A New Approach to Estimate Friction Factor for Horizontal Wells from Production Logging Data

Conventional friction factor estimation is a challenging task for high flow rate horizontal wells since the roughness is an unknown parameter. In addition, pipe roughness may change with operational time due to the development of scale and corrosion in the horizontal section. This study aims to propose a methodology to estimate frictional pressure losses for horizontal wells by using production logging (PL) data. Prediction of pressure loss in horizontal well along perforations or open-hole is quite complicated due to complication in pressure drop. Different components of the pressure drop along the horizontal section are exist: Gravitation, acceleration, inflow/outflow, and finally friction. Estimation of frictional loss in horizontal wells needs to decompose of each term from total pressure drop in horizontal well. Data acquired during production logging provides an opportunity to determine friction factor since it indicates inflow/outflow zone with individual downhole flow rates of each phase. We clearly showed that friction pressure losses can be estimated for horizontal wells using PL data in certain cases. We verified this approach with synthetic PL data.