Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on June 14, 2023 at 5:22

Steve, I think it is fairly common for many wells to start out on higher choke settings.  I think this may be tied to longer laterals, more water and more proppant that must be recovered before a well reaches maximum flow.  SONRIS only has choke reports every six months so it's hard to know for sure when wells are choked backed after clean up.  The longer the lateral, the longer it takes for a well to "clean up".  Yes, the Initial Production numbers are influenced by that more open choke.  I suggest that you check the SONRIS well file for the first  DT-1 report at six months post first production (Well Test section).  Maybe Rock Man will weigh in but I think it increases flow and reduced flowing pressure. 

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Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on June 14, 2023 at 5:27

Here is a cut-and-paste Well Test section for a well drilled in Sept. 2020.  I think this may represent a typical choke setting progression.  It's difficult to find a well with an extensive well test history that is much more recent.

WELL TESTS

RPT TYP	TEST DATE	RPT DATE	OIL POT	COND	GAS DEL	WATER	BSW%	FLOW PRES	SHUTIN PRES	CHOKE	UPPER PERF	LOWER PERF	BOT HOLE PRES
DT-1	03/08/2023	05/01/2023			6872	40				40	12264	22041
DT-1	09/23/2022	11/01/2022			6211	14		1020			12264	22041
DT-1	03/20/2022	05/01/2022			8799	126		942		0	12264	22041
DT-1	09/14/2021	11/01/2021		0	15976	8		1613		40	12264	22041
DT-1	03/15/2021	05/01/2021		0	24514	314		4414		23	12264	22041
DT-1	10/26/2020	11/01/2020		0	30730	201		7342		17	12264	22041
SDM2G	09/27/2020	09/27/2020			43957	648	1	7414		36	12264	22041

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Permalink Reply by Steve P on June 16, 2023 at 6:46

thanks, Skip

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Permalink Reply by Rock Man on June 21, 2023 at 3:52

Correct - larger choke will result in increased rate but decrease in flowing pressures. 

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Permalink Reply by Steve P on June 21, 2023 at 4:22

 It seems to me that, with today's gas prices and the prospect that they will go up in the future, I'd want to limit production from my just completed well.  The 4 wells I'm referring to (all good wells) have a 32/64ths choke.  Does this mean that they are producing at a higher rate than would be possible with a smaller choke?

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Permalink Reply by Rock Man on June 21, 2023 at 7:01

Yes

With these large volume wells, one can damage a reservoir / well if you choke it back too far and try to restrict production. Letting the well flow at a certain rate is sometimes a necessity.

In ideal world, one would restrict production during low gas prices and open up more production during higher gas prices - but this would have a negative impact on the well in the long term.

I know a production engineer would be able to better explain this issue than I could as to specifics and technical details.

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Permalink Reply by M B Gilster on June 21, 2023 at 7:18

TY for that Rock Man, very helpful to a non-industry type like myself.

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Permalink Reply by Steve P on June 21, 2023 at 8:18

Thanks for that explanation.

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Permalink Reply by Jed Clampett on June 25, 2023 at 2:23

It is my understanding that it is possible for operator's to test a HZ well's production. Sometimes the revenue from that production is 100% retained by the operator and not shared with the mineral owner.  How many days is the test performed?  My thought is a large choke size would allow a larger $$ to be retained by the operator.

Is what I am saying true or false?   Can anyone elaborate?

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Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on June 25, 2023 at 2:38

False.  The well flow is metered.  The measured volume is accurate regardless of the flow rate(s).  All the flow tests required by the state are for a 24 hour period.  We only see what the choke setting is on the day that the tests are run, approximately every six months.  Chokes can be adjusted remotely so the twice a year tests don't tell us what the choke settings were each day of those six months.

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Permalink Reply by Jed Clampett on June 25, 2023 at 2:42

  Skip, you are saying mineral owners get paid royalties in all well test production?

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Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on June 25, 2023 at 3:31

No, I was not addressing that.  I've never seen a well test first hand but suspect that the state installs their own meter for the flow test and the natural gas is still turned to sales.  I could be wrong about a state meter but I've never felt any concern for the test as it has nothing to do with my client's royalties.  Their gas is sold and they are paid over the test period.  My comments are based on Louisiana regulations, not Texas.

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