker Rod Pump

Answer

Electrical Submersible Pump (ESP)

Answer

Plunger Lift

Question 2

In surface production facilities, what is the primary purpose of a three-phase separator?

Accepted Answer

To separate the well stream into its primary components: oil, water, and gas.

Answer

To remove dissolved salts from the produced water.

Answer

To increase the pressure of the gas for transport.

Answer

To measure the individual flow rates of oil, water, and gas.

Question 3

A well's production has significantly declined due to suspected near-wellbore permeability reduction. Which of the following intervention techniques is specifically designed to remove this type of damage and restore permeability by dissolving rock matrix or damaging materials?

Accepted Answer

Acidizing

Answer

Hydraulic Fracturing

Answer

Workover

Answer

Production Logging

Question 4

Which of the following is considered a primary mechanism of 'formation damage' that can occur during drilling, completion, or production operations?

Accepted Answer

Fines migration and plugging of pore throats

Answer

Gas lift valve optimization

Answer

Reservoir pressure depletion

Answer

Casing collar locator signal interference

Question 5

A production logging tool (PLT) is run in a producing well. The spinner flowmeter shows a significant decrease in rotational speed across a set of perforations. What is the most likely interpretation of this measurement?

Accepted Answer

The fluid is entering the wellbore from the formation at this interval.

Answer

The perforations are completely plugged and not producing.

Answer

The fluid is exiting the wellbore and flowing into the formation at this interval.

Answer

The tool is malfunctioning and providing an inaccurate reading.

Question 6

During a workover operation on a well with significant reservoir pressure, what is the first critical step that must be performed before removing the production tubing?

Accepted Answer

Kill the well.

Answer

Run a suite of production logs.

Answer

Install the Christmas tree.

Answer

Stimulate the formation with acid.

A production engineer is evaluating artificial lift methods for a deep, high-gas-oil-ratio (GOR) well that is expected to produce sand.Which of the following artificial lift systems is generally most suitable for these conditions?

A production engineer is evaluating artificial lift methods for a deep, high-gas-oil-ratio (GOR) well that is expected to produce sand.
Which of the following artificial lift systems is generally most suitable for these conditions?