8.

Choke Performance Chart

When estimating flow rates from oil wells during clean up, GOR may be presumed. This chart may also be used to estimate choke size to obtain a given flow rate.
Example:
Tubing outlet pressure Ptf = 1200 psig
Presumed GOR = 800 ft3/bbl
Choke size d = 40/64 in.
From chart, approximate flow rate qo = 3300 bbl/D

Approximate formula when critical flow conditions

exist, (i.e., downstream pressure < 0.6 upstream
pressure) taken from W.E. Gilbert.

Oil flow rate

(MMcf/D)
20,000
10,000

GOR (ft3/bbl)

qo =

Ptf x d1.89
0.546

435 x

( GOR
)
1000

Choke size
(64ths of an inch)
64
60
52
48

7000
5000
4000
3000

44
40

2000

32

36

28
1000
700
100

200

500
400
300

400
600

200

800

24
20
18
16
14

100

1000

70

2000
3000

4000
5000

12

50
40
30

10

20

10
100

200

300
500 700 1000
2000
Pressure upstream of choke (psig)

3000

5000

6
Copyright Schlumberger 1979
revised June 1997