Numerical simulation of gas production from natural gas hydrate deposits with multi-branch wells: Influence of reservoir properties

Panpan Zhang, Yiqun Zhang, Wenhong Zhang and Shouceng Tian

Energy, 2022, vol. 238, issue PA

Abstract: Vast amounts of natural gas hydrate are buried in subseafloor sediments without impermeable boundaries, which is recognized as an essential energy source for the future. Previously, the multi-branch well was proposed to enhance the recovery efficiency of natural gas hydrate, and the gas production rate has been dramatically improved comparing with the vertical well. However, the multi-branch well shows a terrible performance in gas production duration. As a continuation of the previous study, numerical simulations were conducted to investigate the influence of hydrate reservoir properties on the gas production potential. Results indicate that it is hard to extract hydrate commercially for hydrate accumulations without impermeable boundaries. A high initial hydrate saturation leads to a long gas production duration but a low gas production rate. An increase in the intrinsic permeability of isotropic reservoirs would shorten the gas production duration and result in a low gas recovery ratio. Permeability anisotropy shows a noticeable effect on enhancing the gas recovery ratio and the gas production duration due to the improved pressure propagation pattern. Therefore, in the upcoming field tests, reservoir reconstructions that enhance permeability anisotropy are strongly suggested to obtain better outcomes.

Keywords: Natural gas hydrate; Multi-branch well; Permeability anisotropy; Initial hydrate saturation; Production simulation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (14)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:238:y:2022:i:pa:s0360544221019861

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2021.121738

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