Dear ALRDC Scholarship Committee,
The University of Tulsa Horizontal Well Artificial Lift Projects (TUHWALP) has
employed me as an undergraduate student helper since January 2014. Thus far, I
have been involved with work on three separate projects for the research
department including the Effect of Horizontal Well Trajectory on Two-Phase AirWater Flow Behavior (Project 1), Defining the Artificial Lift System Selection
Guidelines in Horizontal Wells (Project 2), and End of Tubing (EOT) Placement Effect
on the Multiphase Flow Behavior in Horizontal Gas Wells (Project 3). My work on
project 2 has included designing a stand-alone computer program that creates an
economic evaluation of artificial lift methods based on researched cost data, up to
date economic techniques, and provided production data as well as aiding in the
creation of a separate computer program for the selection of artificial lift methods
based on set criteria and given real world data. On projects 1 and 3 my job function
has been to run experimental procedures using the TUHWALP 2 in. ID horizontal
well experimental facility. These experiments examine the effects of different
superficial liquid and gas velocities on the multiphase flow behavior in the
horizontal well facility. Project 1 examines this flow behavior based on well
trajectory alone, while project 3 takes into account both well trajectory and end of
tubing position by placing a 1 inch tubing within the original 2 inch tubing. I’m
currently working on a paper about my work with the creation of the economic
evaluation program for artificial lift methods to be presented at the 18th Annual
Student Research Colloquium for the University of Tulsa.
My future involvements in the area of artificial lift will not only include my
continued work with the TUHWALP during the 2014/2015 Academic year, but I will
also be taking courses in order to further my understanding of artificial lift methods.
These courses will include Production Engineering II with Dr. Mauricio Prado, which
focuses on the uses of multiple different artificial lift methods in the field of
petroleum engineering, as well as Unconventional Resources with Dr. Mohan Kelkar,
which will allow me to better understand the effects that unconventional resources
can have on the artificial lift selection and implementation process. The
knowledgeable gained from my current position and these classes I plan to use in
order to acquire a position as a production engineer for an oil and gas exploration
and production company after I finish my bachelor’s degree in petroleum
engineering in May 2015. Through this position I will be able to further my
knowledge of artificial lift methods as well as take steps to implement artificial lift
methods in a more efficient and cost effective way. This position should also allow
me to further the research being done within the TUHWALP (assuming that I gain a
position within a company that is associated with the University of Tulsa’s research
departments) by acquiring real world data to be used in their experimental
procedures and their future artificial lift method selection programs.
Sincerely,
Nicholas Blandino
Student, University of Tulsa ‘15
Student Helper/Research Assistant
TUHWALP – www.tuhwalp.ens.utulsa.edu
McDougal School of Petroleum Engineering
College of Engineering and Natural Science
800 South Tucker Drive
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104
Cell: (817) 999-3989
Email: nicholas-blandino@utulsa.edu