Preliminary studies of two-phase effects on pressure transient data

• Main Authors: Cox, B.L., Bodvarsson, G.S.
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2006
• Subjects: 15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY; GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS; TWO-PHASE FLOW; RESERVOIR PRESSURE; MATHEMATICAL MODELS; PRESSURE GRADIENTS; FLUID FLOW; Krafla; Prieto; Iceland
• Online Access: http://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/5779113; https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5779113

In this paper we perform scoping calculations on the effects of two-phase zones on well pressure transients. Three different cases are considered. The first is that of a fully two-phase system (e.g. Krafla, Iceland). Some of the complexities of this type of system are discussed. The second problem is that of a single-phase liquid reservoir with a localized two-phase zone. Possible field examples include Cerro Prieto, Mexico and Baca, New Mexico, USA. We investigate the pressure transients in a well located near an isolated two-phase zone in a single-phase liquid reservoir, and compare them to type curves based upon the constant pressure approximation. The third problem considered is that of a two-phase layer overlying a single-phase liquid layer. One example of such a reservoir is the Svartsengi geothermal field in Iceland. The numerical code MULKOM is used to simulate the three cases.