Determination of Optimal Parameters and Modes of Well Operation in Low-Permeability Reservoirs on a True Triaxial Loading Unit

Abstract

This article presents the results of a series of experiments on physical modeling of mechanical and filtration processes in productive formations of the Astrakhan gas-condensate field (GCF), which may lead to an increase in permeability of reservoir rock when using the directional unloading method. The experiments were carried out on the Triaxial Independent Load Test System of the Institute for Problems in Mechanics of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The stress–strain state in the vicinity of perforation holes was modeling for both cased and uncased wells. The paper presents the dependence of filtration properties of the studied specimens on the type of the stress–strain state and determines the values of pressure draw-down, leading to an increase in permeability of rocks. The obtained results indicate that the directional unloading method can be successfully applied to uncased wells drilled at the Astrakhan GCF.