EP-4735729-A1 - HYDRAULICS MODEL UTILIZATION IN WELL OPERATIONS

Abstract

A method of utilizing a hydraulics model (48) with a well operation can include the steps of inputting well parameters to the hydraulics model, assigning nodes (70) to respective well locations, the hydraulics model being configured to determine corresponding pressures at the respective nodes, and unevenly spacing the nodes along a wellbore (14). A well equipment control system (40) for use with a subterranean well can include a hydraulics model (48) configured to determine pressures at respective nodes along a wellbore, the nodes being unevenly spaced along the wellbore, and an actuator (44) configured to actuate well equipment (42) at least in part based on the hydraulics model pressure determinations.

Inventors

• KOITHAN, Thomas H.
• BRANA, JOSE D.

Assignees

• Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20240530

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A method of utilizing a hydraulics model with a well operation, the method comprising: inputting well parameters to the hydraulics model; assigning nodes to respective well locations, the hydraulics model being configured to determine corresponding pressures at the respective nodes; and unevenly spacing the nodes along a wellbore.
2. 2. The method of claim 1 , in which the unevenly spacing comprises providing a greater density of the nodes along the wellbore in a first wellbore section as compared to a second wellbore section.
3. 3. The method of claim 2, in which the first wellbore section comprises at least one of the group consisting of an open hole portion of the wellbore and an under-pressured formation zone.
4. 4. The method of claim 1 , in which the unevenly spacing comprises providing a lesser distance between the nodes in a first wellbore section as compared to a second wellbore section.
5. 5. The method of claim 4, in which the first wellbore section comprises at least one of the group consisting of an open hole portion of the wellbore and an under-pressured formation zone.
6. 6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising controlling operation of well equipment, based on the pressure determinations.
7. 7. The method of claim 6, in which the well equipment comprises a choke, and the controlling comprises adjusting the choke.
8. 8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising installing the hydraulics model in a programmable logic controller.
9. 9. The method of claim 8, in which the programmable logic controller controls operation of well equipment, based on the pressure determinations.
10. 10. The method of claim 1 , in which the hydraulics model automatically assigns the nodes to the respective well locations and unevenly spaces the nodes along the wellbore, based at least in part on the input well parameters.
11. 11 . A well equipment control system for use with a subterranean well, the well equipment control system comprising: a hydraulics model configured to determine pressures at respective nodes along a wellbore, the nodes being unevenly spaced along the wellbore; and an actuator configured to actuate well equipment at least in part based on the hydraulics model pressure determinations.
12. 12. The well equipment control system of claim 11 , further comprising a programmable logic controller configured to control operation of the actuator.
13. 13. The well equipment control system of claim 12, in which the hydraulics model is installed in the programmable logic controller.
14. 14. The well equipment control system of claim 11 , in which a spacing between the nodes in a first section of the wellbore is less than a spacing between the nodes in a second section of the wellbore.
15. 15. The well equipment control system of claim 14, in which the first section of the wellbore comprises an open hole section of the wellbore.
16. 16. The well equipment control system of claim 14, in which the first section of the wellbore comprises an under-pressured formation zone.
17. 17. The well equipment control system of claim 11 , in which a density of the nodes in a first section of the wellbore is greater than a density of the nodes in a second section of the wellbore.
18. 18. The well equipment control system of claim 17, in which the first section of the wellbore comprises an open hole section of the wellbore.
19. 19. The well equipment control system of claim 17, in which the first section of the wellbore comprises an under-pressured formation zone.
20. 20. The well equipment control system of claim 11 , in which the well equipment comprises a choke.

Description

HYDRAULICS MODEL UTILIZATION IN WELL OPERATIONS TECHNICAL FIELD This disclosure relates generally to equipment utilized and operations performed in conjunction with a subterranean well and, in examples described below, more particularly provides for improved utilization of hydraulics models in well operations. BACKGROUND In a variety of different types of well operations (such as, drilling, cementing, fracturing, gravel packing, stimulating, conformance, etc.), it is useful to be able to determine fluid pressures at downhole locations. A hydraulics model is a software application that can receive sensor readings and other types of input, and produce determinations of fluid pressures at downhole locations. It will, therefore, be readily appreciated that improvements are continually needed in the art of utilizing hydraulics models in well operations. These improvements can result in increased production, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, etc., and reduced costs, unproductive time, fluid loss or fluid influxes, etc., in the well operations. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a representative partially cross-sectional view of an example of a well system and associated method which can embody principles of this disclosure. FIG. 2 is a representative schematic of a well equipment control system which can embody the principles of this disclosure. FIG. 3 is a representative flowchart for a method of utilizing a hydraulics model in a well operation. FIG. 4 is a representative cross-sectional view of a wellbore with uneven hydraulics model node spacings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The following detailed description and accompanying drawing FIGS. 1-4 describe and depict examples of a method 60 of utilizing a hydraulics model 48 with a well operation. In one example (see FIG. 3), the method 60 can comprise the steps of inputting well parameters to the hydraulics model 48; assigning nodes 70 to respective well locations, the hydraulics model 48 being configured to determine corresponding pressures at the respective nodes 70; and unevenly spacing the nodes 70 along a wellbore 14. The unevenly spacing step may include providing a greater density of the nodes 70 along the wellbore 14 in a first wellbore section 14a as compared to a second wellbore section 14b. The unevenly spacing step may include providing a lesser distance A between the nodes in a first wellbore section 14a as compared to a second wellbore section 14b. The first wellbore section 14a may include at least one of an open hole portion of the wellbore and an under-pressured formation zone 72. The method may include controlling operation of well equipment 42, based on the pressure determinations. The well equipment 42 may include a choke 36, and the controlling step may include adjusting the choke. The method may include installing the hydraulics model 48 in a programmable logic controller 46. The programmable logic controller 46 may control operation of well equipment 42, based on the pressure determinations. The hydraulics model 48 may automatically assign the nodes 70 to the respective well locations and unevenly space the nodes along the wellbore 14, based at least in part on the input well parameters. Also provided by the present disclosure are examples of a well equipment control system 40 for use with a subterranean well. In one example (see FIG. 2), the well equipment control system 40 can comprise a hydraulics model 48 configured to determine pressures at respective nodes 70 along a wellbore 14, the nodes being unevenly spaced along the wellbore; and an actuator 44 configured to actuate well equipment 42 at least in part based on the hydraulics model 48 pressure determinations. The well equipment control system 40 may include a programmable logic controller 46 configured to control operation of the actuator 44. The hydraulics model 48 may be installed in the programmable logic controller 46. A spacing A between the nodes 70 in a first section 14a of the wellbore 14 may be less than a spacing B between the nodes in a second section 14b of the wellbore. A density of the nodes 70 in a first section 14a of the wellbore 14 may be greater than a density of the nodes in a second section 14b of the wellbore. The first section 14a of the wellbore 14 may include an open hole section of the wellbore, or an under-pressured formation zone 72. The well equipment 42 may include a choke 36. Representatively illustrated in FIG. 1 is a system 10 for use with a subterranean well, and an associated method, which can embody principles of this disclosure. However, it should be clearly understood that the system 10 and method are merely one example of an application of the principles of this disclosure in practice, and a wide variety of other examples are possible. Therefore, the scope of this disclosure is not limited at all to the details of the system 10 and method described herein and/or depicted in the drawings. In the FIG. 1 example, a tubular string 12 is posi