This course is dedicated for

Administrators in technical
departments. It will allow them to
gain a more enhanced knowledge on
Well Testing Services, Equipment,
Personnel, & Operations.

WELL TESTING FROM

ADMINISTRATION
PRESPECTIVE
 Leading Well Testing Sites as a Client

Table of Contents
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 4
Course Objectives ....................................................................................................................... 4
Why we use Well Testing ........................................................................................................... 4
Well Testing Equipment ................................................................................................................. 5
Surface Test Tree ........................................................................................................................ 5
Coflexip Hoses ............................................................................................................................ 6
Surface Safety Valve SSV........................................................................................................... 7
Emergency Shutdown System..................................................................................................... 8
Panel (ESD) ............................................................................................................................. 8
Shutdown Station, Pilots etc. ................................................................................................... 9
HI/LO Pressure and Liquid Pilots ........................................................................................... 9
Chemical Injection Pumps ........................................................................................................ 10
Operational Uses.................................................................................................................... 10
Data Headers ............................................................................................................................. 11
Operational Uses of Data Headers......................................................................................... 11
Piping ........................................................................................................................................ 11
Hammer union connections ................................................................................................... 11
Clamp connections ................................................................................................................ 11
Flange Connections ............................................................................................................... 12
Piping is classified into 3 categories: .................................................................................... 12
Piping mainly defined by:...................................................................................................... 14
Valves ........................................................................................................................................ 14
Gate Valves............................................................................................................................ 14
Needle Valves ........................................................................................................................ 15
Ball Valves ............................................................................................................................ 16
Plug Valves / Low Torques ................................................................................................... 16
Globe Valves ......................................................................................................................... 16
Butterfly valves...................................................................................................................... 17
Check Valves (One way flow direction) ............................................................................... 17

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Relief Valves ......................................................................................................................... 18

Choke Manifold......................................................................................................................... 19
Operational Uses of Choke Manifold ....................................................................................... 19
What is a choke used for? ...................................................................................................... 19
What does it do? .................................................................................................................... 19
What does it consist of? ......................................................................................................... 19
Heater ........................................................................................................................................ 20
Steam Heat Exchangers ......................................................................................................... 20
Indirect Heater (Gas, Diesel or Electric) ............................................................................... 21
Operational use of heaters ..................................................................................................... 21
Separator.................................................................................................................................... 22
Operational Uses of a Separator ............................................................................................ 22
What are its Internals? ........................................................................................................... 23
Surge Tank ................................................................................................................................ 24
Operational Uses of a Surge Tank ......................................................................................... 24
Pumps ........................................................................................................................................ 25
Centrifugal Pumps ................................................................................................................. 25
Reciprocating ......................................................................................................................... 25
Duplex & Triplex Pumps....................................................................................................... 26
Gear/Lobe pumps .................................................................................................................. 26
Screw pumps.......................................................................................................................... 27
Diverters .................................................................................................................................... 27
Burners ...................................................................................................................................... 28
Purpose of use:....................................................................................................................... 28
Flare stack ................................................................................................................................. 30
SMS Equipment ........................................................................................................................ 31
Sand Production ..................................................................................................................... 31
Mechanism............................................................................................................................. 31
Effects of Sand Production .................................................................................................... 31
Sand Management ................................................................................................................. 31
Sand catcher ........................................................................................................................... 32

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Cyclonic filter or De-Sander.................................................................................................. 32

Sand Filter.............................................................................................................................. 33
Sand Separator ....................................................................................................................... 33
Expendable Choke Systems................................................................................................... 34
Calibration ................................................................................................................................. 34
What is Calibration ................................................................................................................ 34
What should be calibrated ..................................................................................................... 34
Certification ............................................................................................................................... 35
Pressure test certificates......................................................................................................... 35
Calibration Certificates .......................................................................................................... 35
Non Destructive tests (NDT) ................................................................................................. 35
Lifting .................................................................................................................................... 35
Well Testing Function................................................................................................................... 36
ARAMCO Approved Layouts as per Well Testing Contract ................................................... 36
Standard Well Testing Package ............................................................................................. 36
Clean up Package with Choke Manifold ............................................................................... 37
SMS / Sacrificial Choke System ........................................................................................... 38
Full SMS W/CHOKE PACKAGE ........................................................................................ 39
Zero Flaring Packages ........................................................................................................... 40
Well Testing New Technology ..................................................................................................... 41
Multiphase flow meter .............................................................................................................. 41
RTP............................................................................................................................................ 41
Personnel ....................................................................................................................................... 42
Ticketing & Invoicing ................................................................................................................... 44
Refer To contract ....................................................................................................................... 44
What is a service Ticket? .......................................................................................................... 45
Requirements for invoicing (Refer To Safe Zone & Record Notes below) .............................. 45

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Introduction
This course is dedicated for Administrators in technical departments. It
will allow them to gain a more enhanced knowledge on Well Testing
Services, Equipment, Personnel, & Operations
A variety of topics will be presented throughout the Course. The course
will cover a basic knowledge about well testing in general, its purpose,
& the different services provided under its umbrella.
It shall discuss ARAMCO contract, pricing & service tickets.

Course Objectives

• Awareness of well test objectives and their achievements.

• Acquire a basic knowledge of well testing equipment
• Acquire a basic knowledge in well testing operations.
• An understanding of the selection and preparation of well testing equipment to
perform different services.
• Personnel.
• Well Testing Contract with ARAMCO.
• Service tickets.

Why we use Well Testing

Surface well testing is the only technique available today that assesses the true reservoir potential
at full scale under dynamic conditions. It validates well performance during cleanup and
commissioning and allows reservoir monitoring for better field management.
Data gathered during the test period includes volumetric flow rate and pressure observed in the
selected well. Outcomes of a well test, for instance flow rate data and gas oil ratio data, may
support the well allocation process for an ongoing production phase, while other data about the
reservoir capabilities will support reservoir management.

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Well Testing Equipment

Surface Test Tree

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Coflexip Hoses

It has two main uses:

• Allows for the movement of the rig up and down of STT.
• Has no sharp bends should solids be returned.
The Coflexip hoses are normally connected from the STT and hang down, where they are then
connected to the Choke Manifold or fixed pipe

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Surface Safety Valve SSV

Pneumatic Surface Safety Valve Hydraulic Surface Safety Valve.

Please notice the difference in the size of the diaphragm between the 2 valves

It is usually hooked up directly to the Xmas tree. However, in some places it is a common
practice to use a skid mounted SSV.

Skid mounted SSV

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Emergency Shutdown System

Panel (ESD)

ESD Panel is usually positioned close to the Emergency Shutdown Valve. This allows for much
quicker operation. The panel works with Air over Hydraulics. This means that air is controlling
the hydraulics which means it works perfectly as an emergency shutdown control.

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 Leading Well Testing Sites as a Client

Shutdown Station, Pilots etc.

Shutdown stations can consist of PULL, PUSH OR TURN to operate

HI/LO Pressure and Liquid Pilots

Pressure: There are many different types available here are some of them.

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Chemical Injection Pumps

Operational Uses
• Injection of chemicals is often necessary for many reasons

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Data Headers

Operational Uses of Data Headers

Data Headers are fitted upstream and downstream of the choke manifold. This allows for the
necessary instrumentation to be fitted.

Piping

Hammer union
connections

Clamp connections

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Flange Connections

Piping is classified into 3 categories:

Rigid Piping

Flexible hoses

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Flexible Hoses:

Articulated Piping (Chiksans):

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Piping mainly defined by:

 Diameter (Nominal size)?
 O.D? I.D.?
 Schedule, Grade?
 Working Pressure of the pipe (WP) is determined by the Wall Thickness.
 Working temperature

Valves

Gate Valves

GATE valves Valves

(pressure trapped)

Sealing done Grease fittings for

with the special
Special sealing
grease
compound grease

Grease fitting for

standard grease

SWT - 1 VALVE CLOSED

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Example: Xmas tree Valves.

Needle Valves

Example: Sampling Valves & Data Header Valves.

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Ball Valves
Example: Isolating valves on Separators.

Plug Valves / Low Torques

Example: Isolating valves Stimulation Pumps.

Globe Valves
Example: Control valves on Separator.

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Butterfly valves

 Low Pressure.
 Metal to rubber or Teflon..
 Seals in both directions.
 Does not require grease to seal.
 Do not control flow.
Example: Dump valves on tanks.

Check Valves (One way flow direction)

Example: Inlet of production lines.

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Relief Valves

• All Pressure Ranges.

• Different Types of sealing.
• Seal in one direction.
• Do not require grease to seal.
• Do not control flow.
Example: On Top of pressure vessels.

Pilot Operated Spring Loaded

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Choke Manifold

Operational Uses of Choke Manifold

What is a choke used for?
It is the primary means of controlling the flow from the well.

What does it do?

Reduces the flow by means of a reduction in the size of orifice flowing through.

What does it consist of?

A series of blocks, spools, valves, fixed orifice and adjustable orifice. This allows should any
Positive choke installed - choice dependent on well performance.

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Heater

These fall into two categories:

• Direct – Steam Heat Exchangers
• Indirect – Diesel, Gas or Electric fired Heat Exchanger

Steam Heat Exchangers

Normally fed by either the rig steam system or by Steam Boiler/Generator. Whichever supplies
the steam they are used to heat the Well Stream Fluids and should be placed as near after the
choke as possible.

Heat Exchanger

Heater Coil

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Indirect Heater (Gas, Diesel or Electric)

Used to heat up the Well Stream Fluids. The coils sit in a bath of water (Not Salt Water) and
heat from the burner heats the water and the water then transfers the heat to the coils, therefore
indirectly.

Operational use of heaters

1. Reduce oil vescosity.

2. De-foaming.
3. Hydration.
4. Emultion Breaking.
5. Disolve or melt solids.

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Separator

Operational Uses of a Separator

A separator designates a pressure vessel used for separating well fluids produced from oil and
gas wells into gaseous and liquid components. Then it meters every phase.
How many phase’s will a normal separator have? Three phases.
1. Gas
2. Oil
3. Water
It is usually a 1440 psi rated, but can go to 2000, or even 3000 psi. I can go as low as 720 & 300
psi or even lower.
It is usually horizontal, but can be vertical, or sphertical

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What are its Internals?

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Surge Tank

This can be called Calibration Tank, Pressure Tank. In some areas they use Atmospheric Tanks
to calibrate there meters.

Operational Uses of a Surge Tank

The main reason for having a Surge Tank is to allow for the calibration of the meter during
flowing operations or measure the flow rate in case it is below the minimum of the meter range.

Atmospheric Tanks

These tanks can be cylindrical upright or box type tanks.

Other uses for tanks!

Tanks can also be used for storage of oil. In some areas, it is not allowed to burn oil. The oil
therefore, is stored and then transported from rig/site for disposal.

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Never Use atmospheric tanks whan H2S is expected

Pumps
Pumps fall within two categories Centrifugal Pumps and Positive Displacement Pumps.

Centrifugal Pumps Flow exits the pump here

Flow enters the pump here

Reciprocating
Using a piston system to push the fluid out.
These are very high pressure pumps and
commonly used for pressure testing and
chemical injection.

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Duplex & Triplex Pumps

Gear/Lobe pumps

These pumps use a set of gears to push the fluid through the pump. They are high
pressure but lower volume pumps

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Screw pumps

Diverters
Gas Diverters

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Oil Diverters

Burners
Purpose of use:
 Dispose of the hydrocarbon at the
surface during a well test.
 Reduce carbon immissions.
 Avoid oil storage and pollution
problems.
 Limit heat radiation on off-shore rigs
using water screens

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Flame Arrester

Compressors & hoses

NOTE: AIR – PRESSURE – DANGER (even 100 psi is enough to cause severe injury)

Propane Rack

Ignition System
The control for this will be placed as with
the Propane in an area of easy access. They
require an electrical source.

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Flare stack

These are vertical burners for burning gas. They are mainly utilized in heavily populated areas
and when H2S concentration is high.

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SMS Equipment
Sand Production
• One of the oldest serious problems associated with testing oil & gas wells.
• Well producing from younger tertiary age reservoirs.
• Formations are weakly consolidated.
• Post Frac jobs (propant)

Mechanism
• Stresses caused by the fluids flowing into the wellbore on the sand particles.
• Once these forces exceed the formation strength, sand production will follow.
• Amount of sand produced depends on the type of fluid (viscosity, velocity, water cut)
& the type of formation (permeability, grain size).

Effects of Sand Production

Sand Erosion. Caused by the presence of solids combined with high velocity. Occurs in
tubing, pipework, in zones of diameter restriction & turbulence such as chokes, elbows.

Loss of production. Installing sand control equipment will decrease the production rate due to
the pressure drop across the unit.

Sand disposal

Sand Management
Sand (Solids, Propant) is being controlled with a variety of methods and techniques at the bottom
hole & at the surface.
At surface, in well testing, the most common methods used for sand removal are:
• Sand catcher
• Sand Filter
• Cyclonic Sand Filter or desander
• Sand Separator or 4 phase separator

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Sand catcher

Cyclonic filter or De-Sander

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Sand Filter

Sand Separator

• Medium pressure.
• Ideally suited for under balanced
drilling.
• Located downstream of choke
manifold.

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Expendable Choke Systems

• Used for post frac clean ups.

• 2 sides positive choke.

Calibration
What is Calibration
In general use, calibration is often regarded as including the process of adjusting the output or
indication on a measurement instrument to agree with value of the applied standard, within a
specified accuracy. For example, a thermometer could be calibrated so the error of indication or
the correction is determined, and adjusted (e.g. via calibration constants) so that it shows the true
temperature in Celsius at specific points on the scale. This is the perception of the instrument's
end-user. However, very few instruments can be adjusted to exactly match the standards they are
compared to.

What should be calibrated

All measuring and control instruments and devices (whether digital or analog) should be
calibrated and have a valid calibration certificate from an approved vendor. The well testing
contractor should have a proof of calibration to the following before going to job:
1. All presure guages.
2. All Chart recorders.
3. All sensors (Pressure & Temperature)
4. All controllers (level & pressure)
5. All relief valves.

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It is recommended to calibrate meters on site with aid of a calibration tank. It is also

recommended to calbirate the oil meter using well fluids to gauarantee extreme accuracy.

Certification
Certificates are the tool used by service providers to prove that their equipment complies with
client requirements. They are very important not just because they guarantee accurate
measurements but also protects personnel working on the equipment as they guarantee
equipment condition.

Pressure test certificates

All pressure equipment should have a valid pressure test certificate. This guarantees that the
equipment can withstand the pressure it will be exposed to during operations.

Calibration Certificates
All measuring and control instruments and devices (whether digital or analog) should be
calibrated and have a valid calibration certificate from an approved vendor.

Non Destructive tests (NDT)

Nondestructive testing or Non-destructive testing (NDT) is a wide group of analysis techniques
used in science and industry to evaluate the properties of a material, component or system
without causing damage.

Lifting
All lifting points & lifting gear must be inspected and certified. There are different types of
inspections carried out at different time intervals throughout the life time of equipment which
includes:
• Visual inspection is done every time the equipment is certified.
• Radiography for welding (Usually done once after the welding took place).
• Magnetic Particle Inspection MPI is done for welding.
• Load Test is also done on fixed intervals to guarantee fitness of lifting gear.

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Well Testing Function

ARAMCO Approved Layouts as per Well Testing Contract
Standard Well Testing Package

• Upstream pressure 5K, 10K. & 15 K

• Upstream Temperature 250 F.
• ESD system with SSV.
• Data header.
• 1 GPM Chemical injection Pump.
• Choke MFD.
• 3 phase separator, 1440 or 2000 psi, -20 to 250 degF
o Oil meters range from 200-2,000 and from 2,000 to 12,000 b/d
o Gas meters range from 0.01 to 1 MMscf/d and from 1-80 MMscf/d
o Water meter range from 200-2,000 b/d
• Surge/gauge tank 100 bbls capacity with 50 psi working pressure.
• Transfer pump 3,000 b/d, 300 psi
• Oil & Gas Manifolds.
• Lab Cabin with Data acquisition.
• Surface Piping.

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Clean up Package with Choke Manifold

• Upstream pressure 5K, 10K. & 15 K

• Upstream Temperature 250 F.
• ESD system with SSV.
• Data Header.
• Choke MFD.
• Gas Manifolds.
• Lab Cabin with Data acquisition.
• Surface Piping.

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SMS / Sacrificial Choke System

• Upstream pressure 5K, 10K. & 15 K

• Upstream Temperature 250 F.
• ESD system with SSV.
• Sand catcher or Desander
• Sand Filter.
• Data header.
• 1 GPM Chemical injection Pump.
• Choke MFD.
• Sacrificial choke.
• Gas Manifolds.
• Lab Cabin with Data acquisition.
• Surface Piping.

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Full SMS W/CHOKE PACKAGE

• Upstream pressure 5K, 10K. & 15 K

• Upstream Temperature 250 F.
• ESD system with SSV.
• Sand catcher or Desander
• Sand Filter.
• Data header.
• 1 GPM Chemical injection Pump.
• Choke MFD.
• Gas Manifolds.
• Lab Cabin with Data acquisition.
• Power Generator & Air compressor.
• Surface Piping.

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Zero Flaring Packages

• Upstream pressure 5K, 10K. & 15 K

• Upstream Temperature 250 F.
• ESD system with SSV.
• Data header.
• 1 GPM Chemical injection Pump.
• Choke MFD.
• 4 phase separator, 1440 or 2000 psi, -20 to 250 degF with solids jetting system
o Oil meters range from 200-2,000 and from 2,000 to 12,000 b/d
o Gas meters range from 0.01 to 1 MMscf/d and from 1-80 MMscf/d
o Water meter range from 200-2,000 b/d
• Surge/gauge tank 100 bbls capacity with 50 psi working pressure.
• Transfer pump 4,000 b/d, 1200 psi
• Oil & Gas Manifolds.
• Lab Cabin with Data acquisition.
• Surface Piping.

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Well Testing New Technology

Multiphase flow meter
A multiphase flow meter is a device used in the oil and gas industry to measure the individual
phase flow rates of petroleum, water and gas mixtures produced during oil production processes.

RTP

RTP pipe is generally composed of several layers, basically existing from a HDPE pipe, a
reinforcement layer and a HDPE outer cover layer. This enables the pipe to have unique features
versus conventional steel / carbon steel pipe lines in the area of corrosion resistance, flexibility,
installation speed and re-
usability.
The flexible flowline or line
pipe is used in the oil and
gas industry and are
sometimes also called
Spoolable Reinforced
Plastic Line pipe, flexible
reinforced pipe or spoolable
composites, for offshore use
they are sometimes referred to as offshore flexibles or
flexible umbilical risers. The pipe meets international
standards for water, hydrocarbon and gas transportation.
The RTP pipe system is able to handle pressures up to
1500 PSIg, and can be used for both onshore and
offshore applications.

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Personnel
Take Notes and write them below
 Trainee Operator

 Operator
o O1
o O2
o O3

 Trainee Supervisor

 Supervisor
o S1
o S2
o S3

 Senior Supervisor

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 Foreman

 Service Leader

 Service Quality Coach

 FSM

 Sales Manager

 Technical Manager

 Operations manager

 Field Engineer
o TFE
o E1
o E2
o E3

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Ticketing & Invoicing

Refer To contract
 Discuss full packages charge

 Discuss extra equipment charge

 Discuss personnel charge

 Discuss Third party charge

 Discuss Mobilization Charge

 Discuss the difference between Price Book and Tenders prices

 Discuss Discounts

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What is a service Ticket?

Requirements for invoicing (Refer To Safe Zone & Record

Notes below)

• Events sheet

• Equipment hourly summary sheet

• Personal Time Sheet

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• Final Ticket

• DRSS No.

• Vehicle Log Sheet

• Equipment Time Sheet

• JPE

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