CONNECTIVITY OF WELLS IN THE EAST SALAK STEAM CAP: RESULTS OF NCG INTERFERENCE TESTING

Abstract

Most of the wells at East Salak were drilled shallow and produce steam with higher Non-Condensable Gas (NCG) concentration relative to the wells in the central and western portions of the field. Continuous mass extraction in East Salak has led to the development of a steam cap which changed almost all two-phase producers into single-phase dry steam wells. It is believed that NCG accumulated in the shallow portion of the steam cap as a result of natural condensation and/or due to the influx of natural marginal recharge near the top of reservoir. Steam blending is currently being implemented to maintain the appropriate NCG concentration in the steam supplied to power plants. However, steam blending does not provide consistent and optimum results due to the complicated interconnectivity between wells. The connectivity of Pad A wells at East Salak was analyzed through NCG interference testing. Results indicate that the elevation of permeable entries, their relative distance to each other, and the well’s operating setting were the major factors that affect the connectivity between wells.