Effect of Gas Recycling on the Enhancement of Condensate Recovery, Case Study: Hassi R'Mel South Field, Algeria

Abstract

Abstract Gas condensate reservoirs suffer losses in well productivity due to near wellbore condensate dropout when the flowing bottom-hole pressure declines below the dew point pressure. Pressure maintenance and gas cycling are the common practices used in the oil and gas field to alleviate this problem and develop gas condensate reservoirs. The injection of dry gas into a retrograde gas condensate reservoir helps in vaporizing the condensate and increases its dew point. This paper discusses a case study done on Hassi R'Mel South (HRS) field, Algeria to demonstrate the effect of gas recycling on condensate recovery. This study provides an insight into the effect of gas injection process in reducing gas-well productivity losses due to condensate blocking in the near wellbore region. This study also outlines some of the techniques for predicting the performance of gas-condensate reservoirs where gas-cycling is employed. An equation of state (EOS) with 6 pseudo components was used to characterize the complexity of hydrocarbon column. The model uses a grid system comprising of 22560 cells (94×120×2), and was historically matched with pressure and production data. The simulation study showed that recycling 100% of the gas produced is the best development scheme for HRS field. A total of 24% of gain in the condensate was obtained when 100% of the produced gas was recycled during the production. The condensate recovery was appeared to increase as the volume of gas injection increased. Based on an economic analysis, the simulation study indicates that recycling at 100% of the produced gas is the best development plan for HRS field.