A Study of Effective Deployment in Ultra-Low-Permeability Reservoirs With Non-Darcy Flow

Due to the existence of a threshold pressure gradient (TPG) in ultra-low-permeability reservoirs, the peripheral reserves of the wellbore are difficult to deploy effectively. The main problem is that it is hard to ensure that well pattern, well spacing, and drawdown pressure easily and accurately because of the existence of low-velocity non-Darcy flow in such reservoirs. Simple and accurate calculation methods of the problem are most popular with reservoir engineers, so effective deployment calculation methods of ultra-low-permeability reservoirs are presented in this article. They include control radius calculation, control distance calculation, control area calculation, and control coefficient calculation, which can be directly used in the evaluation of well pattern thickening of developed oilfields and reserves of undeveloped oilfields. Based on theory of fluid mechanics in porous medium considering TPG, the non-Darcy flow mathematic model was established to reveal the characteristics of pressure distribution of ultra-low-permeability reservoirs. According to the analytical solution of non-Darcy radial flow, the relationship between control radius for ultra-low-permeability medium and TPG under different drawdown pressures was established. A calculation method combined with ellipse flow theory for control coefficient is presented, which was used to characterize the producing degree of reserve in a rectangular pattern. The control radius and coefficient of ultra-low-permeability reservoirs can provide a theoretical foundation for reservoir evaluation and development design.