Optimal diluent allocation in production systems with diluent-ESP-lifted wells

Abstract

In this research, the author presents the development of a numerical model for production systems (wells and surface flowlines) to determine optimal diluent allocation. The model includes the main inflow performance equations to represent reservoir deliverability, pressure and temperature drop calculations in tubing, electric submersible pump (ESP) modeling including viscosity and frequency correction equations, and oil blending models for the injection module. For the injection module, both ASTM D7152-11 standard and Cragoe (1933) methods are available. For the production fluid modeling, the author considered the black oil model to calculate thermodynamic properties and an emulsion model to calculate fluid viscosity depending on its water cut. The gas phase was neglected. The model was developed by using object-oriented programming (OOP) in a commercial software.