# US 2021/0277749 A1 · Method and system for simulating well performance using wellhead measurements > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0277749 A1 - Document ID: US20210277749A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/808,721 - Filed: 2020-03-04 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-04 - Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company - Applicants: Saudi Arabian Oil Company - Inventors: Mohammed A. Alhuraifi; Mohammed H. Madan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210277749A1 ## CPC - E21B 43/00: Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells (applicable only to water E03B) - E21B 34/02: in well heads - E21B 41/00: Equipment or details not covered by groups E21B15/00 - E21B40/00 - E21B 47/07: Temperature - E21B 49/08: Obtaining fluid samples or testing fluids, in boreholes or wells - G01V 20/00: Geomodelling in general - G05B 13/04: involving the use of models or simulators - G05B 17/00: Systems involving the use of models or simulators of said systems (G05B13/00, G05B15/00, G05B19/00 take precedence) - G06Q 50/00: Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism (healthcare informatics G16H) - E21B 49/0875: {determining specific fluid parameters} - E21B 2200/20: Computer models or simulations, e.g. for reservoirs under production, drill bits - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - G01V: GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS (means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons A63B29/02) - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A method may include obtaining wellhead temperature data from a wellhead coupled to a wellbore. The method may further include obtaining production data regarding the wellhead. The method may further include obtaining water cut data from the wellhead. The method may further include calibrating a production model for the wellhead based on the production data and the wellhead temperature data to generate a calibrated production model. The method may further include determining a predicted production rate of the wellhead using the calibrated production model, the water cut data, and flowing wellhead temperature data. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: obtaining first wellhead temperature data from a wellhead coupled to a wellbore; obtaining first production data regarding the wellhead; obtaining water cut data from the wellhead; calibrating a production model for the wellhead based on the first production data and the first wellhead temperature data to generate a calibrated production model; and determining a predicted production rate of the wellhead using the calibrated production model, the water cut data, and flowing wellhead temperature data. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: generating a plurality of production curves using the calibrated production model, wherein the plurality of production curves correspond to different water cut levels; and selecting a production curve from the plurality of production curves using the water cut data, and wherein the predicted production rate is determined using the selected production curve. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the calibrated production model is updated in real-time using second wellhead temperature data and second production data that are obtained from a production operation using the wellhead. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first wellhead temperature data is obtained using a plurality of choke settings for a choke assembly in the wellhead. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: obtaining ambient temperature data regarding a wellsite; and determining, based on a predetermined heat transfer function, a plurality of heat transfer values using the ambient temperature data and the first wellhead temperature data, wherein the production model is calibrated by calibrating a heat transfer coefficient of the predetermined heat transfer function using the plurality of heat transfer values. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining a change in a production rate of the wellhead has occurred; and obtaining, in response to determining that the change has occurred, second wellhead temperature data and second production data regarding the wellhead; and calibrating the calibrated production model using the second wellhead temperature data and the second production data. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: adjusting one or more production parameters of a well control system automatically using the predicted production rate. ### Claim 8 A system, comprising: a wellhead coupled to a wellbore, a wellhead temperature sensor coupled to the wellhead; a water cut sensor coupled to the wellhead; a flow rate sensor coupled to the wellhead; and a control system comprising a computer processor and coupled to the wellhead temperature sensor and the water cut sensor, wherein the control system comprises functionality for: obtaining first wellhead temperature data from the wellhead temperature sensor; obtaining first production data from the flow rate sensor regarding the wellhead; obtaining water cut data from the water cut sensor; calibrating a production model for the wellhead based on the first production data and the first wellhead temperature data to generate a calibrated production model; and determining a predicted production rate of the wellhead using the calibrated production model, the water cut data, and flowing wellhead temperature data. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the control system further comprises functionality for: generating a plurality of production curves using the calibrated production model, wherein the plurality of production curves correspond to different water cut levels; and selecting a production curve from the plurality of production curves using the water cut data, and wherein the predicted production rate is determined using the selected production curve. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the system does not include a multi-phase flow meter coupled to the wellhead. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the calibrated production model is updated in real-time by the control system using second wellhead temperature data from the wellhead temperature sensor and second production data regarding the wellhead. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, further comprising: an ambient temperature sensor coupled to the control system, wherein the control system further comprises functionality for: obtaining ambient temperature data from the ambient temperature sensor regarding a wellsite; and determining, based on a predetermined heat transfer function, a plurality of heat transfer values using the ambient temperature data and the first wellhead temperature data, wherein the production model is calibrated by calibrating a heat transfer coefficient of the predetermined heat transfer function using the plurality of heat transfer values. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the control system further comprises functionality for: determining a change in a production rate of the wellhead has occurred; and obtaining, in response to determining that the change has occurred, second wellhead temperature data and second production data regarding the wellhead; and calibrating the calibrated production model using the second wellhead temperature data and the second production data. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the control system further comprises functionality for: adjusting one or more production parameters of a well control system automatically using the predicted production rate. ### Claim 15 A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions executable by a computer processor, the instructions comprising functionality for: obtaining first wellhead temperature data regarding a wellhead coupled to a wellbore; obtaining first production data regarding the wellhead; obtaining water cut data regarding the wellhead; calibrating a production model for the wellhead based on the first production data and the first wellhead temperature data to generate a calibrated production model; and determining a predicted production rate of the wellhead using the calibrated production model, the water cut data, and flowing wellhead temperature data. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions further comprise functionality for: generating a plurality of production curves using the calibrated production model, wherein the plurality of production curves correspond to different water cut levels; and selecting a production curve from the plurality of production curves using the water cut data, and wherein the predicted production rate is determined using the selected production curve. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the first wellhead temperature data is obtained using a plurality of choke settings in a well control system. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions further comprise functionality for: obtaining ambient temperature data regarding a wellsite; and determining, based on a predetermined heat transfer function, a plurality of heat transfer values using the ambient temperature data and the first wellhead temperature data, wherein the production model is calibrated by calibrating a heat transfer coefficient of the predetermined heat transfer function using the plurality of heat transfer values. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions further comprise functionality for: determining a change in a production rate of the wellhead has occurred; and obtaining, in response to determining that the change has occurred, second wellhead temperature data and second production data regarding the wellhead; and calibrating the calibrated production model using the second wellhead temperature data and the second production data. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions further comprise functionality for: adjusting one or more production parameters of a well control system automatically using the predicted production rate.