Evaluation of infill well pattern based on the dynamic change of reservoirs during coalbed methane development

doi:10.1007/s11707-022-1061-7

Front. Earth Sci.

2023, Vol. 17

Issue (3) : 646-660 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-022-1061-7

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Evaluation of infill well pattern based on the dynamic change of reservoirs during coalbed methane development

Qian ZHANG^1,^2,³(

), Shuheng TANG^1,^2,³(

), Songhang ZHANG^1,^2,³(

), Xinlu YAN^1,⁴(

), Kaifeng WANG^1,^2,³(

), Tengfei JIA^1,^2,³(

), Zhizhen WANG^1,^2,³(

)

¹. School of Energy Resources, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
². Coal Reservoir Laboratory of National Engineering Research Center of CBM Development & Utilization, Beijing 100083, China
³. Beijing Key Laboratory of Unconventional Natural Gas Geological Evaluation and Development Engineering, Beijing 100083, China
⁴. College of Mining Technology, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China

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Abstract

With the deepening of coalbed methane (CBM) exploration and development, the problem of low gas production has gradually become one of the main factors restricting the development of the CBM industry in China. Reasonable well pattern deployment can improve the productivity of CBM wells and reduce the cost of production, while the reservoir changes of CBM wells play a important role for well pattern infilling. In this study, the dynamic characteristics of the average reservoir pressure (ARP), permeability, and drainage radius during the development process of CBM wells are systematically analyzed, and predicted the production changes of well groups before and after infilling wells in combination with the characteristics of reservoir changes. The results show that the high gas production wells have a larger pressure drop, long drainage radius, and a large increase in permeability. On the contrary, low gas production wells are characterized by small drainage radius, damaged permeability and difficult to recover. The productivity of infilled horizontal wells is predicted for two well groups with different productivity and reservoir dynamic characteristics. After infilling wells, the production of current wells has increased at different degrees. It is predicted that the average gas production of low gas production well group H1 and middle gas production well group H2 will increase 1.64 and 2.09 times respectively after 3000 days production simulation. In addition, the pressure interference between wells has increased significantly, and the overall gas production of the well group has greatly increased. Infill wells can achieve better development results in areas with superior CBM resources, recoverable reservoir permeability, and small drainage radius during the early production process. The research results provide a reference for the later infill adjustment of CBM well patterns in the study area.

Keywords well pattern optimization reservoir dynamic variation infill well deployment coalbed methane Qinshui Basin

Corresponding Author(s): Songhang ZHANG

Online First Date: 31 August 2023 Issue Date: 12 December 2023

Cite this article:

Qian ZHANG,Shuheng TANG,Songhang ZHANG, et al. Evaluation of infill well pattern based on the dynamic change of reservoirs during coalbed methane development[J]. Front. Earth Sci., 2023, 17(3): 646-660.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fesci/EN/10.1007/s11707-022-1061-7
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fesci/EN/Y2023/V17/I3/646

Fig.1 Location of the sampling and study area. (a) The study area in the southern Qinshui Basin. (b) Diagram of the structural outline and location of wells in the study area (Modified from Zhang et al., 2015).

Fig.2 Models for infill well numerical simulation. (a) Methane gas storage capacity. (b) Relative permeability model of gas and water. S_w: fracture water saturation (fraction), KRG: fracture relative permeability to gas (fraction), KRW: fracture relative permeability to water (fraction).

Fig.3 Drainage production and reservoir performance curve of the typical high gas production wells. (a) and (b) Production curves of Well G-88 and Well G-32, respectively. (c) and (d) Reservoir performance curve of Well G-88 and Well G-32, respectively.

Fig.4 Drainage production and reservoir performance curve of typical medium gas production wells. (a) and (b) Production curves of Well Z-29 and Well Z-03, respectively. (c) and (d) Reservoir performance curve of Well Z-29 and Well Z-03, respectively.

Fig.5 Drainage production and reservoir performance curve of typical low gas production well D-01. (a) Production curves. (b) Reservoir performance curve.

Fig.6 Statistics of the current well spacing in study area.

Fig.7 Location of two well group and infill horizontal wells schematic diagram.

Fig.8 H1 well group reservoir dynamic change curve during the production process.

Fig.9 H2 well group’s reservoir’s dynamic change curve during the production process.

Fig.10 Comparison of average daily gas production of each single well before and after infilling. (a) H1 well group. (b) H2 well group.

Fig.11 Variation diagram of reservoir pressure before and after well group infilling. (a) H1 well group. (b) H2 well group.

Geological and characteristic drainage parameters of typical wells

Calculation results of reservoir dynamic changes of typical wells

Numerical simulation parameters of the well group

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