Modeling productivity of horizontal wells in a high sulfur gas reservoir: Consideration of the impact of porosity reduction by sulfur deposition
Abstract
As pressure in a high sulfur gas reservoir drops during the development process, deposition of elemental sulfur in pores results in a decrease in porosity and permeability, which ultimately has an adverse effect on gas production.Using the relationship between element sulfur solubility and pressure, in tandem withthe theory of gas stable seepage,a mathematical model that explainselemental
sulfur precipitation can be established. The model can befurther used to establish a horizontal well pseudo pressure productivity model, hichconsidersthe effect of sulfur deposition on permeability in a high sulfur gas reservoir.According to the field case study presented herein, use of the new model equationproduces a result that approximates the actual wellproductivity, which means that this model canbe used as apredictive tool for estimating productivity of a high sulfur gas reservoir
that isbeing developed using horizontal wells.
References
Brunner, E.& Woll, W. 1980. Solubility of sulfur in hydrogen sulfide and sour gases. SPEJ, Oct. 20(5), 377–384.
http://dx.doi.org/10.21188778-/PA. SPE 8778-PA.
Borisov, J.P. 1964. Oil production using horizontal and multiple deviation wells. Moscow: Nedra 98–113.
Chen, Y.Q. 2008. Derivation and correlation of production rate formula for horizontal well. Xinjiang Petroleum
Geology 29(1):68–71.
Dang, Y.J., Liu, J.J., Y, J.& Zhao, Q.Q. 2013. Strip branch of high sulfur gas reservoir quasi three dimensional
horizontal well productivity prediction research. Drilling Technology 36(6):57–59.
Forcheimer P.H. 1901. Wasserbewegung durch Boden. Z Ver. Deutsch. Ing 45:1736–1741.
Guo, X., Wang, Q. 2016. A new prediction model of elemental sulfur solubility in sour gas mixtures, Journal
of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 31:98–107.
Giger, F.M., Reiss, L.H.& Jourdan, A.P. 1984. The reservoir engineering aspects of horizontal drilling. SPE
presented at SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition. 1984 Copyright 1984 Society of
petroleum Engineers of AIME, Houston, Texas. doi:10.211813024-/MS.
Hu, J.H., He, S.L., Zhao, J.Z.& Li, Y.M. 2013. Modeling of sulfur plugging in a sour gas reservoir, Journal
of Natural Gas Science and Engineering 11:18–22.
Hu, J.H., Zhao, J.Z.& Li, Y.M. 2016. Productivity model of horizontal wells in a sour gas reservoir,
Particulate Science and Technology 34(1):112–117.doi:10.108002726351.2015.1063098/.
Joshi, S.D. 1987. A review of horizontal well and drainhole technology. SPE 16868 presented at SPE Annual
Technical Conference and Exhibition. 1987 Copyright 1987, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Dallas,
Texas. doi:10.211816868-/MS.
Joshi, S.D. 1988. Augmentation of well productivity with slant and horizontal wells (includes associated papers
and 25308). SPE Journal of Petroleum Technology 40(6):729–739. doi:10.211815375-/PA.
Ji, C.W., Long, Z.H.& Wang, Z.M. 2011. Simple calculation methods of horizontal well inflow profile. Journal
of Drilling Technology 39(4): 90–94.
Kuo, C.H. 1972. On the production of hydrogen sulfide-sulfur mixtures from deep formations. J. Pet. Technol
(09):1142.
Lang, Z.X., Zhang, L., Cheng, L.& Li, C. 1993. Solution multiwellbore horizontal well flow. Journal of the
University of Petroleum 17(4):40–47.
Li, D., Svec, R.K., Engler, T.W.& Grigg, R.B. 2001. Modeling and simulation of the wafer non-Darcy flow
experiments. SPE Western Regional Meeting.
Roberts, B.E. 1997. The effect of sulfur deposition on gas well inflow performance. SPE Res. Eng 12 (2):118–123.
http://dx.doi.org/10.211836707-/PA. SPE 36707.
Wang, S. J., Fu, X., Wang, Z.L., Ran, Q.Q.& Yuan, J.R. 2012. A forecast method research on horizontal well
production considering elemental sulfur deposition. Journal of Oil and Gas 34(4):119–123.