Research of Efficiency of Artificial-Lift Water-Cut Gas Wells Operation

Abstract

Introductions. Most of the natural gas fields in Ukraine, from which the main gas production is provided, are at the final stage of development, a feature of which is selective watering of productive reservoirs and production wells in conditions of low reservoir pressures. Based on the results of numerous studies, a number of techniques and inventions have been developed concerning the operation of water-cut gas and gas condensate wells, which are widely used in gas industry practice [1-3]. A promising direction for the development of natural gas fields in a water drive is the introduction of technologies based on the artificial-lift water-cut gas wells operation. When operating gas wells with a high content of formation water, the most effective is the use of electric center pumps (ECP). The use of external energy to remove formation fluid can significantly extend the life of gas wells in conditions of active inflow of formation water into productive reservoirs. [4-5]. The technology of controlled extraction of formation fluid based on ECP is currently the most promising methodology for minimizing the negative impact of the water drive on the natural gas production process. The results of national and foreign experience in the development of gas fields in the conditions of active advancement of formation water into gas-saturated horizons make it possible to substantiate the directions of further research to improve existing technologies for hydrocarbon production. Aim. Investigate the efficiency of using electric center pumps in order to optimize the operating conditions for water-cut wells. Results and discussion. Using the Schlumberger PipeSim software package, a study was made of the effect of wellhead pressure and different operating frequencies of electric center pumps on the productivity of water-cut wells.