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 Air-Water 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 –

McDougal School of Petroleum Engineering

College of Engineering and Natural Science

800 South Tucker Drive

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104

Cell: (817) 999-3989

Email: