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Pressure Buildup Analysis for Two‐Phase Geothermal Wells: Application to the Baca Geothermal Field
Author(s) -
Riney T. D.,
Garg S. K.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/wr021i003p00372
Subject(s) - geothermal gradient , flashing , geology , petroleum engineering , permeability (electromagnetism) , phase (matter) , drilling , mineralogy , petrology , geophysics , chemistry , materials science , metallurgy , biochemistry , organic chemistry , membrane
The recently published pressure transient analysis methods for two‐phase geothermal wells are employed to analyze the pressure buildup data for several wells located in the Redondo Creek area of the Baca geothermal field in New Mexico. The downhole drilling information and pressure/temperature surveys are first interpreted to locate zones at which fluid enters the well bore from the formation and to estimate the initial reservoir temperature and pressure in these zones. All of the Baca wells considered here induced flashing in the formation upon production. Interpretation of the buildup data for each well considers well bore effects (e.g., phase change in the well bore fluid and location of the pressure sensor with respect to the permeable horizon) and the carbon dioxide content of the fluid and its effects on the phase behavior of the reservoir fluids and differentiates between the single‐ and two‐phase portions of the pressure buildup data. Different straight‐line approximations to the two portions (i.e., single‐ and two‐phase) of the data on the Homer plot are used to obtain corresponding estimates for the single‐ and two‐phase mobilities. Estimates for the formation permeability‐thickness ( kH ) product are also given.