(12) INTERNAT ONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT) Gag oscnan pee = AUTON UE 000 (43) International Publication Date =— WO 2017/223483 Al 28 December 2017 (28.12.2017) WIPO|PCT F218 43/12(200601)——GOI¥ 1/50 (200601) ‘TR,TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VC, VN, ZA, ZM, ZW eae eae (84) Designated States fanless oskernise indicated, for every (21) International Application Number: ind of regional protetion available: ARIPO (BW, GH, PCT/US2017/039050 GM, KE, LR, LS, MW, MZ, NA, RW, SD, SL, ST.SZ, TZ, UG, ZM, ZW), Eurasian (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, RU, TS, ‘TM), European (AL, AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, BE, BS, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, 1S, 7, LT, LU, LV, (25) Filing Language: English MC, MK, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SI, SK, SM. ‘TR), OAPI (BE, BI, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GQ. GW KM, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, 76) (22) International Filing Date: 23 June 2017 (23.06.2017) (26) Publication Language: English (30) Priority Data: 62353,640 23 Jung 16 (23.06.2016) US Published: = with international search report (Art 21(3) (71) Applicant: BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSI- TY OF TEXAS SYSTEM [US/US]; 201 West 7th Street, Austin, TX 78701 (US). (72) Inventors: SHARMA, Mukul, M.: 4229 Hidden Canyon Cove, Austin, TX 78746 (US). KARANTINOS, Em- lice of Technology Commercalizaton, 3925 W, Broker Lano, Suite 1.94, Austin, TX 78759 (US). (74) Age LUCA, Mark, Rx Meyertons, Hood, Kivlin, Kowert & Goetze, PC, P.O, Box 398, Austin, TX 78767-0398 (US). (81) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated. for every ind of national protection available): AE, AG, AL, AM, AO, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BH, BN, BR, BW, BY, BZ, CA.CH, CL, CN, CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DI, DK, DM, DO, DZ, EC, FE, FG, FS, Fl, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, GT, HN, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IR, 18, JO, JP, KE, KG, KH, KN, KP, KR, KW,KZ,LA,LC,LK,LR,LS, LU, LY, MA, MD, ME, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MY, MZ, NA, NG, NI, NO, NZ, (OM, PA, PE, PG, PH, PL, PT, QA, RO, RS, RU, RW, SA, (4) Tile: METHOD FOR SELECTING CHOKE SIZES, ARTIFICIAL LIFT PARAMETERS, PIPE SIZES AND SURFACE FACILITIES UNDER PRODUCTION SYSTEM CONSTRAINTS FOR OIL AND GAS WELLS FIG. 1 (57) Abstract: Method and computer system are used to optimize production management for ol, gas and water wells operating under user specified constraints by accounting for any specified reservoir, completion and wellbore properties. The method and computer system take into account multiple design criteria and constraints selected by the user forthe user's specific production needs wo 2017/223483 A1 IIIMIIltl10 15 25 30 WO 2017/223483 PCT/US2017/039050 TITLE: METHOD FOR SELECTING CHOKE SIZES, ARTIFICIAL LIFT PARAMETERS, PIPE SIZES AND SURFACE FACILITIES UNDER PRODUCTION SYSTEM CONSTRAINTS FOR OIL AND GAS WELLS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of the Invention The invention generally relates to a methodology for optimizing the selection of choke and pipe sizes as well as parameters for artificial lift and surface facilities under production system constraints for oil and gas wells. 2. Description of the Relevant Art Selection of choke and pipe sizes as well as the operation of artificial lift equipment varies significantly among operators. An improper production schedule, characterized by a rapid and excessive drawdown could trigger massive sand production or proppant flowback, possibly resulting in completion impairment and wellbore failure. For example, previous studies on bean-up protocols and sand production have focused primarily on suggesting the maximum allowable drawdown or upper bound limits for fluid velocities in the near wellbore region, with respect to different failure mechanisms and completion types, Such recommendations are either based on rules of thumb derived from past experience, compilation of data or simple analytical models. In most instances such generalizations are not valid since many parameters can vary from one well to another. As such, these recommendations are often incorrect and may not guarantee a successful production ramp- up. Analytical and numerical models are currently used to determine the pressures and rates in a production system. However, such models do not consider constraints on the production system that are imposed by the potential failure of the reservoir rock, completion, wellbore or surface equipment. For instance, when sand production is a concern, the application of such models can provides an incorrect estimate for the maximum allowable drawdown since sand production can result in wellbore collapse and failure, Bringing a well on too quickly using, aggressive choke management strategies may induce substantial pressure gradients capable of mobili ing the failed sand or causing direct tensile failure of the weakly consolidated formation. Strategies for managing chokes and artificial lift equipment also vary significantly in hydraulically fractured wells and frac-pack completions, The clean-up phase is considered to be the most crucial time in the life of the well: the proppant is adjusted and packed in place, setting the foundation for short and long term productivity. Upon the completion of stimulation15 20 25 30 Wo 20177223483 PCT/US2017/039080 treatments, operators are sometimes tempted to apply aggressive drawdown schedules which ‘may result in increased proppant back-production, reduced fracture conductivity and hence poor well performance. An abrupt decrease in bottom-hole-pressure (“BHP”) can also give rise to completion stability issues, with particularly severe implications in offshore developments. In addition, the destabilization of the annular pack due to high velocities through the perforations may cause a series of operating nuances such as the plugging of screens or flowlines, the erosion of surface or downhole equipment which add to the maintenance costs and increase the likelihood of a temporary shut-in, These factors have increased the awareness of properly designing flowback procedures in order to maximize fracture conductivity and improve long, term performance Based on the previous observations, itis desirable to adopt a systematic method for optimizing choke management, surface facilities and artificial lift equipment in order to maximize production and mitigate the risk of typical wellbore or completion failures. The method should be general enough to be applied across a range of fluids, well completions and reservoir properties SUMMARY OF TH In an embodiment, a method of optimi INVE} 10N ng the management of oil and gas wells, includes obtaining a wellbore model of the hydrocarbon subsurface formation; obtaining a reservoir model of the hydrocarbon subsurface formation; obtaining a model for surface facilities which include separators, flowlines and chokes; combining the wellbore model, surface facility model and the reservoir model to form a dynamic production system model; applying a choke model or an artificial lift model to the production system model; applying predetermined constraints to the production system model; applying criteria that define an optimized production from the hydrocarbon subsurface formation; adjusting the choke size or artificial lift parameters and determining the effect of these adjustments on production rate and bottom hole pressure; determining a choke sequence or artificial lift operational parameters for the hydrocarbon subsurface formation which will maximize production from the hydrocarbon subsurface formation; and implementing these optimized strategies manually or with the use of computer- adjusted controls attached to the production system. In an embodiment, the hydrocarbon subsurface formation may be a fractured formation. Inan embodiment, the choke sequence comprises a sequence of varying choke sizes over a period of time. The method may further include applying equipment limitations to the wellbore-reservoir system model prior to determi ing an optimized choke sequence for the hydrocarbon subsurface