Optimization of Gas Condensate Reservoir Development by Coupling Reservoir Modeling and Hydraulic Fracturing Design

Abstract

Abstract This paper presents the results of a study that included both compositional reservoir simulation and hydraulic fracture modeling. These models were used to optimize the production and recovery from a rich gas condensate reservoir. The study illustrates the upside potential of creating propped hydraulic fractures in a gas condensate reservoir. The reservoir is a multi-layered, low permeability, rich gas condensate formation. We performed this study to investigate the possibility of enhancing productivity from the reservoir and to increase gas recovery. Several wells existed in the field before the fracture treatment campaign was initiated. In this paper, we highlight modeling of three types of wells: vertical wells, vertical wells with multiple fractures, and horizontal wells. In all cases, the effect of condensate dropout around the well and/or the fracture is investigated. The effect of improving the relative permeability due to high velocity around wells is also discussed. The successful integration of reservoir and fracture modeling resulted in 40% cost savings when compared to the original development plan.