Gas-Water Two-Phase Flow Characteristics and Flowback Evaluation for Shale Gas Wells

The dynamic characteristics of shale gas wells are complexly affected by the gas-water two-phase flow. Based on the special flow mechanism of gas-water two-phase flow in shale gas reservoir, this paper establishes a mathematical model for gas-water two-phase flow in shale gas multi-stage fractured horizontal wells, introduces the eigenvalue method and orthogonal transformation, and obtains the analytical solution of the two-phase flow model. The gas-water two-phase flow rules and main influence factors of shale gas wells were identified, further combined with the flowback test characteristics and data of the shale gas wells in southern Sichuan, the characteristic parameters for the evaluation of the gas well flowback effect were determined, and an index system was established for the evaluation of shale gas well flowback. The analysis result shows that the shale gas well flowback effect has a good relationship with its production capacity, which is mainly reflected in the flowback characteristic parameters such as gas breakthrough time, gas breakthrough flowback rate, 30 d flowback rate, and maximum production flowback rate. The shale gas wells with lower flowback factors have a better production capacity than those with higher flowback factors. The flowback evaluation index system can accurately forecast the shale gas well production capacity in its initial stage, and furthermore offer guidance to promptly ascertaining the block development potential and formulating the development schemes.

Automated summary

This study establishes a mathematical model for gas-water two-phase flow in shale gas wells, identifies characteristic parameters and an index system for evaluating flowback effects, and finds the relationship between flowback effects and production capacity.