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Title: A comparison of analytical approaches for wellbore heat transmission in layered formations

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6918217· OSTI ID:6918217

This report presents an analytical method for determining wellbore heat transmission during liquid or gas flow along the tubing. The mathematical model describes the heat transfer between the flowing fluid in the wellbore and in the surrounding formation as one whole physical system. The transient heat transfer equations in the two regions with coupling at the sandface are solved simultaneously. Non-homogeneous formations are treated which consist of several layers with different physical properties and arbitrary initial temperature distributions in the vertical direction. Closed form analytical solutions are obtained in real space and in Laplace space, which can be used to calculate the temperature distribution along the wellbore and in the formation, and to evaluate heat transfer rate and cumulative heat exchange between wellbore and formation. A more accurate formula is given for the widely-used transient heat conduction function f(t{sub D}) of thermal resistance. 14 refs., 12 figs., 1 tab.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE/ER
DOE Contract Number:
AC03-76SF00098
OSTI ID:
6918217
Report Number(s):
LBL-28712; ON: DE90011222
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Thesis (M.S.)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English