Temperature Transient Analysis in a Horizontal, Multi-zone, Intelligent Well

Abstract

Intelligent, or I-wells, are a core element in the delivery of the "digital oil field". Numerous publications have described how their control and monitoring capabilities can lead to an increase in reserves. Such monitoring systems provide the data which, when analysed with the appropriate algorithms, is turned into real-time information; viz. the quantitative values of the multiphase flow rate distribution across the multiple completion intervals. This transformation of data into information is the first step in a real-time, selective, zonal production management methodology. A second use of this information is the updating of the reservoir model, providing improvements in the reservoir description, the production performance prediction and the reservoir depletion strategy. Temperature data plays an important role in downhole monitoring. It may be the sole source of downhole data or it may complement downhole, pressure gauge data. However, temperature data analysis workflows are less well developed than their pressure equivalent. Further, the installation of distributed temperature sensors is not always possible across the lower completion of many multi-zone, I-wells. To fill this gap we have set ourselves the target of developing transient temperature analysis techniques based on the use of data from discrete, relatively accurate, temperature gauges installed across each production zone. We recently reported our first step in this process, the mathematical basis for temperature transient analysis of a single zone. This paper extends our first step in the development of a comprehensive, temperature analysis workflow to the analysis of a horizontal, multi-zone, I-well. The workflow necessary to calculate the sandface temperature for each zone in a multizone completion will be presented. The novel aspect of this new workflow is that allowance is made for the affect of fluid flowing from deeper zones. Its utility will be demonstrated using a real case history.

Estimating the reaction parameters of oil shale pyrolysis and oil shale grade using temperature transient analysis and inverse modeling

“…We propose an inverse modeling approach, which examines the use of temperature transient data and the concept of a thermal skin to estimate oil shale grade and decomposition parameters. Similar to pressure transient analyses, temperature transient analyses have been used in oil and gas reservoir engineering to determine productivity, transport properties, and the vertical formation structure (Bahrami and Siavoshi, 2007;Muradov and Davies, 2012;Onur and Cinar, 2017;Sui et al, 2012). In this study, we observe heater temperature as a system response during insitu pyrolysis of oil shale in a kerogen-bearing system.…”

Modeling and Analysis of Temperature Transients Caused by Step-Like Change of Downhole Flow Control Device Flow Area

“…They indicated that trasient temperature can be more informative than pressure due to its sensitivity to damage radius and permeability. Finally the transient zonal flow rates can be assumed constant during the transient because their fluctuations have only second order impact on temperature signals (Muradov and Davies 2012). Valiullin highlighted the importance of Temperature Transient Analysis (TTA) especially when the barothermal effect (transient fluid compression/expansion at early times) takes place for well test analysis (Valiullin, Ramazanov et al 2009).…”

Analytical Models for Thermal Wellbore Effects on Pressure Transient Testing

“…Wellbore heat transfer has been a subject of study in the oil and gas industry over the past decades and gained special attention in recent years due to the improvement in temperature measurement technologies. Downhole temperature monitoring devices can now provide high accuracy and a resolution better than 0.01 K (Duru and Horne, 2011a;Muradov and Davies, 2012;Sidorova et al, 2015).…”