Critical Review of Existing Solutions To Predict and Model Liquid Loading in Gas Wells

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fouad Albert Solomon ◽  
Gioia Falcone ◽  
Catalin Teodoriu
Keyword(s):  
Critical Review ◽  
Gas Wells ◽  
Liquid Loading ◽  
Model Liquid

The Need to Understand the Dynamic Interaction Between Wellbore and Reservoir in Liquid Loaded Gas Wells

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fouad A. Solomon ◽  
Gioia Falcone ◽  
Catalin Teodoriu
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Transient Flow ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Dynamic Interaction ◽  
Back Pressure ◽  
Pressure Effects ◽  
Gas Wells ◽  
Liquid Loading ◽  
Dynamic Interactions ◽  
Model Liquid

Liquid loading in gas wells is a phenomenon where the liquid content of the well is sufficient to create a back pressure (usually dominated by gravitational pressure changes) which restricts, and in some cases even stops, the flow of gas from the reservoir. Liquid loading is an all too common problem in mature gas fields around the world. It is estimated that in the U.S.A. alone, at least 90% of the producing gas wells are operating in liquid loading regime. The phenomenon is more detrimental in tight wells than in prolific wells and it poses a serious problem in subsea tie-backs, where back pressure effects through the risers and the flowlines may have an important role. Such is the importance of liquid loading; the oil and gas industry has devoted a lot of attention to the alleviation of the problem using various measures. However, the fundamental understanding of the associated phenomena is still surprisingly weak. This applies not only to the flows in the wells, but also to how these flows interact with those in the reservoir. It is this latter dynamic interaction that has received the least attention by the industry. Reliable predictive models to link the well dynamics with the intermittent response of a reservoir, that is typical of liquid loading in gas wells, remain unavailable. This paper introduces the complexity of liquid loading and critically reviews recent attempts to model liquid loading and the dynamic interactions between reservoir and wellbore. The paper then illustrates the need for a better understanding of the transient flow phenomena taking place in the near-wellbore region of the reservoir. This includes re-injection of the heavier phase, a phenomenon that has yet to be proven by fluid mechanics.

A simple and robust model for prediction of liquid-loading onset in gas wells

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 245
Author(s):  
Chuan Xie ◽  
Chunyu Xie ◽  
Yulong Zhao ◽  
Liehui Zhang ◽  
Yonghui Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gas Wells ◽  
Liquid Loading ◽  
Robust Model

Whole wellbore liquid loading recognition model for gas wells

2018 ◽  
Vol 60 ◽  
pp. 153-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhennan Zhang ◽  
Baojiang Sun ◽  
Zhiyuan Wang ◽  
Yonghai Gao ◽  
Shujie Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gas Wells ◽  
Liquid Loading ◽  
Recognition Model

Technology Focus: Unconventional and Tight Reservoirs (July 2021)

2021 ◽  
Vol 73 (07) ◽  
pp. 57-57
Author(s):  
Leonard Kalfayan
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Gas Wells ◽  
Gas Reservoirs ◽  
Liquid Loading ◽  
Well Production ◽  
Tight Carbonate ◽  
Water Blocking ◽  
Tight Reservoirs

As unconventional oil and gas fields mature, operators and service providers are looking toward, and collaborating on, creative and alternative methods for enhancing production from existing wells, especially in the absence of, or at least the reduction of, new well activity. While oil and gas price environments remain uncertain, recent price-improvement trends are supporting greater field testing and implementation of innovative applications, albeit with caution and with cost savings in mind. Not only is cost-effectiveness a requirement, but cost-reducing applications and solutions can be, too. Of particular interest are applications addressing challenging well-production needs such as reducing or eliminating liquid loading in gas wells; restimulating existing, underperforming wells, including as an alternative to new well drilling and completion; and remediating water blocking and condensate buildup, both of which can impair production from gas wells severely. The three papers featured this month represent a variety of applications relevant to these particular well-production needs. The first paper presents a technology and method for liquid removal to improve gas production and reserves recovery in unconventional, liquid-rich reservoirs using subsurface wet-gas compression. Liquid loading, a recurring issue downhole, can severely reduce gas production and be costly to remediate repeatedly, which can be required. This paper discusses the full technology application process and the supportive results of the first field trial conducted in an unconventional shale gas well. The second paper discusses the application of the fishbone stimulation system and technique in a tight carbonate oil-bearing formation. Fishbone stimulation has been around for several years now, but its best applications and potential have not necessarily been fully understood in the well-stimulation community. This paper summarizes a successful pilot application resulting in a multifold increase in oil-production rate and walks the reader through the details of the pilot candidate selection, completion design, operational challenges, and lessons learned. The third paper introduces and proposes a chemical treatment to alleviate phase trapping in tight carbonate gas reservoirs. Phase trapping can be in the form of water blocking or increasing condensate buildup from near the wellbore and extending deeper into the formation over time. Both can reduce relative permeability to gas severely. Water blocks can be a one-time occurrence from drilling, completion, workover, or stimulation operations and can often be treated effectively with solvent plus proper additive solutions. Similar treatments for condensate banking in gas wells, however, can provide only temporary alleviation, if they are even effective. This paper proposes a technique for longer-term remediation of phase trapping in tight carbonate gas reservoirs using a unique, slowly reactive fluid system. Recommended additional reading at OnePetro: www.onepetro.org. SPE 200345 - Insights Into Field Application of Enhanced-Oil-Recovery Techniques From Modeling of Tight Reservoirs With Complex High-Density Fracture Network by Geng Niu, CGG, et al. SPE 201413 - Diagnostic Fracture Injection Test Analysis and Simulation: A Utica Shale Field Study by Jeffery Hildebrand, The University of Texas at Austin, et al.

RECOGNIZING SYMPTOMS OF LIQUID LOADING IN GAS WELLS

2008 ◽  
pp. 13-30
Author(s):  
James F. Lea ◽  
Henry V. Nickens ◽  
Mike R. Wells
Keyword(s):  
Gas Wells ◽  
Liquid Loading
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