Validation of The Cullender and Smith Method for Determining Pressure Loss in The Tubing in Gas Wells

Abstract

The ability of the reservoir to deliver a certain quantity of gas depends both on the inflow performance relationship and the flowing bottom hole pressure. In order to determine the deliverability of the total well system, it is necessary to calculate all the parameters and pressure drops, one of which in the tubing. Calculation of pressure loss in the tubing is a very important parameter in the stability of fluid flow from the reservoir to the surface.

The calculation of pressure loss in the tubing which is most widely used in the field is the Cullender and Smith Method. The purpose of this study is to validate why the Cullender and Smith method is most widely used in the field to determine the pressure loss in the tubing compared to other pressure loss in tubing methods.

The methodology used in this study is calculating the pressure loss in the tubing with the Average Temperature and Deviation Factor Method, the Sukkar and Cornel Method, and the Cullender and Smith Method. After calculating the pressure loss in the tubing using each of these methods, then comparing the percent error of the calculation method with the results in the well. The data used in the calculation is the data from the MZ Field from 7 wells in the East Kalimantan area.

The results of the average error percentage obtained from this study are the Average and Deviation Factor Method is 5.38%, the Sukkar and Cornell Method is 5.65%, and the Cullender and Smith Method is 3.83%. From this study, it can be said that the Cullender and Smith Method to be valid or the most accurate method for used in the field compared to other methods due to resulting the smallest percent error from the calculation.