Numerical Study of the Fluid Flow Around the Vertical, Deviated, and Horizontal Gas Condensate Wells From the Perspective of Fundamental Forces

Abstract

The well performance in gas condensate reservoirs (GCRs) is an essential factor addressing the condensate recovery. A vast and growing number of studies, including numerical simulations, have compared the deliverability of vertical, deviated, and horizontal wells in GCRs, because of the high economical values gained from these fields; it is worthy of further investigation from a new point of view. Here, we conduct an investigation into the well performance in different cases (vertical, deviated, and horizontal) in GCRs based on the fundamental forces that exist around the well. The most important fundamental forces affecting the fluid flow are inertial, viscous, capillary, and gravitational forces. The force ratios were expressed as some dimensionless numbers to adequately assess and compare the relative strength of fundamental forces around the well. These dimensionless numbers were calculated using simulation results and data from a real GCR which is in the Middle East for three cases of vertical, deviated, and horizontal wells. As a result, a general graphical representation was provided to indicate the relative importance of fundamental forces in different reservoir’ regions. The results of this study, as a qualitative criterion, can be used in checking or modifying the relative permeability correlations of GCRs.