Skip to main content
Log in

Water coning mechanism in Tarim fractured sandstone gas reservoirs

  • Published:
Journal of Central South University Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The problem of water coning into the Tarim fractured sandstone gas reservoirs becomes one of the major concerns in terms of productivity, increased operating costs and environmental effects. Water coning is a phenomenon caused by the imbalance between gravity and viscous forces around the completion interval. There are several controllable and uncontrollable parameters influencing this problem. In order to simulate the key parameters affecting the water coning phenomenon, a model was developed to represent a single well with an underlying aquifer using the fractured sandstone gas reservoir data of the A-Well in Dina gas fields. The parametric study was performed by varying six properties individually over a representative range. The results show that matrix permeability, well penetration (especially fracture permeability), vertical-to-horizontal permeability ratio, aquifer size and gas production rate have considerable effect on water coning in the fractured gas reservoirs. Thus, investigation of the effective parameters is necessary to understand the mechanism of water coning phenomenon. Simulation of the problem helps to optimize the conditions in which the breakthrough of water coning is delayed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. SAAD S M, DARWICH T D, ASSAD Y. Water coning in fractured basement reservoirs [C]// Middle East Oil Show. Bahrain: SPE, 1995: 144–161.

    Google Scholar 

  2. OULD-AMER Y, CHIKH S. Transient behavior of water-oil interface in an upward flow in porous media [J]. Journal of Porous Media, 2003, 6(2): 1–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. OULD-AMER Y, CHIKH S, NAJI H. Attenuation of water coning using dual completion technology [J]. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 2004, 45: 109–122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. SHEN Wei-jun, LI Xi-zhe, LIU Xiao-hua, LU Jia-liang. The calculating method of reasonable producing pressure drop in gas reservoirs with bottom water [C]// Advance and Challenges on Fluid Flow in Porous Media-Proceedings of the 12th National Conference on Fluid Flow in Porous Media. Qingdao: China University of Petroleum Press, 2013: 225–227. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  5. LI Xi-zhe, WANG Yu-jin, LU Jia-liang. Complex gas reservoir development technology [M]. Beijing: Petroleum Industry Press, 2010: 44–61. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  6. MUSKAT M, WYCOFF R D. An approximate theory of water coning in oil production [J]. Trans AIME, 1935, 114: 144–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. MENOUAL H K, HAKIM A A. Water coning and critical rates in vertical and horizontal wells [C]// Middle East Oil Show. Bahrain: SPE, 1995: 367–379.

    Google Scholar 

  8. SHADIZADEH S R, GHORBANI D. Investigation of water/gas coning in natural fractured hydrocarbon reservoirs [C]// Canadian International Petroleum Conference. Calgary: SPE, 2001: 1–5.

    Google Scholar 

  9. JIN L, WOJTANOWICZ A K, HUGHES R G. Analytical model for water coning control installation in reservoir with bottom water [J]. Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology, 2010, 49(5): 65–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. PEREZ E, RODRIGUEZ F, SAMANIEGO F. Water coning in naturally fractured carbonate heavy oil reservoir-a simulation study [C]// SPE Latin America and Caribbean Petroleum Engineering Conference. Mexico: SPE, 2012: 1–15.

    Google Scholar 

  11. AMARFIO E M, LGBOKOYI A O. Breakthrough time correlations for coning in bottom water supported reservoirs [C]// 2013 SPE Eastern Regional Meeting. Pittsburgh: SPE, 2013: 1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  12. ECHAM R R, OSISANYA S O, TOUAMI M. Effects of water coning on the performance of vertical and horizontal wells-A reservoir simulation study of Hassi R’mel Field, Algeria [C]// SPE/PS-CIM International Conference on Horizontal Well Technology. Calgary: SPE, 2000: 1–12.

    Google Scholar 

  13. NAMANI M, ASADOLLAHI M, HAGHIGHI M. Investigation of water-Coning phenomenon in Iranian carbonate fractured reservoirs [C]// International Oil Conference and Exhibition in Mexico. Veracruz: SPE, 2007: 1–11.

    Google Scholar 

  14. SHAHBAZ M, KEVIN M, JULIO S. The effect of bottom water coning and its monitoring for optimization in SAGD [C]// SPE Heavy Oil Conference Canada. Calgary: SPE, 2012: 1–12.

    Google Scholar 

  15. KABIR C S. Predicting gas well performance coning water in bottom water drive reservoirs [C]// SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition. San Francisco: SPE, 1983: 1–15.

    Google Scholar 

  16. HAMON G, MAUDUIT D, BANDIZIOL D. Recovery optimization in a naturally fractured water-drive gas reservoir: Mellion field [C]// SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition. Dallas: SPE, 1991: 1–16.

    Google Scholar 

  17. VAN T D, SONIER F. Water-coning in a fractured Reservoir [C]// SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition. New Orleans: SPE, 1994: 1–15.

    Google Scholar 

  18. SUN Long-de, SONG Wen-jie, JIANG Tong-wen. Oil and gas exploration and development in Tarim basin and the resource of west-to-east pipeline project [C]// 18th World Petroleum Congress. Johannesburg: SPE, 2005: 1–9.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wei-jun Shen  (沈伟军).

Additional information

Foundation item: Project(50150503-12) supported by National Science and Technology Major Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China; Project(2010E-2103) supported by Research on Key Technology in Tarim Oilfield Exploration and Development, China

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Shen, Wj., Liu, Xh., Li, Xz. et al. Water coning mechanism in Tarim fractured sandstone gas reservoirs. J. Cent. South Univ. 22, 344–349 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-015-2528-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-015-2528-4

Key words

Navigation