Gas Reservoirs
In general, if the reservoir temperature is
above the critical temperature of the
hydrocarbon system, the reservoir is
classified as a natural gas reservoir.
On the basis of their phase diagrams
and the prevailing reservoir conditions,
natural gases can be classified into 3
categories:
Retrograde gas-condensate
Wet gas
Dry gas
Retrograde gas-condensate reservoir
If the reservoir temperature T lies
between the critical temperature Tc
and cricondentherm Tct of the
reservoir fluid, the reservoir is
classified as a retrograde gas-
condensate reservoir.
the gas-oil ratio for a condensate
system increases with time due to the
liquid dropout and the loss of heavy
components in the liquid.
Condensate gravity above 50 API
Stock-tank liquid is usually water-white
or slightly colored.
Wet-gas reservoir
Temperature of wet-gas reservoir
is above the cricondentherm of the
hydrocarbon mixture.
Because the reservoir temperature
exceeds the cricondentherm of the
hydrocarbon system, the reservoir
fluid will always remain in the
vapor phase region as the
reservoir is depleted isothermally,
along the vertical line A-B.
Wet-gas reservoir
Wet-gas reservoirs are characterized by the following
properties:
Gas oil ratios between 60,000 to 100,000 scf/STB
Stock-tank oil gravity above 60 API
Liquid is water-white in color
Separator conditions, i.e., separator pressure and
temperature, lie within the two-phase region
Dry-gas reservoir
The hydrocarbon mixture
exists as a gas both in the
reservoir and in the
surface facilities.
Usually a system having a
gas-oil ratio greater than
100,000 scf/STB is
considered to be a dry gas.
Gas Wells
Volume of gas in reservoir ; volume
determined by porosity ?? ~ 20-30 %
Gas expands and is produced
Some liquids may come from formation or
be condensed in tubing as saturated gas
enters lower pressure wellbore.
Gas Wells
Gas Wells PI & IPR
Gas Wells
When both pwf and pr > 3000 psi, to give the
following Equation:
Gas Wells
When the Pwf & Pr are both between 2000
and 3000 psi, the Equation should be used to
calculate the gas flow rate Qg.
P P
Gas Wells
At low pressures, usually less than 2000 psi, the
Equation: pressure-squared approximation method
at
Dry Gas Wells
Example
The PVT properties of a gas sample taken from a
dry gas reservoir are given in the following table:
Dry Gas Wells
The reservoir is producing under the following
conditions:
k = 65 md h = 15 T = 600R
re = 1000 rw = 0.25 s = 0.4
Calculate the gas flow rate under the following
pressures;
a. pr = 4000 psi, pwf = 3200 psi
b. pr = 2000 psi, pwf = 1200 psi
Use the appropriate methods.
Gas Wells
Solution
a. Calculate Qg at pr = 4000 and pwf = 3200 psi:
Step 1. Because pr and pwf are both >3000, use
Equation.
Qg= 44490 MScf/D
Step 2. Calculate average pressure and
determine the corresponding gas properties.
Gas Wells
Solution
Gas Wells
Solution
a. Calculate Qg at b. pr = 2000 psi, pwf = 1200 psi
Step 1. Because pr and pwf are both <2000, use
Equation.
Step 2. Calculate average pressure and determine
the corresponding gas properties.
Gas Wells- IPR
The Simplified Treatment Approach
Based on the analysis for flow data obtained
from a large member of gas wells, Rawlins and
Schellhardt (1936) postulated that the
relationship between the gas flow rate and
pressure can be expressed as:
Gas Wells: IPR
Qgas, Mscf/D = C ( Pr2- Pwf2)n
n varies from 0.5 (turbulence) to 1.0 (laminar), Darcy
Flow
C and n determined from well tests if well permeable
enough to do tests in short time
C depends on:
Reservoir rock properties
Fluid properties
Reservoir flow geometry
Gas Wells: IPR
Gas Well Test
The Back-Pressure Test
Rawlins and Schellhardt (1936) proposed a
method for testing gas wells by gauging the
ability of the well to flow against various back
pressures.
This type of flow test is commonly referred to as
the conventional deliverability test. The
required procedure for conducting this back-
pressure test consists of the following steps:.
Gas Well Test
Step 1. Shut in the gas well sufficiently long for the
formation pressure to equalize at the volumetric average
pressure pr.
Step 2. Place the well on production at a constant flow
rate Qg1 for a sufficient time to allow the bottom-hole
flowing pressure to stabilize at pwf1, i.e., to reach the
pseudosteady state.
Step 3. Repeat Step 2 for several rates and the stabilized
bottom-hole flow pressure is recorded at each
corresponding flow rate.
If three or four rates are used, the test may be referred to
as a three-point or four-point flow test.
Gas Well Test
The Back-Pressure Test
Rawlins and Schellhardt (1936) proposed a
method for testing gas wells by gauging the
ability of the well to flow against various back
pressures.
This type of flow test is commonly referred to as
the conventional deliverability test. The
required procedure for conducting this back-
pressure test consists of the following steps:.
Gas Well Test
The Back-Pressure Test
Gas Well Test - IPR
Example A gas well was tested using a three-
point conventional deliverability test. Data
recorded during the test are given below:
Generate the current IPR by using Simplified back-pressure
equation methods.
Gas Well Test - IPR
Solution
a. Back-Pressure Equation:
Step 1. Prepare the following table:
Gas Well Test - IPR
Step 2. Plot vs. Qg on a log-log scale as
shown in Figure below. Draw the best straight line
through the points.
Step 3. Using any two points on the straight line,
calculate the exponent n .
Step 4. Determine the
performance coefficient C
Gas Well Test - IPR
Gas Well Test - IPR
Inflow Performance Relationships - for all methods.
HORIZONTAL GAS WELL
PERFORMANCE
Many low permeability gas reservoirs are historically
considered to be noncommercial due to low
production rates.
Most vertical wells drilled in tight gas reservoirs are
stimulated using hydraulic fracturing and/or acidizing
treatments to attain economical flow rates.
In addition, to deplete a tight gas reservoir, vertical
wells must be drilled at close spacing to efficiently
drain the reservoir.
This would require a large number of vertical wells
HORIZONTAL GAS WELL
PERFORMANCE
In such reservoirs, horizontal wells provide an attractive
alternative to effectively deplete tight gas reservoirs and attain high flow
rates. Joshi (1991) points out those horizontal wells are applicable in
both low-permeability reservoirs as well as in high-permeability
reservoirs.
An excellent reference textbook by Sada Joshi (1991) gives a
comprehensive treatment of horizontal wells performance in oil and
gas reservoirs.
In calculating the gas flow rate from a horizontal well, Joshi introduced
the concept of the effective wellbore radius rw into the gas flow
equation. The effective wellbore radius is given by:
Horizontal Gas Well
For a pseudosteady-state flow, Joshi expressed Darcys equation
of a laminar flow in the following two familiar forms:
Horizontal Gas Well
Example
A 2,000-foot-long horizontal gas well is draining an area of
approximately 120 acres. The following data are available:
Pr = 2000 psi ; pwf = 1200 psi
(mg z)avg = 0.011826 rw = 0.3 ft s = 0.5
h = 20 ft T = 180F k = 1.5 md
Assuming a pseudosteady-state flow, calculate the gas flow rate
by using the pressure-squared method.
Horizontal Gas Well
Solution
Step 1. Calculate the drainage radius (reh) of the horizontal well:
Step 2. Calculate half the major axis of drainage ellipse a
Step 3. Calculate the effective wellbore radius rw
Gas Well Test - IPR
Step 4. Calculate the flow rate by using the pressure-squared
approximation
P/Z Gas Decline:
Cumulative
Production
Gas Decline Curve
Drops off decline
curve and stays
there liquid
loading..
Rate, Mscf/D
Time
