Abstract:
Experiments have been done with a retrograde gas condensate fluid to measure the decrease
in gas relative permeability due to liquid dropout below the dew point and to evaluate
the use of methanol to restore the gas relative permeability. The methanol was found to
increase the end-point gas relative permeability by a factor of 1.2 to 2.5 depending on
the initial water saturation. A likely reason for the increased gas permeability is the
miscible displacement of the condensate and water phases by the methanol. The use of an
inexpensive solvent such as methanol to improve the productivity of gas wells that have
been damaged by production below the dew point due to condensate and/or water blocking
presents an attractive approach deserving further investigation.
Reference:
L. Du, J.G. Walker, G.A. Pope, M.M. Sharma, P. Wang, "Use of Solvents to Improve
Productivity of Gas Condensate Wells," SPE 62935, Proceedings of the SPE Annual
Technical Conference and Exhibition, Dallas, TX, 1-4 October, 2000.
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Last updated: April 25, 2002