Kansas Administrative Regulations › Agency 82 - KANSAS CORPORATION COMMISSION › Article 3 - PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION OF OIL AND GAS › Section 82-3-303 - Determination of open flow of a gas well

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 28, July 11, 2024
In the absence of field rules to the contrary, the open flow
				capacity of a gas well shall be determined by flowing the well into a pipeline
				for a period of 24 to 72 hours, as required to attain stabilization through
				approved metering equipment. This procedure shall be known as a one point
				stabilized flow test. The rate of flow shall be recorded on a standard orifice
				meter chart, either graphically or mathematically, or recorded electronically
				in a flow computer connected to a metering device. The rate of flow at the end
				of the period shall be extrapolated to atmospheric pressure by using the
				characteristic well slope as determined from a multipoint back-pressure test.
(a) Multipoint back-pressure test. A
			 multipoint backpressure test shall be taken for determination of characteristic
			 well slope, "n," as determined from the equation
Q = C(Pc2 - Pw2) n
where:
Q = the rate of flow, using MCF per day at 14.65 pounds per
				square inch absolute and 60°F;
C = the performance coefficient of the well;
Pc = wellhead shut-in pressure, expressed in pounds per square
				inch absolute and using the casing or tubing pressure, whichever is higher;
Pw = static wellhead working pressure, expressed in pounds per
				square inch absolute, at the termination of each flow period. Except as
				otherwise provided, the casing pressure shall be used if the annulus is open to
				the formation. If the annulus is not open to the formation so that the pressure
				cannot be measured on a static column, the tubing pressure shall be used if the
				flowing pressure is corrected for friction. All squared pressures shall be
				expressed in thousands; and
n = a numerical exponent characteristic of the particular well,
				referred to as "slope."
Multipoint back-pressure tests shall be limited to one per
				commercial gas well. A second test shall be permitted for a commercial gas well
				only if the well is recompleted into a separate common source of supply or for
				good cause shown.
The basic procedures for taking a multipoint back-pressure test
				shall be as follows:
(1) The well
			 shall be shut in for 72 hours, plus or minus six hours, and the shut-in
			 pressure shall be taken. This shut-in pressure shall be considered stabilized
			 unless readings taken with commission-approved equipment at a shorter period
			 are higher. In this event, the highest recorded pressure during the test shall
			 be used as the shutin pressure. If the shut-in period appreciably affects the
			 surface pressure, appropriate correction of the surface pressure shall be made
			 in order to account for the pressure due to the liquid column.
(2) If the well being tested has a pipeline
			 connection, it shall be flowed for at least 24 hours before the shut-in period
			 at a rate high enough to clear the well of liquids.
(3) A series of at least four flow tests
			 shall be taken. The tests shall be run in an increasing flow rate sequence. In
			 the case of high liquid-to-gas ratio wells, a decreasing flow rate sequence may
			 be used if the increasing sequence method will not give point alignment. If the
			 decreasing sequence method is used, a statement giving the reasons why the use
			 of this method is necessary, with a copy of the data taken on increasing
			 sequence, shall be furnished to the commission.
(4) Each flow test shall extend for not more
			 than two hours. If the wellhead working pressure does not decline more than 0.1
			 percent of the wellhead shut-in pressure during any 15-minute period before the
			 end of the twohour flow period, the pressure may be recorded and the next flow
			 test started. All subsequent flow periods shall be of the same duration.
(5) If the back-pressure curve
			 cannot be drawn through at least three of the plotted points, the well shall be
			 retested. If upon retest a curve cannot be drawn through at least three of the
			 plotted points, an average curve shall be drawn through the points of the test
			 if the slope of the curve will be not more than 1.0 and not less than 0.5.
(6) If the curve drawn through at
			 least three points of the back-pressure test has a slope greater than 1.0 or
			 less than 0.5, the well shall be retested. If upon retest the slope of the
			 curve is greater than 1.0, a curve with a slope of 1.0 shall be drawn through
			 the data point corresponding to the highest rate of flow. If upon retest the
			 slope of the curve is less than 0.5, a curve with a slope of 0.5 shall be drawn
			 through the data point corresponding to the lowest rate of flow.
(7) All tests shall be subject to review and
			 approval by a representative of the state corporation commission.
(8) The lowest rate of flow on the test shall
			 be at a rate high enough to keep the well clear of liquids.
(9) If possible, the working wellhead
			 pressure at the lowest rate of flow shall be drawn down at least five percent
			 of the well's shut-in pressure and, if possible, 25 percent of the well's
			 shut-in pressure at the highest rate of flow. If data cannot be obtained in
			 accordance with this paragraph, a written explanation shall be furnished to the
			 commission.
(10) Correction for
			 the compressibility of flowing gas shall be made in accordance with approved
			 commission methods.
(11) If the
			 static wellhead working pressure reading cannot be obtained due to packer or
			 dual completion, the pressure shall be calculated by using appendix A in the
			 document adopted by reference in paragraph (b)(4).
(12) If a satisfactory test cannot be
			 obtained on wells whose indicated open flow is 500 mcf or less, an exception to
			 the foregoing procedure may be granted by the commission and a slope of 0.85
			 may be assigned to the well.
(13)
			 Upon completion of the test, all the calculations shall be shown on any
			 approved form and shall be accompanied by a back-pressure curve neatly plotted
			 on equal scale log paper of at least three-inch cycles.