The effect of stress-dependent permeability on gas production and well testing

Journal Article · Sun Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Format. Eval.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/11220-PA· OSTI ID:5416138

Ostensen, R W

The effect of stress-dependent permeability on gas production and well testing in tight gas sands was studied by use of a modified pseudopressure that included stress dependence. This work assumes that information on cores is applicable to reservoir behavior. Because microcracks are the primary path for flow through tight-gas sand cores, average stress-dependent permeabilities were found as an average over all crack orientations in a nonuniform stress field, with a horizontal stress only 0.6 times the vertical one. Initial in-situ permeabilities are found to be two to five times the values obtained from uniformly restressed cores. Stress dependence decreases initial gas production by at most 30%, with the loss increasing over reservoir depletion. Buildup tests yield reliable results for the properties at average reservoir pressure. Drawdown tests are more sensitive to stress effects and are much less reliable.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs.
• OSTI ID: 5416138
• Journal Information: SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Format. Eval.; (United States), Journal Name: SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Format. Eval.; (United States) Vol. 1:3; ISSN SFEVE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030200* -- Natural Gas-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
030300 -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
CRACK PROPAGATION
DRAWDOWN
DRILL CORES
GAS YIELDS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
PERMEABILITY
PRODUCTION
RELIABILITY
RESERVOIR PRESSURE
RESERVOIR ROCK
RESOURCES
ROCK-FLUID INTERACTIONS
ROCKS
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SENSITIVITY
STRESSES
TESTING
WELL LOGGING
WELLS
YIELDS