Conference Papers Database New search

Instability in Well Performance

Grant, Malcolm A.; Bixley, Paul F.; Syms, Margot C.

Key words
Reservoir Engineering; Fractured Reservoirs; Well Flow; Feed Points; New Zealand; North Island; Wairakei; Liquid Dominated; Flow Pulse; Pressure Oscillations; Injection Tests; Pressure Gradient; Well Log; Multiple Feeds; Spinner; Open Hole; DSIR
Location
Wairakei, New Zealand; Taupo Volcanic Zone
Conference
Geothermal Resources Council Transactions
Year
1979
Session
Liquid dominated reservoirs; Injection; Fluid dynamics
Language
English

Full text

Open the paper

Opens in a new tab

Abstract

Instability in performance of a geothermal well, under discharge or injection, is caused by multiple feed points in the well. Fluids of varying enthalpy enter and flow in the well. Fluid density and the pressure difference between the two feeds consequently varies, and feedback between this pressure difference and the flow from each feed point causes transient or sustained oscillations in pressure, enthalpy and mass flow at the wellhead. Unless such internal flows in the well are recognized, downhole pressure and temperature data will be wrongly interpreted.

Copyright 1979, Geothermal Resources Council. Readers who download papers from this site should honour the copyright of the original authors, and may not copy or distribute the work further without the permission of the original publisher.

Attend the 2026 Geothermal Rising Conference. Meeting details
You have opened 0 records today from 216.73.216.139 (216.73.216.139).
Viewed 25 September 2026, 8:22 pm.