Hi Wizzer,
The flare is but one "piece of the puzzle" but it is a very important one for sure.
Field observations of:
- flare size and color,
- the presence/absence of smoke,
- "approximate liquid quantities" produced during the test,
- all variations in flare rate over the duration of the flow test (especially the final rate if a 4 point modified isochronal test),
can, if coupled with an understanding of well test procedures, yield a fairly decent picture of the probable reservoir fluids and the expected well production capacity. [Of course if you integrate such field observations with "factual leaks" or "releases", you may be able to develop an even better picture.]
Often we do not know whether or not well logs "conclusively" show pay in a well. But, if a well test shows a significant flare, the question changes from "Is it pay?" to "How much pay is there?". That can be a very critical distinction if we also know something about the geology and structure.
In the case of the 7-25 well, given teevee's obvious and competent knowledge of the "Devonian play", I believe the visual expression of a LARGE flare would be extremely meaningful to him.
BTW, the flare itself will not help us quantify "pressure" because production is through a choke/orifice/restriction and across which there is always a pressure drop. That "drop" can be negligible or it can be a few thousand psi. It is not determinable from the flare itself but is a critical piece of info required to estimate well productivity.
Won't bore you anymore with this. Dinner is on, and more importantly, Ms. grayhairs grows impatient !!
Later,
grayhairs |
