The Optimization of Underground Gas Storage in a Partially Depleted Gas Reservoir

Underground gas storage (UGS) is a well-known technology to supply variable demand of natural gas market. The objective of this work is to demonstrate the feasibility of UGS development in an Iranian depleted fractured gas reservoir. For this purpose, gas demand analysis was conducted based on yearly consumption, and the peak condition demand was obtained. Then, a full-field multicomponent reservoir model was constructed based on the rock and fluid data and comprehensive production history. A modified Peng-Robinson equation was used to estimate the phase behavior of the reservoir and injection fluid. The compositional model was verified through performing history matching on gas production rate. After history matching, an injection/withdrawal (I/W) schedule was designed to meet necessary gas consumption. Production scenarios were conducted to obtain optimum operating conditions for this reservoir. It was determined that at least four new wells are required to establish successful UGS plan to meet the target withdrawal rate. Results show that the use of a horizontal well is superior to a vertical well because of less water production during storage cycles. Water cut, productivity, and injectivity indexes of individual wells were considered as prominent factors to find the optimum well pattern, using a connection transmissibility factor to compare the capacity of each well to produce. In addition to constant I/W rate, a variable I/W rate scenario was proposed whose result showed no difference compare to the results obtained in previous runs. Results show that the reservoir under study is capable of providing peak gas consumption during the cold months in Iran.