A generic method for diagnosing flow regimes based on dynamic gas in place in unconventional gas reservoirs
摘要
Multiple Rate Transient Analysis (RTA) techniques are accessible for scrutinizing production data from unconventional tight gas reservoirs. Among these, straight-line analysis methods have gained widespread acceptance within the RTA toolkit. The prerequisite for employing such methods involves the initial identification of flow regimes before conducting meaningful analyses. In this study, we introduce a comprehensive approach designed for visualization, diagnosis, and analysis purposes. This approach heavily relies on the prevalent power-law behavior observed in wells extracting from unconventional reservoirs. The proposed method aims to extend Agarwal (2010) technique from its current ability in analyzing boundary dominated flow to other flow regimes by combining it with the power-law model. Employing this approach reveals distinct slopes on the log–log plot of contacted gas in place (CGIP) versus material balance time for different flow regimes. Subsequently, fitting specific straight-line slopes on the produced plot data allows for the extraction of the y-intercept at material balance time, equivalent to a day. Analyzing this y-intercept value yields crucial information about the reservoir and/or well based on the considered flow regime. Furthermore, we introduce a data smoothing equation to mitigate noise associated with normalized pressure derivatives and their corresponding CGIP values. To demonstrate the viability and applicability of the proposed approach, we apply it to a range of case studies involving single-phase dry gas systems. Additionally, we emphasize limitations that signal opportunities for future enhancements.