Mathematical model and field application of aqueous phase trapping release

Abstract

ABSTRACT Aqueous phase trapping (APT) is a kind of mechanical formation damage, which occurs in tight sandstone gas reservoirs. The occurrence of APT has a dramatically adverse effect on the productivity of gas wells due to the decrease of water saturation and gas permeability near wellbore. In this research, a spontaneous imbibition experiment was carried out. The Lucas–Washburn model was used to describe the imbibition behavior. Then, a mathematical model of release judgment conditions was established based on the imbibition model, taking the threshold pressure gradient into consideration. Finally, combined with the two-phase flow mechanism of gas and water, the release time of APT was deduced. This model was used to calculate the releasing time of APT in actual producing wells, and the difference between the actual release time and predicted release time is only 0.1%, which indicates that the model established in this paper can be applied to predicting release judgment condition and release time in tight sandstone gas reservoirs precisely. The proposed model along with the findings of this research can pave the way for the continuous development of water breakthrough wells in tight sandstone gas reservoirs.