Comprehensive Research

Research on critical liquid loading model for directional wells based on liquid film inversion

  • Xiangdong YU ,
  • Shuqiang SHI ,
  • Guoliang LI ,
  • Jinwei FANG ,
  • Chuanli DUAN ,
  • Dan QI
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  • 1. Oil & Gas Cooperation and Development Company, CNPC Bohai Drilling Engineering Company Limited, Tianjing 300457, China
    2. School of Petroleum Engineering, Chongqing University of Science & Technology, Chongqing 401331, China

Received date: 2023-08-17

  Online published: 2024-03-05

Abstract

Liquid loading in gas wells is an important challenge during the middle and later stages of exploitation of large inclined wells in Sulige Block. Current critical liquid carrying models suitable for directional wells are limited and often overlook the effects of tubing diameter, liquid flow velocity, and angle. Utilizing multiphase pipe flow experiments, the liquid carrying mechanism in directional wells was studied, analyzing the effects of tubing diameter, angle, and liquid flow velocity on liquid accumulation in gas wells. Based on the liquid film reversal mechanism, the calculation method of parameters C and m in the WALLIS model was derived using experimental data on the basis of the BELFROID model and WALLIS model. A new critical liquid-carrying model has been established by considering the factors such as pipe diameter, gas density, liquid density, angle, apparent liquid flow rate, and gravitational acceleration. The results of the new model for predicting 62 gas wells with liquid loading in VEEKEN’s literature show an accuracy of 91.94%. The establishment of this new model not only further refines the theory of liquid film reversal but also provides theoretical support for predicting liquid loading events in directional wells, offering a valuable tool for optimizing gas production and mitigating liquid loading issues.

Cite this article

Xiangdong YU , Shuqiang SHI , Guoliang LI , Jinwei FANG , Chuanli DUAN , Dan QI . Research on critical liquid loading model for directional wells based on liquid film inversion[J]. Petroleum Reservoir Evaluation and Development, 2024 , 14(1) : 151 -158 . DOI: 10.13809/j.cnki.cn32-1825/te.2024.01.020

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