Applicable conditions of the binomial pressure method and pressure-squared method for gas well deliverability evaluation

Abstract In order to quickly and accurately evaluate gas well deliverability, it is necessary to clarify the applicable conditions of the simplified laminar-inertial-turbulent gas well deliverability evaluation method (i.e., pressure-squared method and pressure method). In this regard, this paper analyzes the PVT data, simulation wells and field case wells of typical gas reservoirs in China by reviewing the formal evolution of the flow control equation for the real gases in porous media. Then, the applicable conditions of binomial pressure-squared method and pressure method are discussed. And the following research results were obtained. First, when the pressure is lower than 14 MPa, μZ is basically a constant; and when the pressure is higher than 42 MPa, ρ μ Z is basically a constant. Second, the applicable range of the pressure-squared method can be increased from 14 to 20 MPa. In this case, the relative error of absolute open flow potential calculated using the pressure-squared method is less than 5% compared with the pseudo-pressure method. If the pressure is between 20 and 30 MPa, the relative error of the absolute open flow potential calculated using the pressure-squared method is less than 10%. Third, when the pressure exceeds 80 MPa, the relative error of the absolute open flow potential calculated using the pressure method is less than 10% compared with the pseudo-pressure method. If the pressure-squared method is used in the case of high pressure, the calculated absolute open flow potential is lower and the relative error is close to 25%. Fourth, in the case of low pressure, if the pressure is constant, the higher the temperature is, the smaller the relative error between the pressure-squared method and the pseudo-pressure method is. In the case of high pressure, if the pressure is constant, the higher the temperature is, the greater the relative error between the pressure method and the pseudo-pressure method. In conclusion, it is recommended to adopt the pseudo-pressure method in laminar–inertial-turbulent gas well deliverability analysis. In the case of low pressure (below 30 MPa), the pressure-squared method can be used. In the case of high pressure (above 80 MPa), the pressure method can be applied.