Mechanisms and prevention & control countermeasures of water breakthrough in horizontal wells in multi-layer unconsolidated sandstone gas reservoirs: A case study of the Tainan Gas Field in the Qaidam Basin

Water breakthrough in horizontal wells is now the main factor restricting the stable production of the Tainan Gas Field in the Qaidam Basin. In view of this problem, the distribution characteristics of irreducible water saturation were investigated by using the nuclear magnetic resonance logging int...

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Main Authors: Yun Yang, Duanyang Gu, Yunxiao Lian, Guoliang Liu, Shengmei Han, Lin Chang, Yuankun Ma, Yongnian Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2019-12-01
Series:Natural Gas Industry B
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352854019301093
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author Yun Yang
Duanyang Gu
Yunxiao Lian
Guoliang Liu
Shengmei Han
Lin Chang
Yuankun Ma
Yongnian Zhang
author_facet Yun Yang
Duanyang Gu
Yunxiao Lian
Guoliang Liu
Shengmei Han
Lin Chang
Yuankun Ma
Yongnian Zhang
author_sort Yun Yang
collection DOAJ
description Water breakthrough in horizontal wells is now the main factor restricting the stable production of the Tainan Gas Field in the Qaidam Basin. In view of this problem, the distribution characteristics of irreducible water saturation were investigated by using the nuclear magnetic resonance logging interpretation technology. And combined with the production situations of the horizontal wells in Tainan Gas Field in the initial stage of their production, the characteristic parameters of the reservoir which produced the intrastratal water as soon as it was put into production were determined. Then, the factors influencing the production of irreducible water were studied by means of gas drive water core experiments, and the factors influencing the sealing ability of the interbeds were researched by conducting mudstone breakdown tests. What's more, the effects on the bottomhole pressure by the length of horizontal section at different daily gas productions were investigated through numerical simulation. Finally, the prevention & control countermeasures for water breakthrough in horizontal wells were proposed. And the following research results were obtained. First, the horizontal well which drills into the reservoir with mobile water saturation higher than 7.2% and gas saturation lower than 63.5% produces formation water in its initial stage of production. Second, the lower the shale content is and the greater the production pressure difference is, the more favorable it is for the production of irreducible water. The production of irreducible water in the reservoirs with stronger areal heterogeneity is a continuous process. Third, the sealing capacity of the interbed increases with the decrease of its vertical permeability and water saturation and with the increase of its shale content and thickness. Fourth, the breakthrough pressure of type I mudstone (shale content > 90%) is about 4 MPa, that of type II mudstone (80% < shale content < 90%) is about 2 MPa, and that of type III mudstone (60% < shale content < 80%) is about 1.5 MPa. In conclusion, the edge water encroachment can be delayed and the water-free gas production period of gas well can be extended by increasing the length of horizontal section and controlling the production pressure difference. It is recommended to carry out balanced gas production in horizontal wells in the initial stage of production, enhance dynamic monitoring in the process of production, and drain the water in time in the case of water breakthrough so as to increase its cumulative gas production. Keywords: Horizontal well, Water breakthrough mechanism, Irreducible water saturation, Interbed, Permeability, Heterogeneous reservoir, Breakthrough pressure, Qaidam Basin, Tainan gas field
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spelling doaj.art-9104d814950f4350a6f983a2e86f498b2024-03-02T15:34:48ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Natural Gas Industry B2352-85402019-12-0166564571Mechanisms and prevention & control countermeasures of water breakthrough in horizontal wells in multi-layer unconsolidated sandstone gas reservoirs: A case study of the Tainan Gas Field in the Qaidam BasinYun Yang0Duanyang Gu1Yunxiao Lian2Guoliang Liu3Shengmei Han4Lin Chang5Yuankun Ma6Yongnian Zhang7Exploration and Development Research Institute, PetroChina Qinghai Oilfield Company, Dunhuang, Gansu 736202, ChinaExploration and Development Research Institute, PetroChina Qinghai Oilfield Company, Dunhuang, Gansu 736202, China; Corresponding author.Exploration and Development Research Institute, PetroChina Qinghai Oilfield Company, Dunhuang, Gansu 736202, ChinaExploration and Development Research Institute, PetroChina Qinghai Oilfield Company, Dunhuang, Gansu 736202, ChinaNo. 1 Gas Production Plant, PetroChina Qinghai Oilfield Company, Dunhuang, Gansu 736202, ChinaExploration and Development Research Institute, PetroChina Qinghai Oilfield Company, Dunhuang, Gansu 736202, ChinaExploration and Development Research Institute, PetroChina Qinghai Oilfield Company, Dunhuang, Gansu 736202, ChinaExploration and Development Research Institute, PetroChina Qinghai Oilfield Company, Dunhuang, Gansu 736202, ChinaWater breakthrough in horizontal wells is now the main factor restricting the stable production of the Tainan Gas Field in the Qaidam Basin. In view of this problem, the distribution characteristics of irreducible water saturation were investigated by using the nuclear magnetic resonance logging interpretation technology. And combined with the production situations of the horizontal wells in Tainan Gas Field in the initial stage of their production, the characteristic parameters of the reservoir which produced the intrastratal water as soon as it was put into production were determined. Then, the factors influencing the production of irreducible water were studied by means of gas drive water core experiments, and the factors influencing the sealing ability of the interbeds were researched by conducting mudstone breakdown tests. What's more, the effects on the bottomhole pressure by the length of horizontal section at different daily gas productions were investigated through numerical simulation. Finally, the prevention & control countermeasures for water breakthrough in horizontal wells were proposed. And the following research results were obtained. First, the horizontal well which drills into the reservoir with mobile water saturation higher than 7.2% and gas saturation lower than 63.5% produces formation water in its initial stage of production. Second, the lower the shale content is and the greater the production pressure difference is, the more favorable it is for the production of irreducible water. The production of irreducible water in the reservoirs with stronger areal heterogeneity is a continuous process. Third, the sealing capacity of the interbed increases with the decrease of its vertical permeability and water saturation and with the increase of its shale content and thickness. Fourth, the breakthrough pressure of type I mudstone (shale content > 90%) is about 4 MPa, that of type II mudstone (80% < shale content < 90%) is about 2 MPa, and that of type III mudstone (60% < shale content < 80%) is about 1.5 MPa. In conclusion, the edge water encroachment can be delayed and the water-free gas production period of gas well can be extended by increasing the length of horizontal section and controlling the production pressure difference. It is recommended to carry out balanced gas production in horizontal wells in the initial stage of production, enhance dynamic monitoring in the process of production, and drain the water in time in the case of water breakthrough so as to increase its cumulative gas production. Keywords: Horizontal well, Water breakthrough mechanism, Irreducible water saturation, Interbed, Permeability, Heterogeneous reservoir, Breakthrough pressure, Qaidam Basin, Tainan gas fieldhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352854019301093
spellingShingle Yun Yang
Duanyang Gu
Yunxiao Lian
Guoliang Liu
Shengmei Han
Lin Chang
Yuankun Ma
Yongnian Zhang
Mechanisms and prevention & control countermeasures of water breakthrough in horizontal wells in multi-layer unconsolidated sandstone gas reservoirs: A case study of the Tainan Gas Field in the Qaidam Basin
Natural Gas Industry B
title Mechanisms and prevention & control countermeasures of water breakthrough in horizontal wells in multi-layer unconsolidated sandstone gas reservoirs: A case study of the Tainan Gas Field in the Qaidam Basin
title_full Mechanisms and prevention & control countermeasures of water breakthrough in horizontal wells in multi-layer unconsolidated sandstone gas reservoirs: A case study of the Tainan Gas Field in the Qaidam Basin
title_fullStr Mechanisms and prevention & control countermeasures of water breakthrough in horizontal wells in multi-layer unconsolidated sandstone gas reservoirs: A case study of the Tainan Gas Field in the Qaidam Basin
title_full_unstemmed Mechanisms and prevention & control countermeasures of water breakthrough in horizontal wells in multi-layer unconsolidated sandstone gas reservoirs: A case study of the Tainan Gas Field in the Qaidam Basin
title_short Mechanisms and prevention & control countermeasures of water breakthrough in horizontal wells in multi-layer unconsolidated sandstone gas reservoirs: A case study of the Tainan Gas Field in the Qaidam Basin
title_sort mechanisms and prevention control countermeasures of water breakthrough in horizontal wells in multi layer unconsolidated sandstone gas reservoirs a case study of the tainan gas field in the qaidam basin
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352854019301093
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