Proposed approach improves gas well performance and reduces water cut using electric current in wells.
Reviving liquid-loaded gas wells is critical to sustaining the production of hydrocarbon gas and condensate. As formation liquids, namely water and condensate, accumulate in a gas well, they can restrict flow and effectively "suffocate" the well, preventing valuable gas from reaching the surface. This paper introduces a new, synergistic technique that builds upon the recent research advancements. The approach integrates two distinct, yet complementary technologies: a patented Flow Stabilizing Device (FSD) and a patented electric treatment system. The FSD facilitates the removal of liquids by locally modifying the gas phase velocity within the well, stabilizing the liquid film on the tubular walls, and promoting an ideal annular flow regime. To further enhance well performance, the FSD is combined with an electric treatment method. This involves applying an electric current at the wellhead, which propagates along the metallic casing to the reservoir. The current induces localized physical and electrochemical effects. More details on the proposed synergistic approach, including the schematics and principal mechanisms, are provided. The electrical treatment operation takes up to 30 hours, which can permanently remove the near wellbore water/condensate blockage due to effective release and mobilization of all the water/condensate clogging the pore throats. The process also simultaneously treats two liquid-loaded gas wells by flowing the electric current between the two wells in the reservoir using formation water as the conductive medium. Additionally, partial electrolysis generates gas bubbles that help displace trapped liquids, while improved connectivity among water or condensate droplets facilitates their mobilization and removal. The FSD then prevents reverse liquid flow and enables accelerated transport of liquids to the surface, even in wells that are fully loaded with water/ condensate. The combination of these two technologies thereby works synergistically to revive and prolong the life of gas wells. In addition, the paper also sheds some insights on successive steps to be followed to eventually move this synergistic technology towards practical applications. The combined use of the FSD and electric treatment becomes a useful practical solution for restoring production in liquid-loaded gas wells. This integrated approach enhances gas well performance, reduces water cut, and extend the productive life of gas wells.
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Aljuhani et al. (2025) studied this question.