Hydraulics model utilization in well operations

Abstract

A method of utilizing a hydraulics model with a well operation can include the steps of inputting well parameters to the hydraulics model, assigning nodes to respective well locations, the hydraulics model being configured to determine corresponding pressures at the respective nodes, and unevenly spacing the nodes along a wellbore. A well equipment control system for use with a subterranean well can include a hydraulics model configured to determine pressures at respective nodes along a wellbore, the nodes being unevenly spaced along the wellbore, and an actuator configured to actuate well equipment at least in part based on the hydraulics model pressure determinations.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of utilizing a hydraulics model with a well operation, the method comprising:
 inputting well parameters to the hydraulics model;   assigning nodes to respective well locations, the hydraulics model being configured to determine corresponding pressures at the respective nodes; and   unevenly spacing the nodes along a wellbore.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the unevenly spacing comprises providing a greater density of the nodes along the wellbore in a first wellbore section as compared to a second wellbore section. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , in which the first wellbore section comprises at least one of the group consisting of an open hole portion of the wellbore and an under-pressured formation zone. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the unevenly spacing comprises providing a lesser distance between the nodes in a first wellbore section as compared to a second wellbore section. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , in which the first wellbore section comprises at least one of the group consisting of an open hole portion of the wellbore and an under-pressured formation zone. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising controlling operation of well equipment, based on the pressure determinations. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , in which the well equipment comprises a choke, and the controlling comprises adjusting the choke. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising installing the hydraulics model in a programmable logic controller. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , in which the programmable logic controller controls operation of well equipment, based on the pressure determinations. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the hydraulics model automatically assigns the nodes to the respective well locations and unevenly spaces the nodes along the wellbore, based at least in part on the input well parameters. 
     
     
         11 . A well equipment control system for use with a subterranean well, the well equipment control system comprising:
 a hydraulics model configured to determine pressures at respective nodes along a wellbore, the nodes being unevenly spaced along the wellbore; and   an actuator configured to actuate well equipment at least in part based on the hydraulics model pressure determinations.   
     
     
         12 . The well equipment control system of  claim 11 , further comprising a programmable logic controller configured to control operation of the actuator. 
     
     
         13 . The well equipment control system of  claim 12 , in which the hydraulics model is installed in the programmable logic controller. 
     
     
         14 . The well equipment control system of  claim 11 , in which a spacing between the nodes in a first section of the wellbore is less than a spacing between the nodes in a second section of the wellbore. 
     
     
         15 . The well equipment control system of  claim 14 , in which the first section of the wellbore comprises an open hole section of the wellbore. 
     
     
         16 . The well equipment control system of  claim 14 , in which the first section of the wellbore comprises an under-pressured formation zone. 
     
     
         17 . The well equipment control system of  claim 11 , in which a density of the nodes in a first section of the wellbore is greater than a density of the nodes in a second section of the wellbore. 
     
     
         18 . The well equipment control system of  claim 17 , in which the first section of the wellbore comprises an open hole section of the wellbore. 
     
     
         19 . The well equipment control system of  claim 17 , in which the first section of the wellbore comprises an under-pressured formation zone. 
     
     
         20 . The well equipment control system of  claim 11 , in which the well equipment comprises a choke.